DTE Energy is working to provide more than a dozen of communities on the eastside of Detroit with more reliable power. We’re investing $530 million to rebuild the electric grid along East Edsel Ford Freeway.
“We’re upgrading the capacity of our older transmission lines and infrastructure to a higher voltage,” Nick Lusk, project manager, Distribution Operations, said. “In addition to the increased capacity, the upgrades will improve the system’s overall reliability, which means less service interruptions for homes and businesses in the area.”
The upgrades include:
- Building two new substations. New substations reduce power outages and provides additional electric capacity to support new development and the move to cleaner energy solutions like EVs.
- Removing and replacing miles of overhead and underground infrastructure, which will improve reliability for thousands of customers.
- Replacing wood cross arms with fiberglass cross arms on overhead power lines. Overhead power lines are prone to damage caused by strong winds, ice, heat and accidents.
- Installing stronger utility poles.
These improvements are all part of our strategic solution to make Detroit’s electric grid more modern, safer and reliable.
Rebuilding older sections of the DTE grid is just one component of DTE’s plan to increase reliability for customers. We’re also trimming the trees that account for 50% of the time our customers spend without power and upgrading our equipment. DTE also plans to invest in increased automation, allowing power to be rerouted to customers during an outage so they continue to have electric service while we make repairs.
Customers in the area will receive periodic updates on the projects, including road closure details if their home or business is impacted.
Promenade substation (near Edsel Ford Freeway and Harper Avenue) project timeline
- Spring 2022 – winter 2023: Substation construction.
- March 2022: DTE crews cleared vegetation and other remains from a site on the eastside of Detroit near Edsel Ford Freeway and Harper Avenue to prepare for the new substation.
- July 2022: Below construction of Promenade substation to begin.
- Oct./Nov. 2022: Perimeter precast security wall installation.
- Dec. 2022: Energization.
- 2023: External connection and circuit modernization.
Islandview substation (East Vernor and Beaufait) project timeline
- Spring 2022 – winter 2023: Substation construction.
- March 2022: DTE crews cleared vegetation and other remains from a site on the eastside of Detroit near East Vernor and Beaufait to prepare for the new substation.
- July 2022: Velow construction of Islandview substation to begin.
- Oct./Nov. 2022: Perimeter precast security wall installation.
- Dec. 2022: Energization.
- 2023: External connection and circuit modernization.
