A major electrical utility company in Michigan, Consumers Energy will launch an innovative energy conservation program in collaboration with the Michigan Public Service Commission, the City of Grand Rapids and other project collaborators. Called SmartStreet, the initiative was launched at the Inner City Christian Federation (ICCF) building.

Under the initiative, one of Grand Rapids' most historic neighborhoods – the East Hills area – will receive a "smart" makeover next year. The program is expected to encourage energy efficiency and sustainability, as well as savings for Consumers Energy’s electric customers.

“Today's SmartStreet launch showcases Consumers Energy's commitment to partnering with our residential and business customers using innovative technologies to help them control their energy costs. We selected the East Hills neighborhood to launch SmartStreet because we want to demonstrate that engaged customers can save money when they apply new energy efficient technologies,” Consumers Energy's president and chief executive officer, John Russell commented in a statement.

The principal subsidiary of CMS Energy, Consumers Energy provides natural gas and electricity to nearly 6.5 million of Michigan's 10 million residents in all 68 lower peninsula counties. In a news conference, Consumers Energy officials showcased electric smart meters that are supposed to be installed at approximately 60 East Hills homes and businesses in 2011. Unlike existing electric meters which only measure energy usage, smart meters will allow two-way communication between the utility and its customers using wireless technology, the utility company informed. They further explained that smart meters have the ability to send near real-time updates to home computers or energy management systems to let customers know what they're paying for energy usage and allow them to participate in new, money-saving programs.

“The SmartStreet program will empower customers like never before by giving them new tools to save money and energy,” the chairman of the Michigan Public Service Commission noted in a statement.

Other Grand Rapids locations expected to participate in the SmartStreet program in 2011 include the Public Museum of Grand Rapids and the City/County Administration Building.

In a separate press release, Consumers Energy announced the appointment of Patti Poppe as vice president of customer operations, effective Jan. 1.

Poppe will head the Customer Operations Department, which encompasses many of the utility's units that deal directly with customers, including the customer service call centers, billing group, energy optimization programs, and other customer value programs. She will report to Daniel J. Malone, the senior vice president of distribution and customer operations, the company said.