DTE Energy is improving electric reliability by building the grid of the future — a plan which includes accelerating our transition to a smart grid, upgrading existing infrastructure, rebuilding significant portions of the grid and trimming trees.
DTE is committed to reducing power outages by 30% and cutting outage durations in half by 2029.
Our crews were recently working at the intersection of Rock Creek Court and Huntington Drive in Ann Arbor. These crews scaled power poles to make needed equipment upgrades on top of the poles. Specifically, outdated porcelain cutouts have been replaced with sturdier and more dependable replacements made of polyethylene. Cutouts are an important piece of overhead equipment because if a fault causes too much current to run through the cutout, the fuse inside melts, which interrupts power. This also helps provide crews with a visual sign of where the overhead trouble is located, so repairs can begin.
The surrounding area also underwent comprehensive tree trimming, another part of the overall plan and vital for improving reliability. Trees coming in contact with our equipment contributes to half of the time our customers spend without power. In areas where tree trimming has been performed, reliability improves by 40%. DTE has trimmed nearly 40,000 miles of trees since 2015. Moving forward, we are committed to achieving a system-wide five-year trimming cycle by the end of 2025.
To stay informed about ongoing projects you can explore DTE Energy’s electric reliability improvements map or visit Empowering Michigan’s reliability improvements webpage.