JACKSON, Mich., April 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- While the economy may be unpredictable, Consumers Energy customers can provide themselves some degree of certainty by enrolling in the monthly Budget Plan. Under Consumers Energy's Budget Plan, customers take the guesswork out of their monthly bill by paying an equal amount each time for natural gas and electricity. The monthly amount is based on past usage, fuel costs and projected temperatures. More than 400,000 Consumers Energy customers are enrolled in Budget Plan. "The Budget Plan is popular because it offers customers an opportunity to manage their energy costs by paying their annual bill in equal monthly payments. Many of our customers like having a set amount to plug into their family budget," said Karen Eldred, budget plan program manager. Customers can enroll in the Budget Plan by checking a box featured on their Consumers Energy bills. The May bills include an insert that describes the program in detail. Customers also can enroll by calling Consumers Energy's toll-free number, 1-800-477-5050 and selecting options 5, 1, 1. Customers must have their bill payments up to date to enroll. Eligible customers will find their monthly Budget Plan payment amount listed on their May bills. The exact amount will vary from customer to customer. The average residential customer will pay about $98 per month for their natural gas service if they enroll in the Budget Plan this month. The Budget Plan payment for an average residential electric customer will be about $90 a month. Customers may enroll in the Budget Plan after May, but monthly payments will be slightly higher because there will be fewer months to spread out the energy costs. Eldred also noted that the Budget Plan works well with a convenient No-fee Monthly Visa online payment option. Customers who choose that option receive their energy bill electronically via an e-mail link, and have their bill charged automatically to their Visa card on the day the bill is presented. Customers can enroll in this program through Consumers Energy's website. Consumers Energy, the principal subsidiary of CMS Energy, provides natural gas and electricity to nearly 6.5 million of Michigan's 10 million residents in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties. For more information about Consumers Energy, visit our Website at http://www.consumersenergy.com/ DATASOURCE: Consumers Energy CONTACT: Media only, Dan Bishop, +1-517-788-2395, or Jeff Holyfield, +1-517-788-2394 Web Site: http://www.consumersenergy.com/

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