Sam Washington is CEO and founder of the Sam Washington Foundation, a nonprofit focusing on youth development and community responsiveness and providing a safe haven for the city of Detroit’s youth. A Detroit leader and Southfield resident, Washington is engaged with his neighbors and always trying to find ways to improve his community—something he says he has in common with DTE.
While Washington and his neighbors in Southfield have experienced their fair share of power outages, particularly due to the area’s many trees, they know DTE’s crews will be there to help. DTE is investing $9 billion over the next five years to build a more resilient grid and create a brighter future for residents in Southfield and across Michigan. DTE’s team is also hard at work trimming trees because the company knows that half of the time customers spend without power is due to branches and trees falling into electrical equipment.
“During the last power outage, a thunderstorm knocked down a tree and a power line near my home,” Washington recalls. “I called DTE and they sent a team within an hour. They not only restored the power quickly but also followed up to ensure everything was okay. Their responsiveness was impressive.”
To reduce and prevent outages, DTE created a five-year plan to maintain and trim trees in neighborhoods throughout our service area. These upgrades will help DTE reach its commitment to reducing power outages by 30% and cutting outage time in half by 2029, ensuring communities like Southfield receive the reliable service they deserve.
In addition to improving the grid, DTE is also committed to providing resources and programs to help customers improve their quality of life. Washington is helping spread the word about these programs by hosting community meetings where residents can learn about the tools available to them.
“DTE’s outreach programs are crucial for our community,” Washngton says.”By organizing meetings and spreading the word about their services, we ensure that everyone knows how to access them.”
Explore how we’re making a difference in your community by visiting our Power Improvements Map.