DTE Energy is dedicated to constructing a smarter, stronger and more resilient grid to enhance reliability. Our commitment to customers is to reduce power outages by 30% and to cut outage durations in half by 2029.
As a part of our plan to strengthen the grid, our crews have been out in Novi, trimming trees in critical areas. Crews have located trees that have become a potential cause for concern for our equipment in the area. During this project, the trees, major branches, and overgrown bushes will be trimmed back or removed to reduce the potential for future equipment damage.
The reason we do this is because half of the time our customers spend without power is due to trees and their branches coming into contact with and damaging our equipment. Specifically, our crews were at the corner of Elm Court and South Lake Drive, trimming back major branches that were deemed a potential risk to that to equipment in that area, vital to keeping our customers with their electric power.
There are many more planned locations in Novi that have been patrolled, with problem areas identified. These will be handled by DTE crews over the next few weeks and will continue to be monitored closely in the future.
This tree trim project is done as a part of our efforts to increase reliability in Novi. DTE will continue to do this kind of work to not only increase reliability but also to help with the increase in electrical demand in the area.
It’s all part of DTE’s plan to build the grid of the future. That plan, now well underway, also includes transitioning to a smart grid, upgrading existing infrastructure and rebuilding significant portions of the grid.
To stay informed about ongoing projects you can explore DTE Energy’s Power Improvements Map or visit empoweringmichigan.com