8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF

THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) April 20, 2022

Commission	Registrant; State of Incorporation;	IRS Employer
File Number	Address; and Telephone Number	Identification No.
1-9513	CMS ENERGY CORPORATION (A Michigan Corporation) One Energy Plaza Jackson, Michigan 49201 (517) 788-0550	38-2726431
1-5611	CONSUMERS ENERGY COMPANY (A Michigan Corporation) One Energy Plaza Jackson, Michigan 49201 (517) 788-0550	38-0442310

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

¨ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class	Trading Symbol(s)	Name of each exchange  on which registered
CMS Energy Corporation Common Stock, $0.01 par value	CMS	New York Stock Exchange
CMS Energy Corporation 5.625% Junior Subordinated Notes due 2078	CMSA	New York Stock Exchange
CMS Energy Corporation 5.875% Junior Subordinated Notes due 2078	CMSC	New York Stock Exchange
CMS Energy Corporation 5.875% Junior Subordinated Notes due 2079	CMSD	New York Stock Exchange
CMS Energy Corporation, Depositary Shares, each representing a 1/1,000th interest in a share of 4.200% Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series C	CMS PRC	New York Stock Exchange
Consumers Energy Company Cumulative Preferred Stock, $100 par value: $4.50 Series	CMS-PB	New York Stock Exchange

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).  

Emerging growth company:  CMS Energy Corporation ¨        Consumers Energy Company ¨

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.  CMS Energy Corporation ¨  Consumers Energy Company ¨

Item 8.01. Other Matters.

Consumers Energy Company (“Consumers”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of CMS Energy Corporation (“CMS Energy”), and key stakeholders throughout Michigan have agreed on a settlement related to Consumers’ 2021 Clean Energy Plan, a sweeping proposal to stop using coal as a fuel source for electric generation by 2025, making Consumers one of the first in the nation to go coal-free.  The News Release is attached as Exhibit 99 and is incorporated by reference herein.

Investors and others should note that CMS Energy routinely posts important information on its website and considers the Investor Relations section, www.cmsenergy.com/investor-relations, a channel of distribution.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits.

	Exhibit  Index
99	Consumers News Release dated April 20, 2022
104	Cover Page Interactive Data File (the cover page XBRL tags are embedded in the Inline XBRL document).

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrants have duly caused this report to be signed on their behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

		CMS ENERGY CORPORATION
Dated: April 20, 2022	By:	/s/ Shaun M. Johnson
		Shaun M. Johnson
		Senior Vice President and General Counsel
		CONSUMERS ENERGY COMPANY
Dated: April 20, 2022	By:	/s/ Shaun M. Johnson
		Shaun M. Johnson
		Senior Vice President and General Counsel

EX-99

Exhibit 99

Consumers Energy and Key Stakeholders Reach Landmark Agreement to Create Cleaner Energy Future for Michigan

JACKSON, Mich., April 20, 2022 – Consumers Energy and key stakeholders throughout Michigan have agreed on a settlement related to the company’s Clean Energy Plan, a sweeping proposal to stop using coal as a fuel source for electric generation by 2025, making the company one of the first in the nation to go coal-free.

The agreement, which requires regulatory approval, includes a broad coalition of customer groups, environmental organizations, the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) staff, energy industry representatives, and the Michigan Attorney General and provides a 20-year blueprint to meet Michigan’s energy needs while protecting the environment for future generations.

“This is a historic commitment to lead the clean energy transformation and create a brighter future for our state,” said Garrick Rochow, President and CEO of Consumers Energy. “A diverse set of stakeholders came together to endorse a Clean Energy Plan that will provide reliable and affordable energy to customers for decades to come while protecting the environment.”

Consumers Energy updated its original 2018 Clean Energy Plan by including the pledge to accelerate the elimination of coal to 2025, among other benefits to customers and environment in its 2021 Clean Energy Plan, filed with the MPSC last June. The settlement agreement supporting Consumers Energy’s plan comes after more than a year of listening to key stakeholders’ ideas and input. The next step in the process is for the MPSC to review the settlement agreement.

The settlement includes:

• COAL PLANT RETIREMENTS BY 2025: closes all three units at the J.H. Campbell coal plant in West Olive, Michigan in 2025 in addition to two units at the D.E. Karn coal plant in 2023 (as per the 2018 Clean Energy Plan) and will be among the first utilities in the nation to go coal-free by 2025.

• RISE OF SOLAR: continues the rapid transition to clean, renewable sources by adding nearly 8,000 megawatts (MW) of solar power by 2040 ensuring 60 percent of our capacity comes from clean sources.

• BATTERY DEPLOYMENT: accelerates energy storage from 2030 to 2024 with a total of 75 MW of energy storage by 2027, achieving 550 MW by 2040.

• SYSTEM RELIABILTY: ensures supply reliability through the purchase of the Covert Generating Station in Van Buren County, a natural gas-fired power plant.

• AFFORDABLE ENERGY: creates price stability and helps customers save an estimated $600 million dollars through 2040 compared to the 2018 Clean Energy Plan. Consumers Energy would also continue its successful energy waste reduction programs that have saved customers more than $4 billion since 2009. In addition, the company has committed to continue to fund utility bill assistance programs for low-income customers.

“Reaching consensus on this Clean Energy Plan moves Michigan toward a cleaner, more reliable energy future while caring for our co-workers and communities impacted,” Rochow said. “We’re grateful for the thoughtful, positive contributions of all stakeholders throughout this process and look forward to the MPSC’s decision on our plan.”

Consumers Energy, Michigan’s largest energy provider, is the principal subsidiary of CMS Energy (NYSE: CMS), providing natural gas and/or electricity to 6.8 million of the state’s 10 million residents in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties.

# # #

Media Contacts: Katie Carey, 517-740-1739, or Brian Wheeler, 517-740-1545

For more information about Consumers Energy, go to

www.ConsumersEnergy.com.

Check out Consumers Energy on Social Media

 

XML

Cover	Apr. 20, 2022
Document Information [Line Items]
Document Type	8-K
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Apr. 20, 2022
Entity File Number	1-9513
Entity Registrant Name	CMS ENERGY CORPORATION
Entity Central Index Key	0000811156
Entity Tax Identification Number	38-2726431
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	MI
Entity Address, Address Line One	One Energy Plaza
Entity Address, City or Town	Jackson
Entity Address, State or Province	MI
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	49201
City Area Code	517
Local Phone Number	788-0550
Written Communications	false
Soliciting Material	false
Pre-commencement Tender Offer	false
Pre-commencement Issuer Tender Offer	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Common Stock [Member]
Document Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	CMS Energy Corporation Common Stock, $0.01 par value
Trading Symbol	CMS
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
A 5.625 Junior Subordinated Notes Due 2078 Member
Document Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	CMS Energy Corporation 5.625% Junior Subordinated Notes due 2078
Trading Symbol	CMSA
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
A 5.875 Junior Subordinated Notes Due 2078 Member
Document Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	CMS Energy Corporation 5.875% Junior Subordinated Notes due 2078
Trading Symbol	CMSC
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
A 5.875 Junior Subordinated Notes Due 2079 Member
Document Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	CMS Energy Corporation 5.875% Junior Subordinated Notes due 2079
Trading Symbol	CMSD
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Depositary Shares, each representing a 1/1,000th interest in a share of 4.200% Member
Document Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	CMS Energy Corporation, Depositary Shares, each representing a 1/1,000th interest in a share of 4.200%
Trading Symbol	CMS PRC
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Consumers Energy Company Member
Document Information [Line Items]
Document Type	8-K
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Apr. 20, 2022
Entity File Number	1-5611
Entity Registrant Name	CONSUMERS ENERGY COMPANY
Entity Central Index Key	0000201533
Entity Tax Identification Number	38-0442310
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	MI
Entity Address, Address Line One	One Energy Plaza
Entity Address, City or Town	Jackson
Entity Address, State or Province	MI
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	49201
City Area Code	517
Local Phone Number	788-0550
Written Communications	false
Soliciting Material	false
Pre-commencement Tender Offer	false
Pre-commencement Issuer Tender Offer	false
Title of 12(b) Security	Consumers Energy Company Cumulative Preferred Stock, $100 par value: $4.50 Series
Trading Symbol	CMS-PB
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false