Delivering safe, reliable power to our customers is more than just a goal at DTE Energy, it’s a commitment: We’re dedicated to reducing outages by 30% and cutting outage times in half by 2029.
To help us achieve this goal, we’re transitioning to a smart grid by installing smart technology into the system. Recently, crews were in Dearborn Heights near South Gulley Road and West Hills Drive installing one of these devices, called a recloser, on a new power pole.
This recloser is one of the many smart grid devices that we are installing across our service area to keep customers safe and their power on, especially during extreme weather. Smart technology provides the following benefits:
- Improved safety: Smart grid technology can automatically detect and deenergize downed wires, helping to keep more people safe.
- Fewer outages: Intelligent devices are also designed to isolate areas of damage and reroute power for many customers, so the lights stay on while crews make repairs.
- Shorter outages and quicker restoration: Smart devices can quickly pinpoint the damage location, so crews can arrive on-site faster and begin making repairs.
Customers are already seeing results from these devices. So far in 2024, smart technology has prevented nearly 5,000 power interruptions and more than 1.8 million minutes of outages for customers. We will keep installing these devices over the next few years to continue to deliver safer, more reliable power.
Transitioning to a smart grid is just one part of our plan to build the grid of the future, which also includes upgrading existing infrastructure, rebuilding significant portions of the grid and trimming trees.
To learn more about our transition to a smart grid or work happening in your community, visit empoweringmichigan.com or our Power Improvements Map.