Severe weather events are becoming more common across Michigan, and DTE Energy is responding with significant infrastructure upgrades to better serve our customers. Our mission is clear: deliver dependable, safe electricity to communities throughout Southeast Michigan and the Thumb — regardless of the challenges Mother Nature brings.
As part of this mission, DTE is investing $11.4 million to upgrade and replace the electric infrastructure that powers Brown City, Imlay City and Marlette. These improvements will help reduce outages by 30% and cut outage times in half by 2029.
This project will transform the electric system supporting residents and businesses in Brown City and the surrounding areas.
This work includes:
- Replacing more than 11 miles of electric infrastructure with stronger poles and new wires that will improve power quality and better withstand extreme weather. Where possible, power lines will also be relocated closer to roads so our crews can reach equipment faster when outages occur.
- Expanding and modernizing a nearby substation — a facility that manages the flow of electricity from power plants to homes and businesses — to better reroute power during outages and provide enhanced capacity to support growth in the area.
Why this project matters
These improvements will create a stronger, more resilient electric grid and reduce the likelihood of future service interruptions. Customers will benefit from:
- Improved service reliability.
- Fewer and shorter power interruptions.
- Better crew access for repairs during severe weather.
- A more robust electrical grid built for long-term performance.
Project schedule
DTE crews, engineers and contractors will be working from Marlette Rd. to Moore St. to Municipal Dr. in Brown City from February 2026 through May 2026 rebuilding, upgrading and modernizing infrastructure.
This work is part of a larger effort to build a more resilient, modern power grid across Michigan. You will see more work like this as we continue to execute our plan to build the grid of the future by transitioning to a smart grid, upgrading existing infrastructure, rebuilding significant portions of the grid and trimming trees.
Stay up to date with this work by using our Power Improvements Map.