Consumers Energy: All customers clear to raise thermostats at midnight

You can turn your thermostat back up starting at midnight tonight, Consumers Energy said in an announcement Thursday afternoon.

The company originally on Wednesday asked that consumers turn their thermostat down to 65 degrees when at home and 62 when away until Friday at noon. After success last night, the deadline was changed to 10 a.m. Friday, and now the company says midnight tonight.

"Consumers Energy announced that its emergency public appeal to conserve natural gas is ending at midnight tonight for all customers — commercial, industrial and residential," the company said in a release.

The company's plea to turn down your thermostat worked, reducing peak demand for gas and preventing possible shut-offs, Consumers Energy President and CEO Patti Poppe said Thursday.

Consumers Energy saw a 10% reduction on the system and no residential gas customers lost service as a result.

“There is no doubt the gas reduction efforts by residents and businesses across the Lower Peninsula played a key role in helping maintain natural gas flow in our distribution system at a time when it was critically needed,” Poppe said.

“Because of the swift action of all, we were able to continue critical services — from the bottom of my heart and on behalf of the men and women of Consumers Energy, we thank you,” she said.