We will continue to update impacted customers about the work via letters, emails and this blog. Please bookmark this page to stay up to date on the project.
We’re on a mission to build a smarter, stronger and more resilient power grid, so our customers have reliable power, no matter what Mother Nature brings our way. That’s why we’re investing more than $280 million to build the grid of the future in Ferndale, Hazel Park, Oak Park, Pleasant Ridge and Royal Oak Charter Township.
From 2024 to 2035, we are modernizing the infrastructure that powers this community. The project includes:
- Installing smart grid technology.
- Rebuilding more than 90 miles of electric infrastructure including replacing poles, power lines, transformers and electric equipment that help deliver power to homes and businesses.
- Trimming or removing trees growing close to power lines to reduce the chances that limbs will fall on the power equipment and cause outages.
- Expanding the existing electric substation that delivers power to customers in this area.
Benefits for customers
This work is expected to improve reliability by up to 90% for around 14,000 customers served by the upgraded substation and new equipment. The project will also improve the grid’s safety and capacity to meet the area’s growing energy needs. This means the system can support more electric vehicles, electric appliances and renewable energy sources like wind and solar in the future.
Project progress
Spring 2025: Crews will be rebuilding significant portions of the energy grid just north and west of 9 Mile Road and Woodward Avenue starting mid-April through mid-July. We are replacing more than a mile of electric equipment in this area, including installing new power lines, replacing more than 60 poles, installing new pole-top equipment, swapping out transformers and more. The new equipment is stronger and can better withstand strong winds and extreme weather.
Fall 2024: Crews trimmed nearly three miles of trees in areas of Ferndale to reduce the chances that limbs will fall on power equipment and cause outages.
Rebuilding work like this is part of our plan to build the grid of the future, which also includes accelerating our transition to a smart grid, upgrading existing infrastructure and trimming trees. To learn more about work happening in your community, visit empoweringmichigan.com/reliability-improvements or visit the DTE Power Improvements Map.