August 20, 2025 • 4 mins
Brian Wheeler, Media Relations Specialist with Consumers Energy joins us to discuss a $2 million commitment to help those in need with their summer utility bills.
More information can be found here: https://thawfund.org/
More information can be found here: https://thawfund.org/
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
You are having trouble with your electric or gas bill.
Consumers Energy has help. This is West Michigan's Morning News
Steve Kelly and Ret Keita, media relations specialist with Consumers Energy.
Brian Wheeler back on the liveline. Brian, thanks for doing
this today.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
Yeah, good morning to you.
Speaker 1 (00:18):
So talk to us a little bit about what help
is available out there.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
Yeah, and really let's just start by talking about this
summer that it seems to be getting us a little
relief right now. But of course July was really hot,
and of course the hotter it gets, the more we
use our air conditioners or other energy using devices to
stay cool. So, knowing that bills have been higher for
a lot of people, we Consumers Energy put two million
(00:43):
dollars toward the Salvation Army and the Heat and Warmth
Fund to help people specifically get back on their feet.
Speaker 1 (00:50):
Yeah. So who qualifies for this? How do you know?
Speaker 2 (00:54):
Yeah? Exactly. Well, as always, I would say, if you're
in a situation where you're feeling hardshipped or strugg in
your household, whether it is because of your energy bill specifically,
or a job loss or medical debt, or who knows,
going out and getting help is the most important thing
to do calling two one one, which is a great
resource to connect you with nonprofit dollars. But the two
million dollars we put on the table goes to these
(01:16):
two great nonprofits, and we want you to reach out
if you're facing trouble, if you're behind on your bill,
if you're past to or even some cases, maybe you've
lost service at a previous address and move somewhere else
and then can't get news service. Eligibility is pretty expandard.
If you are making up to sixty two thousand dollars
as as your individual income or one hundred twenty thousand
(01:38):
dollars as your family income, you should be eligible. Our
nonprofit folks will work with you and get you, hopefully
some dollars that make a difference.
Speaker 3 (01:45):
Right. It was funny because I was talking to my
neighbors when I got my recent building you were talking about.
I was like, sticker shock, I'm whoa. And I was
asking other people, I'm like, is this something wrong with
my bill? Or is it you know? And that I
was remembering obviously all the ninety degree days, and you
know how, I'm on an energy conservative thing as far
as my air conditioner and so it runs on non
(02:05):
peak times, which is you know, different different things that
are out there you can take advantage of it. But
it also reminded me of what you guys are trying
to do in what the push is right now with
trying to come up with different ways for energy right
and how to reserve it, how to also you know,
have different ideas like the windmills that we have and
(02:26):
different opportunities that you guys have been talking about with
this footprint right of going green.
Speaker 1 (02:32):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (02:32):
Absolutely, and you know, we really want people to be
be part of this, to be engaged. I mean, I
think some people think legitimately honestly that you know, your
bill is something you sort of a set it and
forget it type of thing where you you know, you
know your bill is related to how much energy you're using,
and you usually have the power to control a big
part of that. Now, it's tough in the summertime, we
(02:54):
run an air conditioning because we have to stay cool
in the winter, in reverse, we have to run our
furnace and we have to stay warm. There's an expense
that's involved with that. So you know, month to months,
you see those spikes, those things, those prices change, and
so what we're doing A Consumer's Energy is trying to
help you understand your bill, understand what you can do
to really keep the cost slow as we develop new
(03:14):
energy sources. We're trying to be responsible and affordable and
reliable with that. But you have a lot that you
can do to be in charge. Work with us a
Consumer's Energy. Go to our online website, go to consumers
Energy dot com slash offers, and you can plug in
information about your household to learn about those different programs
and products we have that are going to hopefully save
you some good money.
Speaker 1 (03:34):
We'll get a link in the podcast section at with
radio dot com where this conversation will live. Last question
for you, completely off topic. We are talking about our
first concert experience. Do you remember the first concert that
you bought a ticket for? Brian Wheeler?
Speaker 2 (03:52):
Oh? With all okay, so I'll be quick. My parents
took me to the Kinks when I was four because
the babysitter didn't show up tickets for that one. I
was fifteen years old. I lived in New England and
I went to see you two in Western Massachusetts with
the Friends ticket. Yeah, Joshua Tree tour. So I feel old,
(04:13):
but also pretty grateful.
Speaker 3 (04:14):
Wait a minute, I mean you just crowned us because
Steve had police right up in Syracuse at the Carrier Dome,
and I I had I'm the lowly one. I had
Brian Adams at the Bruslin Center back when the whole
Robin Hood you know, uh movie soundtrack was coming out.
But I mean, you're Joshua Tree.
Speaker 1 (04:31):
I keep getting getting drowsy whenever you bring up Brian,
and I.
Speaker 2 (04:35):
Have chosen Brian Adams first before I chose you too.
Speaker 1 (04:39):
Media relations manager Brian Wheeler with Consumers Energy. Thank you,
Thank you,
You are having trouble with your electric or gas bill.
Consumers Energy has help. This is West Michigan's Morning News
Steve Kelly and Ret Keita, media relations specialist with Consumers Energy.
Brian Wheeler back on the liveline. Brian, thanks for doing
this today.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
Yeah, good morning to you.
Speaker 1 (00:18):
So talk to us a little bit about what help
is available out there.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
Yeah, and really let's just start by talking about this
summer that it seems to be getting us a little
relief right now. But of course July was really hot,
and of course the hotter it gets, the more we
use our air conditioners or other energy using devices to
stay cool. So, knowing that bills have been higher for
a lot of people, we Consumers Energy put two million
(00:43):
dollars toward the Salvation Army and the Heat and Warmth
Fund to help people specifically get back on their feet.
Speaker 1 (00:50):
Yeah. So who qualifies for this? How do you know?
Speaker 2 (00:54):
Yeah? Exactly. Well, as always, I would say, if you're
in a situation where you're feeling hardshipped or strugg in
your household, whether it is because of your energy bill specifically,
or a job loss or medical debt, or who knows,
going out and getting help is the most important thing
to do calling two one one, which is a great
resource to connect you with nonprofit dollars. But the two
million dollars we put on the table goes to these
(01:16):
two great nonprofits, and we want you to reach out
if you're facing trouble, if you're behind on your bill,
if you're past to or even some cases, maybe you've
lost service at a previous address and move somewhere else
and then can't get news service. Eligibility is pretty expandard.
If you are making up to sixty two thousand dollars
as as your individual income or one hundred twenty thousand
(01:38):
dollars as your family income, you should be eligible. Our
nonprofit folks will work with you and get you, hopefully
some dollars that make a difference.
Speaker 3 (01:45):
Right. It was funny because I was talking to my
neighbors when I got my recent building you were talking about.
I was like, sticker shock, I'm whoa. And I was
asking other people, I'm like, is this something wrong with
my bill? Or is it you know? And that I
was remembering obviously all the ninety degree days, and you
know how, I'm on an energy conservative thing as far
as my air conditioner and so it runs on non
(02:05):
peak times, which is you know, different different things that
are out there you can take advantage of it. But
it also reminded me of what you guys are trying
to do in what the push is right now with
trying to come up with different ways for energy right
and how to reserve it, how to also you know,
have different ideas like the windmills that we have and
(02:26):
different opportunities that you guys have been talking about with
this footprint right of going green.
Speaker 1 (02:32):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (02:32):
Absolutely, and you know, we really want people to be
be part of this, to be engaged. I mean, I
think some people think legitimately honestly that you know, your
bill is something you sort of a set it and
forget it type of thing where you you know, you
know your bill is related to how much energy you're using,
and you usually have the power to control a big
part of that. Now, it's tough in the summertime, we
(02:54):
run an air conditioning because we have to stay cool
in the winter, in reverse, we have to run our
furnace and we have to stay warm. There's an expense
that's involved with that. So you know, month to months,
you see those spikes, those things, those prices change, and
so what we're doing A Consumer's Energy is trying to
help you understand your bill, understand what you can do
to really keep the cost slow as we develop new
(03:14):
energy sources. We're trying to be responsible and affordable and
reliable with that. But you have a lot that you
can do to be in charge. Work with us a
Consumer's Energy. Go to our online website, go to consumers
Energy dot com slash offers, and you can plug in
information about your household to learn about those different programs
and products we have that are going to hopefully save
you some good money.
Speaker 1 (03:34):
We'll get a link in the podcast section at with
radio dot com where this conversation will live. Last question
for you, completely off topic. We are talking about our
first concert experience. Do you remember the first concert that
you bought a ticket for? Brian Wheeler?
Speaker 2 (03:52):
Oh? With all okay, so I'll be quick. My parents
took me to the Kinks when I was four because
the babysitter didn't show up tickets for that one. I
was fifteen years old. I lived in New England and
I went to see you two in Western Massachusetts with
the Friends ticket. Yeah, Joshua Tree tour. So I feel old,
(04:13):
but also pretty grateful.
Speaker 3 (04:14):
Wait a minute, I mean you just crowned us because
Steve had police right up in Syracuse at the Carrier Dome,
and I I had I'm the lowly one. I had
Brian Adams at the Bruslin Center back when the whole
Robin Hood you know, uh movie soundtrack was coming out.
But I mean, you're Joshua Tree.
Speaker 1 (04:31):
I keep getting getting drowsy whenever you bring up Brian,
and I.
Speaker 2 (04:35):
Have chosen Brian Adams first before I chose you too.
Speaker 1 (04:39):
Media relations manager Brian Wheeler with Consumers Energy. Thank you,
Thank you,
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