May 8, 2009 — Consumers Energy is strengthening customer safeguards to prevent identity theft and protect personal information.
In compliance with the federal Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACTA), residential customers seeking new energy service or changing their service address will notice these changes starting this month.
“Consumers Energy is committed to safeguarding the personal information that our customers entrust to us. The FACTA guidelines will strengthen our existing protections on behalf of customers,” said Frank Johnson, senior vice president of energy operations.
Customers who contact Consumers Energy for new service, or to change a service address, will be required to provide a driver’s license number, Social Security number, or a Michigan ID card.
Customers unable to provide that information will be required to provide printed evidence of their identification. That could include a U.S. military card, military dependent’s ID card, Native American tribal document, or passport. Under FACTA guidelines, realtors, builders and contractors must have the customer of record directly contact Consumers Energy to establish new energy service.
Consumers Energy, the principal subsidiary of CMS Energy, provides natural gas and electricity to nearly 6.5 million customers in Michigan.
