We will be updating this blog throughout the project — please bookmark this page to stay up to date on progress.
To enhance electric reliability, DTE Energy is rebuilding the infrastructure that powers southeast Ann Arbor and a small portion of Pittsfield Township. This $65 million project is expected to start in March and finish in 2029. It includes:
- Installing smart grid technology that can pinpoint the damage location that caused an outage and reroute power to many customers. Smart devices also keep people safer by de-energizing downed power lines.
- Building a new electric substation to add electric capacity to the grid to support the increased demand and improve service.
- Rebuilding 35 miles of electrical infrastructure. This includes replacing poles and power lines with stronger equipment that can better withstand the extreme weather that Michigan and Ann Arbor has been seeing.
- Trimming trees away from power lines and equipment to prevent outages caused by falling branches and trees.
All this work is expected to improve reliability by up to 90% for customers served by the upgraded substation and equipment. The work will also increase the grid’s capacity to support Ann Arbor’s growth and sustainability goals.
This project is also part of a larger $360 million investment by DTE to upgrade and rebuild the grid throughout Ann Arbor. You can learn more about this work or DTE’s plan to build the grid of the future by visiting empoweringmichigan.com/reliability-improvements or the DTE Power Improvements Map.