DTE Energy is dedicated to constructing a smarter, stronger and more resilient grid to enhance reliability. Our commitment to customers is to reduce power outages by 30% and to cut outage durations in half by 2029.
As our commitment to enhance reliability continues, we have recently been working in Ann Arbor to ensure our customers experience fewer and shorter outages. One way we plan on achieving this is by upgrading our infrastructure, as part of a grid rebuild.
Specifically, at the corner of Detroit Street and Broadway Street, our crews were recently executing some underground equipment upgrades. Our crews are installing over 1,500 feet of cable along this street as part of the massive Argo/Buckler grid rebuild project in Ann Arbor. The $18 million project — which included rebuilding eight miles of poles, power lines and electrical equipment, installing smart grid technology and trimming trees — is nearly complete. The work at this location is to further prep for the rest of the underground work in the area.
The latest area of this project to be converted to all new grid and higher voltage was in and around Kerrytown, and that conversion was carried out successfully on the morning of October 27.
Older cable is more prone to possible failure and can become much less reliable as the cable ages. With the installation of this new, stronger cable, it is expected to perform at the highest level for at least 10 years upon this project’s completion. This work will specifically help increase performance with the higher load and demand for electric projected for our Ann Arbor customers. DTE is working jobs like this one to not only improve reliability but help with that expected greater demand in the years ahead.
This work is part of DTE’s plan to build the grid of the future. That plan, now well underway, includes transitioning to a smart grid, upgrading existing infrastructure, rebuilding significant portions of the grid and trimming trees.
To stay informed about ongoing projects you can explore DTE Energy’s Power Improvements Map or visit www.empoweringmichigan.com.