Have you noticed DTE Energy trucks on Detroit’s east side recently? Our crews have been in your neighborhood doing work to improve your reliability. The work is part of our four-point plan that includes trimming trees, upgrading existing infrastructure, accelerating our transition to a smart grid and rebuilding older sections of the grid.
We have been working to rebuild electrical equipment in the following east side neighborhoods to improve reliability for our customers: Airport Sub, Buffalo-Charles, East Village, Elmwood Park, Gold Coast, Gratiot Town/Kettering, Gratiot Woods, a portion of Hamtramck, Indian Village, Islandview, Joseph Berry Sub, Lafayette Park, McDougall-Hunt, Pingree Park, Rivertown, West End and West Village.
What work is done during a rebuild?
The over $530 million rebuilding projects includes:
- Constructing two modern electric substations, which will deliver power to homes and businesses on the east side.
- Replacing more than 200 miles of overhead power lines and 80 miles of underground wires, transformers and other electrical equipment.
- Installing new, stronger utility poles that can better withstand extreme weather.
- Trimming miles of trees near power lines. Trimming clears space for the new equipment and improves reliability for customers.
- Installing smart grid technology. The modern technology allows us to automatically reroute power to customers during an outage.
Why are you doing this work?
The work, which began in spring 2022, will improve electric reliability for our customers. It also will increase the grid’s safety and capacity. The additional capacity will support cleaner energy solutions like electric vehicles. It also will ensure Detroit has more than enough power to support existing and new businesses moving into the city now and far in the future.
What progress have you made?
The Islandview substation is nearing completion. All above and below ground equipment at the substation is installed, and crews are currently testing the equipment to ensure everything is working properly. This substation should be energized and powering part of Detroit’s East side by the end of the year.
The below ground equipment is installed at the Promenade Substation. Crews are working to install the above ground equipment, including transformers, circuit switchers, etc.
Promenade Substation newly installed equipment.
This substation, which will also deliver power to the East side, is expected to be completed by the end of 2024.
Additionally, since February, crews have completed 46 miles of tree trimming. Our crews also have installed more than three-and-a-half miles of new utility poles, wires and overhead electrical equipment, which will help deliver more reliable power from the Islandview substation to customers.
Crews installing a new utility pole. They will return later to install new wires on the pole which will help deliver power from the Islandview Susbtation to homes and businesses.
We will begin rebuilding the distribution equipment that supports the Promenade Substation later this year.
Read more about reliability improvement work happening in your neighborhood at empoweringmichigan.com/reliability-improvements.