<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
    <periodOfReport>2003-12-31</periodOfReport>
    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000811156</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CMS ENERGY CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CMS</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001022621</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HOLTON EARL D</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>MEIJER, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>2929 WALKER, NW</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>GRAND RAPIDS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MI</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>49504</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>
  <nonDerivativeTable>
    <nonDerivativeHolding>
      <securityTitle>
          <value>Common Stock (CMS)</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
          <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
              <value>9913</value>
          </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
          <directOrIndirectOwnership>
              <value>D</value>
          </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </nonDerivativeHolding>
    <nonDerivativeHolding>
      <securityTitle>
          <value>Common Stock (CMS)</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
          <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
              <value>1445</value>
          </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
          <directOrIndirectOwnership>
              <value>I</value>
          </directOrIndirectOwnership>
          <natureOfOwnership>
              <value>By Donnalee Holton Trust</value>
          </natureOfOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </nonDerivativeHolding>
  </nonDerivativeTable>
  <derivativeTable>
    <derivativeHolding>
      <securityTitle>
          <value>Phantom Stock Units</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
              <footnoteId id="F1" />
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <exerciseDate>
              <footnoteId id="F1" />
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
              <footnoteId id="F1" />
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
          <underlyingSecurityTitle>
              <value>Common Stock (CMS)</value>
          </underlyingSecurityTitle>
          <underlyingSecurityShares>
              <value>1985</value>
          </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
          <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
              <value>15558</value>
          </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
          <directOrIndirectOwnership>
              <value>I</value>
          </directOrIndirectOwnership>
          <natureOfOwnership>
              <value>Dir Deferred Comp Plan</value>
          </natureOfOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </derivativeHolding>
  </derivativeTable>
<footnotes>
   <footnote id="F1">These units are considered phantom stock held pursuant to the Director's Deferred Compensation Plan of CMS Energy Corporation and were acquired on various dates in 2003 at prices ranging from $4.525 to $9.610 per share.  Such deferred income will be paid in cash in a lump sum in the January following Mr. Holton's retirement from the Board based on the price of the CMS Common Stock at that time.</footnote>
</footnotes>
<remarks></remarks>    <ownerSignature>
       <signatureName>/s/MDVanHemert, Attny in Fact</signatureName>
       <signatureDate>2004-01-20</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

