OR

EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from _____to_____

Certain terms used in the text and financial statements are defined below.

2016 Energy Law

Michigan’s Public Acts 341 and 342 of 2016, which became effective in April 2017

2018 Form 10‑K

Each of CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ Annual Report on Form 10‑K for the year ended December 31, 2018

ABATE

The Association of Businesses Advocating Tariff Equity

ARO

Asset retirement obligation

ASU

Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Update

Bay Harbor

A residential/commercial real estate area located near Petoskey, Michigan, in which CMS Energy sold its interest in 2002

bcf

Billion cubic feet

Cantera Gas Company

Cantera Gas Company LLC, a non‑affiliated company, formerly known as CMS Field Services

Cantera Natural Gas, Inc.

Cantera Natural Gas, Inc., a non‑affiliated company that purchased CMS Field Services

CCR

Coal combustion residual

CEO

Chief Executive Officer

CERCLA

The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, as amended

CFO

Chief Financial Officer

Clean Air Act

Federal Clean Air Act of 1963, as amended

Clean Water Act

Federal Water Pollution Control Act of 1972, as amended

CMS Capital

CMS Capital, L.L.C., a wholly owned subsidiary of CMS Energy

CMS Energy

CMS Energy Corporation and its consolidated subsidiaries, unless otherwise noted; the parent of Consumers and CMS Enterprises

CMS Enterprises

CMS Enterprises Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of CMS Energy

CMS ERM

CMS Energy Resource Management Company, formerly known as CMS MST, a wholly owned subsidiary of CMS Enterprises

CMS Field Services

CMS Field Services, Inc., a former wholly owned subsidiary of CMS Gas Transmission Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of CMS Enterprises

CMS Land

CMS Land Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of CMS Capital

CMS MST

CMS Marketing, Services and Trading Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of CMS Enterprises, whose name was changed to CMS ERM in 2004

Consumers

Consumers Energy Company and its consolidated subsidiaries, unless otherwise noted; a wholly owned subsidiary of CMS Energy

CSAPR

The Cross‑State Air Pollution Rule of 2011, as amended

DB Pension Plans

Defined benefit pension plans of CMS Energy and Consumers, including certain present and former affiliates and subsidiaries

DB SERP

Defined Benefit Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan

DIG

Dearborn Industrial Generation, L.L.C., a wholly owned subsidiary of Dearborn Industrial Energy, L.L.C., a wholly owned subsidiary of CMS Energy

Dodd‑Frank Act

Dodd‑Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010

EBITDA

Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization

EGLE

The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, formerly known as the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality

EnerBank

EnerBank USA, a wholly owned subsidiary of CMS Capital

energy waste reduction

The reduction of energy consumption through energy efficiency and demand‑side energy conservation, as established under the 2016 Energy Law

EPA

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

EPS

Earnings per share

Exchange Act

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

FDIC

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation

FERC

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

FTR

Financial transmission right

GAAP

U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles

GCR

Gas cost recovery

Genesee

Genesee Power Station Limited Partnership, a variable interest entity in which HYDRA‑CO Enterprises, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of CMS Enterprises, has a 50‑percent interest

Internal Revenue Code

Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended

IRP

Integrated resource plan

ITC

International Transmission Company, wholly owned by ITC Holdings Corp., a non‑affiliated company

kWh

Kilowatt‑hour, a unit of energy equal to one thousand watt‑hours

LIBOR

The London Interbank Offered Rate

Ludington

Ludington pumped‑storage plant, jointly owned by Consumers and DTE Electric Company, a non‑affiliated company

MATS

Mercury and Air Toxics Standards, which limit mercury, acid gases, and other toxic pollution from coal‑fueled and oil‑fueled power plants

MCV Partnership

Midland Cogeneration Venture Limited Partnership

MCV PPA

PPA between Consumers and the MCV Partnership

MD&A

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

METC

Michigan Electric Transmission Company, LLC, a non‑affiliated company

MGP

Manufactured gas plant

Michigan Mercury Rule

Michigan Air Pollution Control Rules of 2009, as amended, Part 15: Emission Limitations and Prohibitions – Mercury

MISO

Midcontinent Independent System Operator, Inc.

MISS DIG Act

MISS DIG Underground Facility Damage Prevention and Safety Act of 2013

mothball

To place a generating unit into a state of extended reserve shutdown in which the unit is inactive and unavailable for service for a specified period, during which the unit can be brought back into service after receiving appropriate notification and completing any necessary maintenance or other work; generation owners in MISO must request approval to mothball a unit, and MISO then evaluates the request for reliability impacts

MPSC

Michigan Public Service Commission

MW

Megawatt, a unit of power equal to one million watts

NAAQS

National Ambient Air Quality Standards

NPDES

National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System, a permit system for regulating point sources of pollution under the Clean Water Act

NREPA

Part 201 of Michigan’s Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act of 1994, as amended

NSR

New Source Review, a construction‑permitting program under the Clean Air Act

OPEB

Other Post‑Employment Benefits

OPEB Plan

Postretirement health care and life insurance plans of CMS Energy and Consumers, including certain present and former affiliates and subsidiaries

OSHA

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

PCB

Polychlorinated biphenyl

PHMSA

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

PPA

Power purchase agreement

PSCR

Power supply cost recovery

PURPA

The Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978

RCRA

The Federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976

REC

Renewable energy credit

ROA

Retail Open Access, which allows electric generation customers to choose alternative electric suppliers pursuant to Michigan’s Public Acts 141 and 142 of 2000, as amended

SEC

U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission

securitization

A financing method authorized by statute and approved by the MPSC which allows a utility to sell its right to receive a portion of the rate payments received from its customers for the repayment of securitization bonds issued by a special‑purpose entity affiliated with such utility

Smart Energy

Consumers’ Smart Energy grid modernization project, which includes the installation of smart meters that transmit and receive data, a two‑way communications network, and modifications to Consumers’ existing information technology system to manage the data and enable changes to key business processes

TCJA

Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017

Filing Format

This combined Form 10‑Q is separately filed by CMS Energy and Consumers. Information in this combined Form 10‑Q relating to each individual registrant is filed by such registrant on its own behalf. Consumers makes no representation regarding information relating to any other companies affiliated with CMS Energy other than its own subsidiaries. None of CMS Energy, CMS Enterprises, nor any of CMS Energy’s other subsidiaries (other than Consumers) has any obligation in respect of Consumers’ debt securities and holders of such debt securities should not consider the financial resources or results of operations of CMS Energy, CMS Enterprises, nor any of CMS Energy’s other subsidiaries (other than Consumers and its own subsidiaries (in relevant circumstances)) in making a decision with respect to Consumers’ debt securities. Similarly, neither Consumers nor any other subsidiary of CMS Energy has any obligation in respect of debt securities of CMS Energy.

This report should be read in its entirety. No one section of this report deals with all aspects of the subject matter of this report. This report should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes and with MD&A included in the 2018 Form 10‑K.

Available Information

CMS Energy’s internet address is www.cmsenergy.com. CMS Energy routinely posts important information on its website and considers the Investor Relations section, www.cmsenergy.com/investor‑relations, a channel of distribution. Information contained on CMS Energy’s website is not incorporated herein.

Forward‑Looking Statements and Information

This Form 10‑Q and other CMS Energy and Consumers disclosures may contain forward‑looking statements as defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The use of “might,” “may,” “could,” “should,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “projects,” “forecasts,” “predicts,” “assumes,” and other similar words is intended to identify forward‑looking statements that involve risk and uncertainty. This discussion of potential risks and uncertainties is designed to highlight important factors that may impact CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ businesses and financial outlook. CMS Energy and Consumers have no obligation to update or revise forward‑looking statements regardless of whether new information, future events, or any other factors affect the information contained in the statements. These forward‑looking statements are subject to various factors that could cause CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ actual results to differ materially from the results anticipated in these statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, the following, all of which are potentially significant:

All forward‑looking statements should be considered in the context of the risk and other factors described above and as detailed from time to time in CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ SEC filings. For additional details regarding these and other uncertainties, see Part I—Item 1. Financial Statements—MD&A—Outlook and Notes to the Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 2, Regulatory Matters and Note 3, Contingencies and Commitments; and Part II—Item 1A. Risk Factors.

This MD&A is a combined report of CMS Energy and Consumers.

Executive Overview

CMS Energy is an energy company operating primarily in Michigan. It is the parent holding company of several subsidiaries, including Consumers, an electric and gas utility, and CMS Enterprises, primarily a domestic independent power producer and marketer. Consumers’ electric utility operations include the generation, purchase, transmission, distribution, and sale of electricity, and Consumers’ gas utility operations include the purchase, transmission, storage, distribution, and sale of natural gas. Consumers’ customer base consists of a mix of residential, commercial, and diversified industrial customers. CMS Enterprises, through its subsidiaries and equity investments, is engaged in domestic independent power production, including the development and operation of renewable generation, and the marketing of independent power production.

CMS Energy and Consumers manage their businesses by the nature of services each provides. CMS Energy operates principally in three business segments: electric utility; gas utility; and enterprises, its non‑utility operations and investments. Consumers operates principally in two business segments: electric utility and gas utility. CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ businesses are affected primarily by:

CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ purpose is to achieve world class performance while delivering hometown service. In support of this purpose, the companies employ the “Consumers Energy Way,” a lean operating model designed to improve safety, quality, cost, delivery, and employee morale.

CMS Energy and Consumers measure their progress toward the purpose by considering their impact on the “triple bottom line” of people, planet, and profit, which is underpinned by performance; this consideration takes into account not only the economic value that the companies create for customers and investors, but also their responsibility to social and environmental goals. The triple bottom line balances the interests of the companies’ employees, customers, suppliers, regulators, creditors, Michigan’s residents, the investment community, and other stakeholders, and it reflects the broader societal impacts of the companies’ activities.

Consumers’ Sustainability Report, which is available to the public, describes the company’s progress toward world class performance measured in the areas of people, planet, and profit.

The safety of employees, customers, and the general public is a priority of CMS Energy and Consumers. Accordingly, CMS Energy and Consumers have worked to integrate a set of safety principles into their business operations and culture. These principles include complying with applicable safety, health, and security regulations and implementing programs and processes aimed at continually improving safety and security conditions. Over the last ten years, Consumers’ OSHA recordable incident rate has decreased by over 70 percent.

CMS Energy and Consumers also place a high priority on customer value and on providing a hometown customer experience. Consumers’ customer-driven investment program is aimed at improving safety and increasing electric and gas reliability, which has resulted in measurable improvements in customer satisfaction.

Central to Consumers’ commitment to its customers are the initiatives it has undertaken to keep electricity and natural gas affordable, including:

In addition, Consumers’ gas commodity costs declined by 60 percent from 2008 through 2018, due not only to a decrease in market prices but also to Consumers’ improvements to its gas infrastructure and optimization of its gas purchasing and storage strategy. These gas commodity savings are passed on to customers.

state and federal environmental and health and safety laws and regulations to which CMS Energy and

CMS Energy and Consumers continue to focus on opportunities to protect the environment and to reduce their carbon footprint. As a result of actions already taken by CMS Energy and Consumers, including the retirement of seven of Consumers’ coal-fueled electric generating units in 2016, the companies have:

Additionally, over the last 20 years, Consumers has reduced its sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, particulate matter, and mercury emissions by 90 percent.

The 2016 Energy Law:

Consumers filed an IRP with the MPSC in June 2018, detailing its “Clean Energy Plan,” its long‑term strategy for delivering reliable and affordable energy to its customers through the increased use of energy efficiency and customer demand management programs and additional renewable energy. In March 2019, Consumers and a broad coalition of key stakeholders, including business customers, environmental groups, the MPSC Staff, and the Michigan Attorney General, filed a settlementan agreement settling the IRP with the MPSC and the MPSC approved it in June 2019.

Under its IRP,Clean Energy Plan, Consumers will meet the requirements of the 2016 Energy Law using its clean and lean strategy, which focuses on increasing the generation of renewable energy, helping customers use less energy, and offering demand response programs to reduce demand during critical peak times. Further, Consumers plans to replace all of its coal-fueled generation with investment in renewable energy, which will enable Consumers to meet and exceed the 2016 Energy Law renewable energy requirements and fulfill increasing customer demand for renewable energy. Through its IRP,Clean Energy Plan, Consumers expects to reduce carbon emissions by more than 90 percent by 2040. Additionally, the IRPplan will allow Consumers to achieve a breakthrough goal of at least 50 percent combined renewable energy and energy waste reduction by 2030.

Additionally, in an effort to advance its environmental stewardship in Michigan and to minimize the impact of future regulations, Consumers announced the following five‑year targets during 2018:

CMS Energy, through its non‑utility businesses, continues to pursue further opportunities for the development of renewable generation projects. CMS Enterprises has completed the development of and

operates a 105‑MW wind generation project in northwest Ohio and three solar generation projects in Michigan and Wisconsin totaling 27 MW. Renewable energy produced by these projects is committed to customers under long-term PPAs.

CMS Energy and Consumers are monitoring numerous legislative, policy, and regulatory initiatives, including those to regulate greenhouse gases, and related litigation. While CMS Energy and Consumers

For the sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2019, CMS Energy’s net income available to common stockholders was $306$513 million, and diluted EPS were $1.08.$1.81. This compares with net income available to common stockholders of $380$549 million and diluted EPS of $1.35$1.94 for the sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2018. In 2019, the benefits from electric and gas rate increases, and higher gas sales due primarily to colder weather, and the gain on the sale of transmission equipment were more than offset by higher service restoration costs from 2019 winter storms, lower electric sales due primarily to unfavorable weather, higher depreciation, and lower earnings at the enterprises segment.segment, higher depreciation and amortization, and higher service restoration costs from 2019 storms. A more detailed discussion of the factors affecting CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ performance can be found in the Results of Operations section that follows this Executive Overview.

Consumers projects that its electric weather-normalized deliveries will remain stable and gas weather-normalized deliveries will increase slightly through 2023. This outlook reflects modest growth in electric demand offset by the effects of energy waste reduction programs, and modest growth in gas demand offset partially by energy efficiency and conservation.

CMS Energy and Consumers remain committed to achieving world class performance while delivering hometown service. Leveraging the Consumers Energy Way, CMS Energy and Consumers have accomplished the following during 2019:

CMS Energy and Consumers will continue to utilize the Consumers Energy Way to enable them to achieve world class performance and positively impact the triple bottom line. Consumers’ investment plan and the regulatory environment in which it operates also drive its ability to impact the triple bottom line.

Of this amount, Consumers plans to spend $9.3 billion over the next five years to maintain and upgrade its gas infrastructure and electric distribution systems in order to enhance safety and reliability, improve customer satisfaction, and reduce energy waste on those systems. The gas infrastructure projects comprise $5.1 billion to sustain deliverability and enhance pipeline integrity and safety. These projects, which involve replacement of mains and services and enhancement of transmission and storage systems, should reduce the minor quantity of methane emissions released as gas is transported. The electric distribution projects comprise $4.2 billion to strengthen circuits and substations and replace poles. Consumers also expects to spend $1.9$2.5 billion on electric supply projects, representingprimarily new generation, including renewable generation, and environmental investments needed to comply with state and federal laws and regulations.

CMS Energy and Consumers will continue to consider the impact on the triple bottom line of people, planet, and profit in their daily operations as well as in their long-term strategic decisions. Consumers will continue to seek fair and timely regulatory treatment that will support its customer-driven investment plan, while pursuing cost-control measures that will allow it to maintain sustainable customer base rates. The Consumers Energy Way is an important means of realizing CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ purpose of achieving world class performance while delivering hometown service.

Results of Operations

Presented in the following table are specific after-tax changes to CMS Energy’s net income available to common stockholders for the three and sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2019 versus 2018:

Presented in the following table are the detailed changes to the electric utility’s net income available to common stockholders for the three months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2019 versus 2018:2018 (amounts are presented pre-tax, with the exception of income tax changes):

Presented in the following table are the detailed changes to the electric utility’s net income available to common stockholders for the sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2019 versus 2018:2018 (amounts are presented pre-tax, with the exception of income tax changes):

Presented in the following table are the detailed changes to the gas utility’s net income available to common stockholders for the three months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2019 versus 2018:2018 (amounts are presented pre-tax, with the exception of income tax changes):

Presented in the following table are the detailed changes to the gas utility’s net income available to common stockholders for the sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2019 versus 2018:2018 (amounts are presented pre-tax, with the exception of income tax changes):

Presented in the following table are the detailed after-tax changes to the enterprises segment’s net income available to common stockholders for the three months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2019 versus 2018:

Presented in the following table are the detailed after-tax changes to the enterprises segment’s net income available to common stockholders for the sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2019 versus 2018:

Presented in the following table are the detailed after-tax changes to corporate interest and other results for the three months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2019 versus 2018:

Presented in the following table are the detailed after-tax changes to corporate interest and other results for the sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2019 versus 2018:

Cash Position, Investing, and Financing

At JuneSeptember 30, 2019, CMS Energy had $334$433 million of consolidated cash and cash equivalents, which included $22$30 million of restricted cash and cash equivalents. At JuneSeptember 30, 2019, Consumers had $212$284 million of consolidated cash and cash equivalents, which included $16$25 million of restricted cash and cash equivalents. For additional details, see Note 13, Cash and Cash Equivalents.

Presented in the following table are specific components of net cash provided by operating activities for the sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2019 versus 2018:

Presented in the following table are specific components of the changes to net cash used in investing activities for the sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2019 versus 2018:

Presented in the following table are specific components of net cash provided by (used in) financing activities for the sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2019 and 2018:

Capital Resources and Liquidity

CMS Energy uses dividends and tax‑sharing payments from its subsidiaries and external financing and capital transactions to invest in its utility and non‑utility businesses, retire debt, pay dividends, and fund its other obligations. The ability of CMS Energy’s subsidiaries, including Consumers, to pay dividends to CMS Energy depends upon each subsidiary’s revenues, earnings, cash needs, and other factors. In addition, Consumers’ ability to pay dividends is restricted by certain terms included in its debt covenants and articles of incorporation and potentially by FERC requirements and provisions under the Federal Power Act and the Natural Gas Act. For additional details on Consumers’ dividend restrictions, see Note 4, Financings and Capitalization—Dividend Restrictions. For the sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2019, Consumers paid $272$396 million in dividends on its common stock to CMS Energy.

As a result of a provision in the TCJA, CMS Energy is required to recover all alternative minimum tax credits over four years through offsets of regular tax and through cash refunds. CMS Energy expects to be able to offset regular tax through the use of federal net operating loss carryforwards and, accordingly, receive alternative minimum tax credit refunds through 2021. Another provision in the TCJA excludes rate‑regulated utilities from 100 percent cost expensing of certain property. This provision will cause Consumers to make higher tax‑sharing payments to CMS Energy, which in turn might permit CMS Energy to maintain lower levels of debt in order to invest in its businesses, pay dividends, and fund

its general obligations. Consumers expects to have sufficient funding sources available to issue credits to customers for all impacts of the TCJA.

In 2018, CMS Energy entered into an equity offering program under which it may sell, from time to time, shares of CMS Energy common stock having an aggregate sales price of up to $250 million. Under this program, CMS Energy may sell its common stock in privately negotiated transactions, in “at the market” offerings, through forward sales transactions or otherwise. CMS Energy has entered into forward sales contracts having an aggregate sales price of $250 million. These contracts allow CMS Energy to either physically settle the contracts by issuing shares of its common stock at the then‑applicable forward sale price specified by the agreement or net settle the contracts through the delivery or receipt of cash or shares. CMS Energy may settle the contracts at any time through their maturity dates, and presently intends to physically settle the contracts by delivering shares of its common stock. For more information on the forward sale contracts, see Note 4, Financings and Capitalization.

Consumers uses cash flows generated from operations and external financing transactions, as well as stockholder contributions from CMS Energy, to fund capital expenditures, retire debt, pay dividends, contribute to its employee benefit plans, and fund its other obligations. Accelerated pension funding in prior years and several initiatives to reduce costs have helped improve cash flows from operating activities. Consumers anticipates continued strong cash flows from operating activities for 2019 and beyond.

Access to the financial and capital markets depends on CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ credit ratings and on market conditions. As evidenced by past financing transactions, CMS Energy and Consumers have had ready access to these markets. Barring major market dislocations or disruptions, CMS Energy and Consumers expect to continue to have ready access to the financial and capital markets. If access to these markets were to diminish or otherwise become restricted, CMS Energy and Consumers would implement contingency plans to address debt maturities, which could include reduced capital spending.

At JuneSeptember 30, 2019, CMS Energy had $548$547 million of its revolving credit facility available and Consumers had $1,078$1,068 million available under its revolving credit facilities. CMS Energy and Consumers use these credit facilities for general working capital purposes and to issue letters of credit. An additional source of liquidity is Consumers’ commercial paper program, which allows Consumers to issue, in one or more placements, up to $500 million in the aggregate in commercial paper notes with maturities of up to 365 days and that bear interest at fixed or floating rates. These issuances are supported by Consumers’ revolving credit facilities. While the amount of outstanding commercial paper does not reduce the available capacity of the revolving credit facilities, Consumers does not intend to issue commercial paper in an amount exceeding the available capacity of the facilities. At JuneSeptember 30, 2019, there were no commercial paper notes outstanding under this program. For additional details on CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ revolving credit facilities and commercial paper program, see Note 4, Financings and Capitalization.

Consumers were each in compliance with these covenants as of JuneSeptember 30, 2019, as presented in the following table:

Components of CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ cash management plan include controlling operating expenses and capital expenditures and evaluating market conditions for financing and refinancing opportunities. CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ present level of cash and expected cash flows from operating activities, together with access to sources of liquidity, are anticipated to be sufficient to fund the companies’ contractual obligations for 2019 and beyond.

CMS Energy, Consumers, and certain of their subsidiaries enter into various arrangements in the normal course of business to facilitate commercial transactions with third parties. These arrangements include indemnities, surety bonds, letters of credit, and financial and performance guarantees. Indemnities are usually agreements to reimburse a counterparty that may incur losses due to outside claims or breach of contract terms. The maximum payment that could be required under a number of these indemnity obligations is not estimable; the maximum obligation under indemnities for which such amounts were estimable was $153 million at JuneSeptember 30, 2019. While CMS Energy and Consumers believe it is unlikely that they will incur any material losses related to indemnities they have not recorded as liabilities, they cannot predict the impact of these contingent obligations on their liquidity and financial condition. For additional details on these and other guarantee arrangements, see Note 3, Contingencies and Commitments—Guarantees.

Outlook

Several business trends and uncertainties may affect CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ financial condition and results of operations. These trends and uncertainties could have a material impact on CMS Energy’s and Consumers’ consolidated income, cash flows, or financial position. For additional details regarding these and other uncertainties, see Forward-Looking Statements and Information; Note 2, Regulatory Matters; Note 3, Contingencies and Commitments; and Part II—Item 1A. Risk Factors.

Through its IRP,Clean Energy Plan, Consumers expects to reduce carbon emissions by more than 90 percent by 2040 and eliminate the use of coal to generate electricity by 2040. Specifically, the IRPClean Energy Plan provides for:

Under the IRP,Clean Energy Plan, Consumers will replace the capacity to be retired with:

Consumers will competitively bid new capacity and at least 50 percent of the new capacity will be built and owned by third parties; the remainder will be owned and operated by Consumers. In accordancesupport of its Clean Energy Plan, Consumers issued a request for proposals in September 2019 to acquire up to 300 MW of new capacity from projects to be operational in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula by May 2022. Specifically, Consumers is soliciting offers to enter into PPAs with or purchase solar generation projects ranging in size from 20 MW to 150 MW and to enter into PPAs with PURPA qualifying facilities up to 20 MW. Any contracts entered into as a result of the 2016 Energy Law,request for proposals would be subject to MPSC approval.

As approved by the MPSC, the IRP also enablesallows Consumers to earn a financial incentive on PPAs approved by the MPSC after January 1, 2019.

Based on concerns that the costs Consumers incurs to purchase power from qualifying facilities are passed on to customers, theNovember 2017 order could resulthave resulted in mandated purchases of generation, potentially at above‑marketabove-market prices, and reduce Consumers’ need for new owned generation. This in turn could have a material adverse effect on Consumers’ capital investment plan and the affordability of future customer rates.

In November 2018, Consumers made a filing in support of another party’s request that the MPSC stay the effectiveness of its October 2018 order. In February 2019, Consumers filed a petition with the MPSC challenging the rates approved in the October 2018 order, and it separately filed a request to withdraw a tariff provision incorporating those rates. In June 2019, the MPSC denied both of these requests, as well as the prior request for a stay of the October 2018 order. Five PURPA developers representing approximately 2,100 MW of alleged qualifying generation projects, have filed complaints with the MPSC claiming that their projects havehad legally enforceable obligations making them eligible for the avoided cost rates approved in the October 2018 order. One of those developers is challengingchallenged aspects of the MPSC’s October 2018 order in the Michigan Court of Appeals.

In the approved IRP settlement agreement, Consumers agreed to a new method of calculating avoided cost, based on a competitive bidding process that will enable Consumers to purchase energy from new generation at the lowest cost and mitigate the risk of forced purchases of unneeded renewable generation.

In September 2019, FERC issued a notice of proposed rulemaking that could result in modifications to the current federal regulations implementing PURPA. Among other things, the proposal would change the rules for measuring the size of qualifying facilities and determining whether certain PURPA projects have access to wholesale markets. The proposal would also provide states with more flexibility to set the prices paid to PURPA projects. Consumers does not anticipate the proposed rulemaking will affect the PURPA projects with which it has agreements. Consumers cannot predict the outcome of these matters.this proposed rulemaking.

energy requirement each year with a combination of newly generated RECs and previously generated RECs carried over from prior years.

In February 2019, the MPSC issued an order ruling on amendments Consumers had requested to its renewable energy plan. The MPSCplan, and approved the acquisition of up to 525 MW of new wind generation projects. Under the renewable energy plan, Consumers is authorized to earn a 10.7 percent return on equity on any projects but ruled that Consumers’ request to acquire up to 100 MW of new solar generation will be addressedapproved by the MPSC. Also in a separate proceeding. TheFebruary 2019, the MPSC also approved an agreement under which Consumers will purchasepurchased a wind generation project under development, with capacity of up to 150 MW, in Gratiot County, Michigan. Consumers expects to begin on-site construction of this project during the fourth quarter of 2019 and that it will be complete and operational in 2020.

In June 2019, Consumers entered into an agreement to purchase a wind generation project under development in Hillsdale, Michigan, with capacity of up to 166 MW. Under the agreement, which the MPSC conditionally approved in October 2019, Consumers expects to take full ownership and begin commercial operation of the project in 2020. Additionally, in September 2019, the MPSC approved a 20‑year agreement under which Consumers will purchase 100 MW of renewable capacity, energy, and RECs from a 149‑MW solar generating facility to be constructed in Calhoun County, Michigan. The agreementfacility is subjectexpected to MPSC approval.

Consumers expects weather‑normalized electric deliveries over the next five years to remain stable relative to 2018. This outlook reflects modest growth in electric demand offset by the effects of energy waste reduction programs and appliance efficiency standards. Actual delivery levels will depend on:

The 2016 Energy Law established a path to ensure that forward capacity is secured for all electric customers in Michigan, including customers served by alternative electric suppliers under ROA. The new law also authorized the MPSC to ensure that alternative electric suppliers have procured enough capacity to cover their anticipated capacity requirements for the four‑year forward period. In 2017, the MPSC

issued an order establishing a state reliability mechanism for Consumers. Under this mechanism, beginning June 1, 2018, if an alternative electric supplier does not demonstrate that it has procured its capacity requirements for the four‑year forward period, its customers will pay a set charge to the utility for capacity that is not provided by the alternative electric supplier. All alternative electric suppliers have demonstrated that they have procured their capacity requirements through the MISO planning year beginning June 1, 2022.

In June 2018, the MPSC issued an order requiring all electric suppliers to demonstrate that a portion of the capacity procured to serve customers during peak demand times is located in the MISO footprint in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula. In July 2018, the Michigan Court of Appeals issued a decision that the MPSC does not have statutory authority to implement such a requirement for alternative electric suppliers. Consumers believes the 2016 Energy Law does give such authorization to the MPSC. The MPSC and Consumers have filed applications for leave to appeal the Court of Appeals’ decision to the Michigan Supreme Court. In June 2019, the Michigan Supreme Court issued orders directing the filing of supplemental briefs and the scheduling of oral arguments in the case, and will ultimately decide whether to consider and rule on the appeals. Oral arguments have been scheduled for November 2019.

CSAPR, which became effective in 2015, requires Michigan and many other states to improve air quality by reducing power plant emissions that, according to EPA computer models, contribute to ground‑level ozone and fine particle pollution in other downwind states. In 2016, the EPA finalized new ozone season standards for CSAPR, which became effective in 2017. CSAPRAny litigation or remand to the EPA is presently being litigated; however, any decision will not expected to impact Consumers’ compliance strategy, as Consumers expects its emissions to be within the CSAPR allowance allocations.

In 2012, the EPA published emission standards for electric generating units, based on Section 112 of the Clean Air Act, known as MATS. Under MATS, all of Consumers’ existing coal‑fueled electric generating units were required to add additional controls for hazardous air pollutants. Consumers met the extended deadline of April 2016 for five coal‑fueled units and two oil/gas‑fueled units it continues to operate and retired its seven remaining coal‑fueled units. MATS is presently being litigated. In addition, in December 2018, the EPA proposed changes to the supporting analysis used to justify MATS, but did not propose any changes to the MATS regulations. Any changes resulting from that litigation or rulemaking are not expected to impact Consumers’ MATS compliance strategy because Consumers is still required to comply with the Michigan Mercury Rule, which has similar requirements to MATS. In addition, Consumers must comply with its settlement agreement with the EPA entered into in 2014 concerning opacity and NSR.

In 2015, the EPA lowered the NAAQS for ozone. The new ozone NAAQS will make it more difficult to construct or modify power plants in areas of the country that have not met the new ozone standard. In April 2018, the EPA designated certain areas of Michigan as not meeting the new standard with an August 2018 effective date. None of Consumers’ fossil‑fuel‑fired generating units are located in these

areas. Some of Consumers’ compressor stations are located in areas impacted by the rule, but Consumers expects only minor permitting impacts if those units are modified in the future. The NAAQS for ozone are presently being litigated. Consumers does not expect that any decisionlitigation involving NAAQS for ozone will have a material adverse impact on its generating assets.

Consumers’ strategy to comply with air quality regulations, including CSAPR, NAAQS, and MATS, as well as its legal obligations, involved the installation and operation of emission control equipment at some facilities and the suspension of operations at others; however, Consumers continues to evaluate these rules in conjunction with other EPA and EGLE rulemakings, litigation, and congressional action. This evaluation could result in:

In 2015, the EPA finalized new rules pursuant to Section 111(b) of the Clean Air Act to limit carbon dioxide emissions from new electric generating units, as well as modified or reconstructed electric generating units. New coal‑fueled units would not be able to meet this limit without installing carbon dioxide control equipment using such methods as carbon capture and sequestration. These rules are being litigated.

In December 2018, the EPA proposed a revised Section 111(b) regulation to replace the 2015 standard rule limiting carbon dioxide emissions from new electric generating units, citing limited availability and high costs of carbon capture and sequestration equipment as reasons to change the 2015 rule. The revised Section 111(b) regulation requires new coal‑fueled generating units to meet a highly efficient steam cycle performance standard. Consumers does not expect this proposal to change its existing environmental strategy.

Also in 2015, the EPA published final rules pursuant to Section 111(d) of the Clean Air Act to limit carbon dioxide emissions from existing electric generating units, calling the rules the “Clean Power Plan.” Certain states, corporations, and industry groups initiated litigation opposing the proposed Clean Power Plan, and in 2016, the U.S. Supreme Court stayed the Clean Power Plan while the litigation proceeded. In 2017, the EPA and other federal agencies were directed to review the Clean Power Plan, and the EPA published a proposal to repeal it. In June 2019, the EPA released a final rule repealing the Clean Power Plan.

In August 2018, the EPA proposed the “Affordable Clean Energy” rule as a replacement for the EPA’s Clean Power Plan. There was also a proposal to modify the Clean Air Act permitting requirements. The EPA finalized the Affordable Clean Energy rule in June 2019, but did not include the proposal to modify the Clean Air Act permitting requirements.2019. The Affordable Clean Energy rule requires individual states to evaluate coal‑fueled power plants for heat‑rate improvements that could increase overall plant efficiency. The evaluations to be performed by the State of Michigan under the final rule may require Consumers to make heat-rate improvements be made at Consumers’its remaining coal-fueled units beginning in the mid-2020s. This rule is presently being litigated. Consumers cannot evaluate the potential impact of the rule until the State of Michigan completes its evaluations.

In 2015, a group of 195 countries, including the U.S., finalized the Paris Agreement, which governs carbon dioxide reduction measures beginning in 2020. Although the U.S. subsequently withdrew from the

Paris Agreement, it has stated a desire to renegotiate a new agreement in the future. At this time, Consumers does not expect any adverse changes to its environmental strategy as a result of these events.

While Consumers cannot predict the outcome of changes in U.S. policy or of other legislative or regulatory initiatives involving the potential regulation of greenhouse gases, it intends to continue to move forward with its clean energy plan,Clean Energy Plan, its present carbon reduction goal, and its emphasis on supply diversity. Consumers will continue to monitor regulatory and legislative activity and related litigation regarding greenhouse gas emissions standards that may affect electric generating units.

Severe weather events and climate change associated with increasing levels of greenhouse gases could affect the companies’Consumers’ facilities and energy sales and could have a material impact on the companies’its future results of operations. Consumers is unable to predict these events or their financial impact; however, Consumers plans for adverse weather and takes steps to reduce its potential impact.

Litigation, international treaties, federal laws and regulations (including regulations by the EPA), and state laws and regulations, if enacted or ratified, could ultimately require Consumers to replace

Separately, Congress passed legislation in 2016 allowing participating states to develop permitting programs for CCRs under RCRA. In JulyDecember 2018, the EPA published preliminary rulemaking that was intended to amend the 2015 final rule. The rulemaking did not change Consumers’ compliance strategy, but demonstrated the EPA’s willingness to allow states to incorporate flexibility into their permitting processes. Consumers is waiting for the EPA to promulgate a final rule. In December 2018, Michigan Legislature adopted a permitting program, which requires the EPA’s authorization. This program should reduce costly, duplicative oversight over CCRs and provide local oversight to CCR issues unique to Michigan. EGLE submitted the state CCR permit program application to Michigan’s Attorney General in June 2019 for review and signature. The Attorney General’s office is presently working on anengaged in a detailed review of the program and application requesting such authorization for the Michigan permitting program.with EGLE. Federal rulemaking delays also have the potential tochallenges may delay EPA approval of the Michigan permitting program.

In 2015, the EPA released its final effluent limitation guidelines. These guidelines, which are presently being litigated, set stringent new requirements for the discharge from electric generating units into wastewater streams. In August 2017, the EPA announced that it will undertake a rulemaking to replace specific portions of the rule. In September 2017, the EPA proposed delaying the compliance start dates for two years, but maintained the compliance end dates. Consumers expects that additional rulemaking will begin in 2019 and likely conclude in 2020. Consumers does not expect any adverse changes to its environmental strategy as a result of any revisions to the rule.

In 2015,recent years, the EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers published a final rulehave proposed rules redefining “waters of the United States,” which defines the scope of the EPA’s jurisdiction under the Clean Water Act. Numerous statesAct, and proposing other interested parties have filed suits in federal courts to block the rule, which subsequently was stayed in 2015 while litigation ensued. In January 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruled that the federal district courts, not the federal appellate courts, had jurisdiction over challengeschanges to the Clean Water Act regulations. For example, the EPA recently finalized a rule repealing the 2015

A final definition particularly with respect to tributaries, adjacent waters, and wetlands. The EPA’s recently proposed rule narrows the definition of jurisdictional waters.

Many of Consumers’ facilities maintain NPDES permits, which are renewed every five years and are vital to the facilities’ operations. Failure of EGLE to renew any NPDES permit, a successful appeal against a permit, or onerous terms contained in a permit could have a significant detrimental effect on the operations of a facility.

effects of energy efficiency and conservation. Actual delivery levels from year to year may vary from this expectation as a result of:

Also inIn 2016, PHMSA published an interim final rule that established minimum federal safety standards for underground natural gas storage facilities. As published,To comply with the interim rule, could cause Consumers to incurincurred increased capital and operating and maintenance costs to expand inspections, maintenance, and monitoring of its underground gas storage facilities. PHMSA expects to publish a final rule infinalize additional requirements by the end of 2019.

Although associated capital or operating and maintenance costs relating to these regulations could be material and cost recovery cannot be assured, Consumers would expectexpects to recover such costs and capital expenditures in rates consistent with the recovery of other reasonable costs of complying with laws and regulations. Consumers will continue to monitor gas safety regulations and is implementing the American Petroleum Institute’s Recommended Practice 1173, Pipeline Safety Management Systems. This program ensures that there are policies, procedures, work instructions, forms, and records in place so thatto streamline adoption and deployment of any existing or new regulation can be adopted and deployed across the appropriate parts of the enterprise.future regulations.

Under its energy waste reduction plan, Consumers provides its customers with incentives to reduce usage by offering energy audits, rebates and discounts on purchases of highly efficient appliances, and other incentives and programs.

CMS Energy’s primary focus with respect to its enterprises businesses is to maximize the value of generating assets, its share of which represents 1,234 MW of capacity, and to pursue opportunities for the development of renewable generation projects.

The enterprises segment’s assets may be affected by environmental laws and regulations. The new ozone NAAQS will make it more difficult to construct or modify power plants in areas of the country that have not met the new ozone standard. In April 2018, the EPA designated certain areas of Michigan as not meeting the new standard with an August 2018 effective date. The enterprises segment’s DIG plant located in Dearborn, Michigan is in one such area and, as a result, would be subject to additional permitting restrictions in the event of any future modifications. For additional details regarding the new ozone NAAQS, see Consumers Electric Utility Outlook and Uncertainties—Electric Environmental Outlook.

Trends, uncertainties, and other matters related to the enterprises segment that could have a material impact on CMS Energy’s consolidated income, cash flows, or financial position include:

For additional details regarding the enterprises segment’s uncertainties, see Note 3, Contingencies and Commitments.

New Accounting Standards

For details regarding new accounting standards issued but not yet effective, see Note 1, New Accounting Standards.