Whether winter brings a windstorm, ice storm or frigid temperatures, DTE Energy is committed to providing safe and reliable electricity.
“We understand how frustrating power outages can be, especially today, when we’re all so reliant on electricity to live, work and play,” said Ryan Stowe, vice president, Distribution Operations. “That’s why we are committed to continued improvement of our infrastructure, including upgrading to the latest technology.”
This fall, DTE distribution system experts, technicians and engineers in our power-generating plants performed preventative inspections and maintenance on the electrical distribution system to ensure the grid is prepared to meet the energy needs of Southeast Michigan all winter long.
The 2019 polar vortex proved that DTE can handle extremely cold temperatures – our region experienced the coldest temperatures on record in decades. The demand for power increased and we kept our customers warm, while also providing power to other energy companies in need.
Winter weather and trees are a dangerous combination for the electric grid. Heavy snow and freezing rain on tree branches can cause them to break, fall on to power lines and ultimately cause power outages. That’s why our experts have also spent an extensive amount of time throughout the year making ongoing system improvements to our infrastructure, from upgrading and inspecting thousands of poles and wires, to trimming more than 4,500 miles of trees along our electrical lines – that’s from Detroit to Las Vegas and back!
In addition, we are using the newest technologies to improve our electric service. Crews installed thousands of sensors on our power lines to help monitor the grid and expedite restoration efforts. Learn more about how we’re using technologies to minimize the number of households impacted by outages, immediately detect potential hazards on power lines, and identify potential issues before they start.
To learn about more ways we are improving reliability visit dteenegy.com/reliability.