JACKSON, Mich., Dec. 19, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Consumers Energy will be conducting an information session on Jan. 9, 2013 at Jackson Community College (JCC) for electric customers interested in learning about customer-installed solar energy systems.

The session will be held at the Potter Center on the JCC central campus. The session is free of charge, open to the public and will take place from 5:30 PM until 8:30 PM.

Speakers during the session will provide information on how customers can install their own solar energy systems as part of Consumers Energy's Experimental Advanced Renewable Program (EARP), enabled by Michigan's energy reform law. Reservations for this session and information about the program are available at www.consumersenergy.com/EARP

Consumers Energy's program currently has contracts in place to purchase renewable energy from 181 customer-owned solar generators as part of the utility's renewable energy plan. This session will begin a new phase of the program and will begin accepting applications from electric residential customers on Jan. 2, 2013. Applications will be due Feb. 6, 2013.

Consumers Energy, the principal subsidiary of CMS Energy (NYSE: CMS), provides natural gas and electricity to 6.8 million of Michigan's 10 million residents in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties.

For more information about Consumers Energy, visit our Website at www.consumersenergy.com

SOURCE Consumers Energy