DTE is committed to reducing the number and length of outages for our customers. To do this, we’re continuing to build the grid of the future, which includes transitioning to a smart grid, upgrading existing infrastructure, rebuilding significant portions of the grid and trimming trees. And all this work is happening right now in Oakland County.
THE WORK
From 2012 to 2035, we’re investing more than $300 million to build a smarter and stronger Oakland County grid. This work includes:
- Accelerating our transition to a smart grid. This technology allows the equipment in your neighborhood to seamlessly communicate with our system operations center: de-energizing lines that have fallen to keep you safe, identifying for our crews exactly where the damage is so they can begin restoration faster and rerouting power so that your lights stay on while our crews make repairs.
- Modernizing the substations that power Pontiac. Substations deliver power to neighborhood homes and businesses from our power plants, solar farms and wind parks. Improving substation equipment greatly increases reliability.
- Rebuilding the system that delivers power to customers. There are areas of Pontiac’s grid that are now being completely rebuilt, including, new substations, power lines, manholes, poles and transformers. Where we do this work, customers can expect up to a 90% increase in their reliability.
- From 2012 to 2026, this work is happening across northern Pontiac.
- We also have rebuilding projects getting underway soon the southeast and southwest areas of the city, including a rebuilt substation adjacent to the former Pontiac Silverdome, now a major center for Amazon fulfillment.
- Rebuilding Pontiac’s unique underground vaults. These vaults contain the underground cables and equipment that deliver power to the historic core of downtown Pontiac.
- Trimming trees near power lines. Trees and branches that fall into and damage electrical equipment account for half the time customers spend without power. Tree maintenance reduces and prevents outages.
- Maintaining and upgrading existing equipment. We’re inspecting poles and pole-top equipment — replacing or upgrading the equipment as needed. This includes new, stronger poles, more durable cross arms made of fiberglass and more. All of these are better able to stand up to storms and extreme weather.
- Major long-term rebuilding in southern Oakland County. Recently, DTE tree trimming crews began their work in and around Ferndale, the first part of a $280 million project that will completely modernize the grid there, as well as in nearby Oak Park, Hazel Park, Pleasant Ridge, Royal Oak and Royal Oak Charter Township. This project will be ongoing through 2035.
BENEFITS
This work will make the grid in Oakland County safer, stronger and more reliable. It will also make the system ready to handle growing power needs and higher demand for electricity in the decades to come.
Stay informed on work happening throughout the county and the other communities we serve by visiting our power improvements map or by visiting empoweringmichigan.com/reliability-improvements.