DTE Energy is dedicated to constructing a smarter, stronger more resilient grid to enhance reliability. Our commitment to our customers is to reduce power outages by 30% and to cut outage durations in half —by 2029.
We are laser focused on updating our current infrastructure. This is accomplished by visually inspecting thousands of line miles every year.
We locate poles, cross-arms, transformers and other pole top and substation equipment that is due for replacement and upgrade. In 2023, DTE inspected and upgraded over 1,700 miles of pole top equipment across the communities we serve. These upgrades improve reliability, especially during extreme weather situations.
In Ypsilanti, 70 locations have been selected for pole top upgrades in 2024.
Recently, our front-line crews were at the corner of Madison Street and First Avenue, carrying out these needed upgrades. This location received a full update to the pole top equipment. First, a new pole was installed, along with stronger cross-arms and a more durable connector. Work at the 70 locations is about half finished, and our crews in Ypsilanti anticipate these jobs being completed within a few weeks.
DTE is building the grid of the future. That plan includes transitioning to a smart grid, upgrading existing infrastructure, rebuilding significant portions of the grid and trimming trees. These are at the core of our plan as we work to increase reliability for our Ypsilanti customers and across the many communities we serve.
To stay informed about ongoing projects you can explore DTE Energy’s power improvements map or visit Empowering Michigan’s reliability improvements webpage.