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                                                                  Exhibit 5


                       [CMS ENERGY CORPORATION LETTERHEAD]



                                  July 27, 1998



Consumers Energy Company
212 West Michigan Avenue
Jackson, Michigan 49201

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         I am the Assistant General Counsel of CMS Energy Corporation, a
Michigan corporation, and have acted as special counsel to Consumers Energy
Company ("Consumers") in connection with the Registration Statement on Form S-4
(the "Registration Statement") being filed by Consumers with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "Commission") under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended (the "Securities Act"), relating to the registration of $225 million of
6 7/8% Senior Notes Due 2018, Series B (the "Exchange Notes") to be issued under
the Indenture dated as of February 1, 1998 between Consumers and The Chase
Manhattan Bank, as trustee (the "Trustee"), as supplemented (collectively, the
"Indenture"). The Exchange Notes are being exchanged for all of the outstanding
6 7/8% Senior Notes Due 2018, Series A (the "Notes") pursuant to an Exchange 
Offer.  Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein have the respective
meanings specified in the Registration Statement.

         In rendering this opinion, I have examined and relied upon a copy of
the Registration Statement. I have also examined, or have arranged for the
examination by an attorney or attorneys under my general supervision, originals,
or copies of originals certified to my satisfaction, of such agreements,
documents, certificates and other statements of governmental officials and other
instruments, and have examined such questions of law and have satisfied myself
as to such matters of fact, as I have considered relevant and necessary as a
basis for this opinion. I have assumed the authenticity of all documents
submitted to me as originals, the genuineness of all signatures, the legal
capacity of all natural persons and the conformity with the original documents
of any copies thereof submitted to me for examination.

         Based on the foregoing it is my opinion that:



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1.       Consumers is duly incorporated and validly existing under the laws of
         the State of Michigan.

2.       Consumers has the corporate power and authority to authorize and
         deliver the Exchange Notes pursuant to the Indenture.

3.       The Exchange Notes will be legally issued and binding obligations of
         Consumers  (except  to the  extent  enforceability  may be  limited  by
         applicable   bankruptcy,   insolvency,   reorganization,    moratorium,
         fraudulent  transfer or other similar laws affecting the enforcement of
         creditors' rights generally and by the effect of general  principles of
         equity,  regardless  of  whether  enforceability  is  considered  in  a
         proceeding in equity or at law) when (i) the Registration Statement, as
         finally  amended  (including any necessary  post-effective  amendments)
         shall have become effective under the Securities Act, and the Indenture
         shall  have  been  qualified  under the Trust  Indenture  Act;  (ii) an
         appropriate  prospectus  with respect to the Exchange  Notes shall have
         been  filed  with  the  Commission  pursuant  to  Rule  424  under  the
         Securities   Act;   and  (iii)  the   Exchange   Notes  shall  be  duly
         authenticated  by the  Trustee and the  Exchange  Notes shall have been
         delivered to those holders of Notes in exchange for such Notes pursuant
         to the Exchange Offer.

         For purposes of this opinion, I have assumed that there will be no
changes in the laws currently applicable to Consumers and that such laws will be
the only laws applicable to Consumers.

         I do not find it necessary for the purposes of this opinion to cover,
and accordingly I express no opinion as to, the application of the securities or
blue sky laws of the various states to the sale of the Securities.

         I am a member of the bar of the State of Michigan and I express no
opinion as to the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of Michigan and
the federal law of the United States of America.

         I hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to
Consumers's Registration Statement relating to the Exchange Notes and to all
references to me included in or made a part of the Registration Statement.

                                                Very truly yours,


                                                /s/ Michael D. Van Hemert
                                                Michael D. Van Hemert