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 the end of 2029.
We will achieve this by building the grid of the future, with a plan well underway, which includes transitioning to a smart grid, upgrading existing infrastructure, rebuilding older sections of the grid and trimming trees.
Recently in Detroit’s Fiskhorn neighborhood, at Marlowe Street and Mackenzie Street, crews were finishing up a smart grid device installation on the poles that power this neighborhood. These devices help us quickly pinpoint outages and automatically restore power to a portion of our customers while crews make repairs. Smart grid devices help improve both safety and reliability, especially during extreme weather. Nearly 150 new smart grid devices have been installed in the city of Detroit this year.
Here’s how they work
The devices are like the wall switches that control power to your home. When something interferes with the power system, like when our equipment is hit by lighting or a tree falls on our lines, the device quickly turns off the electricity in the area to isolate the outage and make sure the smallest number of customers go without power. If the equipment is working properly, the recloser will sense that and turn the power back on. If an issue remains, the smart grid device will isolate the outage to the area of damage.
It will also communicate with DTE’s headquarters to alert our team exactly where the outage is located and what it senses the problem is, so we can send crews out to start work. The reclosers also allow us to quickly and remotely restore power to many customers served by that circuit.
Installation process
Preparation
- Three to four weeks before the installation starts, a new utility pole may be delivered to the general location.
- A few weeks before the device is installed, tree trimming may occur.
- Before installation, door hangers are hung to notify our customers on the street where the smart grid device will be installed.
Installation
- A new power pole may be installed within the right of way to support the new device.
- Crews will install the device on the power pole.
- The installation process typically takes three to five days.
Activation
- Within three weeks of installation, crews will arrive to test and activate devices.
To stay informed about ongoing work you can explore DTE Energy’s Power Improvements Map or visit www.empoweringmichigan.com.