MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP - Consumers Energy has introduced a budget plan where residents and business owners can manage their monthly energy bills.

The plan keeps users from being surprised with extremely high payments during high-energy months. Users will have a set amount to pay every month for 11 months. The 12th month will be used to balance out the account.

Senior Public Information Director for Consumers Energy, Brian Wheeler said, “This time of year is the best time, if you are a natural gas customer. The plan year runs from June through May so this is the time of year to sign up for that. If you’re someone who receives only electricity from Consumers Energy the best time of year to sign up is October and that 12th month period starts.”

More than 300,000 Consumers Energy homes and businesses are enrolled in the budget plan. Anyone is eligible to sign up, but the account must be in good standing.