Consumers Energy Company Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Cash Flows from Operating Activities
Net Income	$ 1,330	$ 752	$ 682
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities
Deferred income taxes and investment tax credits	249	170	150
Bad debt expense	22	30	30
Postretirement benefits contributions	(12)	(712)	(10)
Other non‑cash operating activities and reconciling adjustments	(70)	(15)	(55)
Changes in assets and liabilities
Accounts receivable and accrued revenue	(103)	(5)	48
Inventories	(93)	28	44
Accounts payable and accrued rate refunds	153	56	(71)
Other current assets and liabilities	13	(68)	(93)
Other non‑current assets and liabilities	(16)	(36)	37
Net cash provided by operating activities	1,819	1,276	1,790
Cash Flows from Investing Activities
Capital expenditures (excludes assets placed under finance lease)	(2,076)	(2,311)	(2,097)
Proceeds from sale of transmission equipment	0	58	97
Cost to retire property and other investing activities	(133)	(129)	(127)
Net cash used in investing activities	(1,233)	(2,867)	(2,816)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities
Proceeds from issuance of debt	335	3,179	2,151
Retirement of debt	(235)	(2,010)	(1,285)
Decrease in notes payable	0	(90)	(7)
Payment of dividends on common and preferred stock	(509)	(467)	(436)
Debt prepayment costs	0	(59)	(8)
Other financing costs	(53)	(51)	(50)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(295)	1,619	1,008
Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents, Including Restricted Amounts	291	28	(18)
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Including Restricted Amounts, Beginning of Period	185	157	175
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Including Restricted Amounts, End of Period	476	185	157
Cash transactions
Interest paid (net of amounts capitalized)	489	549	498
Income taxes paid (refunds received), net	16	(58)	(58)
Non‑cash transactions
Capital expenditures not paid	196	141	170
Consumers Energy Company
Cash Flows from Operating Activities
Net Income	868	816	743
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities
Depreciation and amortization	1,077	1,023	975
Deferred income taxes and investment tax credits	154	177	37
Bad debt expense	22	33	29
Postretirement benefits contributions	(9)	(690)	(7)
Other non‑cash operating activities and reconciling adjustments	(64)	(30)	(32)
Changes in assets and liabilities
Accounts receivable and accrued revenue	(103)	(46)	8
Inventories	(90)	26	40
Accounts payable and accrued rate refunds	140	45	(63)
Other current assets and liabilities	27	(78)	(136)
Other non‑current assets and liabilities	(40)	(58)	7
Net cash provided by operating activities	1,982	1,218	1,601
Cash Flows from Investing Activities
Capital expenditures (excludes assets placed under finance lease)	(2,052)	(2,170)	(2,085)
DB SERP investment in note receivable – related party	0	(5)	0
Proceeds from sale of transmission equipment	0	58	77
Cost to retire property and other investing activities	(133)	(129)	(129)
Net cash used in investing activities	(2,185)	(2,246)	(2,137)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities
Proceeds from issuance of debt	335	1,954	993
Retirement of debt	(27)	(1,086)	(541)
Decrease in notes payable	0	(90)	(7)
Increase in notes payable – related parties	85	307	0
Stockholder contribution	575	650	675
Payment of dividends on common and preferred stock	(724)	(639)	(594)
Debt prepayment costs	0	(43)	(8)
Other financing costs	(32)	(18)	(10)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	212	1,035	508
Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents, Including Restricted Amounts	9	7	(28)
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Including Restricted Amounts, Beginning of Period	35	28	56
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Including Restricted Amounts, End of Period	44	35	28
Cash transactions
Interest paid (net of amounts capitalized)	298	305	279
Income taxes paid (refunds received), net	(10)	51	132
Non‑cash transactions
Capital expenditures not paid	$ 192	$ 130	$ 160