By Amanda Durish Cook

CMS Energy reported third-quarter net income of $148 million ($0.53/share), a 56% increase over a year earlier.

For the first nine months, CMS has netted $417 million ($1.51/share), up 9 cents/share from last year.

CMS said the results reflected its concentration on “reinvestments in its electric and natural gas operations, affordability and transitioning to cleaner energy sources.”

The Jackson, Mich., utility adjusted its 2015 guidance by a penny from $1.86 to $1.89/share to $1.87 to $1.89/share. 2016’s full-year guidance was introduced at $1.97 to $2.01/share. CMS boosted earnings per share 7% annually between 2010 and 2014.

Consumers Energy, CMS’ principal subsidiary, has reduced natural gas costs to their lowest levels since 2001, the company reported. CMS expects an average 15% reduction in bills for residential customers over the winter as a result of abundant supply and CMS’ $400 million investment over the last five years in its gas delivery and storage system. The company said it’s committed to doubling investments on its natural gas pipeline and storage system over the next decade.

The company said it is benefiting from a rebound in Michigan’s economy. The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell to 5% in September, the first time it has been below the U.S. average since 2000. Its GDP grew almost 14% between 2010 and 2014, the third highest in the nation behind only Texas and North Dakota.

CMS saw growth in its industrial customers in the quarter, with Chilean company Arauco announcing a new particle board manufacturing facility creating 250 jobs and General Motors adding 300 jobs as a result of expansion at its manufacturing facilities in Flint and Grand Rapids.

DTE Energy’s Profits Rise with Milder Weather

DTE Energy reported third-quarter earnings of $265 million ($1.47/share), a 70% increase from 2014’s $156 million ($0.88/share).

The Detroit utility said its higher earnings were due “to a return to a more normal level of weather and storm activity.”

DTE’s operating earnings, which exclude non-recurring items, certain mark-to-market adjustments and discontinued operations, were $252 million ($1.40/share) for the quarter, up 39% from the $181 million ($1.02/share) a year earlier.

DTE has increased its 2015 operating earnings guidance to $4.65 to $4.91/share from $4.48 to $4.72.

“This move was driven by continued strong performance within our non-utility businesses, which provided us with the platform to increase our guidance for 2015,” CFO Peter Oleksiak said in a release.

In 2016, the company expects operating earnings of about $4.93/share, consistent with a predicted 5 to 6% growth rate.

“I am really pleased with our third-quarter financial results, but I am also really pleased with a number of other recent accomplishments by the company that are important to our state, as well as the communities and customers we serve,” CEO Gerry Anderson said.

He cited DTE’s role in adding 9,500 solar panels in Ann Arbor Township, Romulus and Ypsilanti, Mich., during the quarter and progress on its proposed NEXUS natural gas pipeline, a 250-mile project that would deliver 1.5 billion cubic feet per day from eastern Ohio to southeastern Michigan.

DTE and partner Spectra Energy expect to seek FERC approval for the project in the fourth quarter. The companies already have ordered the pipe and signed contracts for engineering, procurement, construction and project management.

DTE, which reported $1.7 billion in capital expenditures for the first three quarters, expects to spend a total of $2.5 billion for 2015, down from its previous guidance of $2.6 billion.