Consumers Energy is offering a reward to help catch thieves who’ve been stealing copper from the utility’s substations.
Copper is expensive right now, and that’s driving thieves to strip wire from abandoned homes and buildings.
Thieves have also struck 20 Consumers Energy substations since January.
Dan Bishop is the utility’s spokesman. He says the utility is fighting back.
"It's a very serious issue. It's a safety issue," Bishop says."As a consequence, Consumers is offering a $10,000 rewrd to people who can offer information leading to the arrest and conviction of these thieves."
Bishop says the substations already have barbed wire around them, and Consumers is adding other security measures. He says touching any equipment around a substation can cause serious burns or death.
He says people who have information about the thefts may leave anonymous tips on the company’s hotline.
Consumers Energy hotline: 800-760-3295.
