Since 2022, DTE has been working to enhance power quality in Dearborn Heights, Garden City and Redford by completely rebuilding the infrastructure that delivers power to homes and businesses.
We’re currently investing more than $36 million to modernize and rebuild the electric grid that serves about 30,000 customers across the area. This work will result in safer, more reliable power today while adding the capacity needed to support future growth and a more electrified future, including electric vehicles.
- In total, we will upgrade 20 miles of poles, power lines, transformers and electrical equipment with more durable infrastructure that can better withstand severe weather.
- Installing smart grid devices, that can reroute power to many customers during an outage, keeping their lights on while crews make repairs. Smart devices also help quickly locate the damage that caused an outage, allowing crews to arrive onsite faster.
- Trimming trees near power lines to prevent them from falling onto electrical equipment and interrupting power.
- Connecting customers in the area to an upgraded electric substation — a facility that controls the flow of electricity to homes and businesses — that will help ensure power continues to be delivered safely and more reliably.
Construction is already underway in Dearborn Heights and Redford. This is a long-term commitment to the area, and work will continue in phases beyond 2030 as we rebuild equipment in additional areas of these cities and build new substations.
Rebuilding work like this is one part of DTE’s plan to build the grid of the future, which also includes accelerating our transition to a smart grid, upgrading existing infrastructure and tramming trees. Learn more about work happening in your neighborhood by visiting the DTE Power Improvements Map.
Progress updates
2024 – 2026: Crews made great progress on rebuilding Dearborn Heights, Garden City and Redford’s infrastructure. More than 250 pole mounted transformers were installed. These transformers play a critical role in the electric grid by stepping down high-voltage electricity from power lines to the lower voltage needed to safely power homes and businesses. We rebuilt more than 16 miles of overhead infrastructure — including new poles, wires and electric equipment — to help strengthen the grid. In total, more than 650 poles have been installed across the project area, further improving reliability for the community. further improving reliability for the community.