A total of 4,689 BWL customers were without power about 4:40 p.m., according to the utility's outage map. BWL spokesperson Emma McGlocklin said crews were trying to determine the cause of the problem.

Peffley said allowing the shutoffs also opened up about $2.4 million in state and federal funding each year for those who can't pay their BWL bill. The utility had been contributing around $ ...

City officials on Monday said they are taking steps to comply with a recent Michigan Supreme Court ruling that a 5% franchise fee imposed on BWL customers by the city for years was an illegal tax.