Recently, DTE crews were working at the corner of Seven Mile Road and Albion Avenue in Detroit, adding new smart grid technology to electric infrastructure in the area. Working together with our advanced distribution management system, these smart grid devices, called reclosers, help us reduce the frequency and duration of outages in two ways: First, by pinpointing the area of damage so crews can begin repairs faster and, second, by rerouting power for many customers so their lights stay on while crews are making repairs. There are currently five reclosers scheduled to be installed in the area, along with many more planned across our service area.
DTE has more than 550 reclosers installed on our system. In 2024, these devices helped avoid nearly 10,000 customer outages and 4 million minutes of power interruption. In 2025, DTE plans to install an additional 605 reclosers and is on track to have its entire system outfitted with smart grid technology by the end of 2029.
DTE is laser focused on building a smarter, stronger and more resilient grid so it can provide customers with the reliable power they demand and deserve. Adding smart grid technology is part of DTE’s plan to build the grid of the future. That plan, now well underway, also includes rebuilding significant portions of the grid, upgrading existing infrastructure and continuing to trim trees. This plan will help DTE reduce power outages by 30% and cut outage duration time in half by the end of 2029.
To stay informed about ongoing projects you can explore DTE Energy’s Power Improvements Map or visit empoweringmichigan.com