This week, DTE crews have been working at the corner of Wildwood Street and Palmer Road in Westland, where new poles and pole top equipment are scheduled for installation. New power poles are taller and more durable than older poles. The new poles, along with new pole top equipment, including new connectors, transformers and fiberglass cross arms, will help improve reliability for area residents, especially during severe weather events. DTE will be upgrading existing equipment and continuing to trim trees in Westland throughout 2025.
In 2024, DTE Energy made a commitment to customers to reduce power outages by 30% and to cut outage duration time in half by the end of 2029. To improve reliability and deliver on this commitment, DTE is upgrading existing equipment throughout southeast Michigan.
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. In 2024, DTE field crews inspected and made upgrades along more than 850 miles of electric lines (longer than the distance between New York City and Chicago) and replaced nearly 3,400 poles. In 2025, DTE plans to make upgrades along 950 miles of electric lines and replace 5,500 poles.
This upgrading work is part of DTE’s plan to build the grid of the future. That plan, now well underway, also includes transitioning to a smart grid, rebuilding significant portions of the grid and continuing to trim trees.
To stay informed about ongoing projects you can explore DTE Energy’s Power Improvements Map or visit empoweringmichigan.com