DTE is committed to reducing the number of outages by 30% and cutting restoration time in half by 2029. And we’re well on our way to reaching this goal in Westland. The work we’ve done has contributed to a reliability improvement of 85% between 2023 and 2024.
This work included:
- Accelerating our transition to a smart grid: We installed smart devices in the area, which are designed to pinpoint damage so crews can get to the damaged area and make repairs faster. Smart devices also enable damage to be isolated and power to be rerouted during an outage so many customers can be restored within minutes while crews make repairs. Finally, these devices can automatically de-energize a line when a wire is on the ground – keeping customers safe.
- Upgrading existing infrastructure: This work included replacing and upgrading poles, crossarms, transformers, and other pole top equipment.
- Rebuilding significant portions of the grid: We’re working to rebuild some substations from scratch and replace equipment that delivers power to improve reliability. Rebuilding also increases the electric grid capacity to support growth and expand energy options like electric vehicles.
- Trimming trees: DTE is committed to maintaining an aggressive tree trim cycle, to battle new growth and keep trees and branches away from electric equipment where it can cause harm. Last year, we trimmed over 50 miles of trees in Westland, and we plan to trim more than 90 miles in 2025.
And we’re not done yet. This year, we will continue inspecting electric equipment and installing stronger poles and pole-top equipment. The new infrastructure will protect against increasingly extreme weather.
When we invest, we know it improves reliability for our customers. That’s why we plan to invest more than $10 billion across the communities we serve over the next five years to make our grid safer and more reliable for customers.
Interested in seeing the work being done in your community? Visit the DTE Power Improvements Map or empoweringmichigan.com.