MICHIGAN
Winter energy bills might not be such a shock with a budget plan.Consumers Energy introduced its Budget Plan this month for customers who didnt like seeing high heating bills in the winter.The plan would take a customers annual energy cost and divide it into 12 equal payments.The benefit for the customer is instead of seeing very high bills in the winter, it spreads it out over the warmer months so they dont have any surprises, said Jeff Holyfield, Consumers Energy spokesman.The typical customer will see a monthly budget of about $80, which Holyfield said is based on past energy usage and gas prices.Last year, 22 percent of Consumers Energys natural gas customers were on the Budget Plan and more are expected to enroll this year.Nobody likes surprises with their budgets, and most students have to keep houses year-round, Holyfield said.