DTE crews are taking advantage of the unseasonably warm weather to help improve reliability for our customers.
Recently, overhead crews were working near Linwood Avenue and Glenwood Road in Royal Oak to replace a pole with one that is stronger and can better withstand the increasing frequency of extreme weather and wind gusts. The pole is also treated with preservatives to help prevent deterioration.
To replace the pole, our team first carefully and safely removed older equipment from the original pole. Then, they installed the new pole. Finally, crews installed new pole top equipment, including fiberglass cross arms. Fiberglass is a more durable material than the previously used wooden cross arms, which are more susceptible to damage from wind and weather conditions. 
This grid update strengthens the overhead system, so homes and businesses in the area have the reliable power they need and deserve. Upgrades like this are part of our four-point plan to improve reliability across the communities we serve, which includes updating existing infrastructure, rebuilding older sections of the grid, transitioning to a smart grid and trimming trees.
Read more about our four-point plan or upgrading work in your community at empoweringmichigan.com/reliability-improvements. You also can see what we are working on next by using our electric reliability improvements map.