EXHIBIT (99)(a)




                                                                EXHIBIT (99)(a)



                    CERTIFICATION OF CEO AND CFO PURSUANT TO
                             18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
                             AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
                  SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the Annual Report on Form 10-K/A of Consumers Energy Company
(the "Company") for the annual period ended December 31, 2001 as filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the "Report"), Kenneth
Whipple, as Chief Executive Officer of the Company, and Thomas J. Webb, as
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company, each hereby
certifies, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section
906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that, to the best of his knowledge:

     (1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or
15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

     (2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all
material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the
Company.

/s/ Kenneth Whipple
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Name:  Kenneth Whipple
Title: Chief Executive Officer
Date:  February 19, 2003

/s/ Thomas J. Webb
------------------------------
Name:  Thomas J. Webb
Title: Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Date:  February 19, 2003

This certification accompanies the Report pursuant to Section 906 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and shall not, except to the extent required by the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, be deemed filed by the Company for purposes of
Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.