At DTE Energy, we prepare for outages long before the power goes out. Our team works hard to improve and upgrade our electrical infrastructure to ensure you have reliable power. We understand how difficult it is to have your power interrupted and know you have important questions that need answers during an outage. We hear you. We are answering your most frequent questions that come up during a power outage.
Where can I get my restoration estimate?
You can get a restoration estimate on the DTE website, DTE Energy Mobile App or by calling 800.477.4747 and using our automated system. Remember estimates may be revised if damage is more severe than anticipated or if inclement weather makes it unsafe for crews to work on electrical equipment.
Why is it taking so long to get a restoration estimate?
- Safety First: Our crews secure the areas around downed power lines before assessing storm damage. For the safety of our customers and our employees, it is crucial that our Storm Response Teams prioritize taping off and deenergizing these lines first before moving into other phases of restoration.
- Continued inclement weather: It’s not always safe for our teams to assess damage if bad weather lingers or additional storms come through.
- There’s not enough daylight: Not only is it difficult to properly assess damage in the dark, but it is also dangerous. A downed power line is difficult to identify in the dark and can cause fatal injuries.
- Crews cannot reach electrical equipment: It’s not uncommon for storms to knock down trees. In some cases, these block access to electrical equipment. In other instances, that equipment is in areas that aren’t accessible by bucket trucks. When those instances occur, crews have to climb the poles to assess the equipment.
- Large number of outages: Extremely large storms take longer to restore power. We will deploy as many crews as needed to get the job done. In some cases, that means DTE will recruit the help of line workers from out of state to help restore power quicker.
How do you decide whose power to restore first?
Our team works to restore power as quickly as possible. This means our crews make temporary repairs to restore power to a certain area so that they can move quickly to the next pocket of outages. Crews will return later to permanently repair the infrastructure. This greatly reduces the time our customers spend without power.
Our goal is to always restore power to as many customers possible in the shortest amount of time. With many customers experiencing outages at the same time, it is vital we follow a prioritized restoration process:
- First, we secure the areas around downed power lines to keep the community safe.
- Next, we restore health and safety facilities like hospitals and police stations.
- Then, we repair the equipment that delivers power to homes and businesses. We start by repairing the equipment that serves areas with the largest number of customers. From there, we work our way down the list from largest to least number of customers until all restorations are complete.
You said you were prepared for this storm. Why is it taking so long to restore my power?
Our teams constantly monitor weather conditions, and when severe weather threatens, we mobilize our crews. By the time a severe storm arrives, our Storm Response Teams are already at work implementing a plan. Safety is our top priority, so restoration may take longer if:
- There is continued inclement weather that prevents crews from working on electrical equipment. As soon as weather conditions permit us to safely begin restoration work, such as when the storm subsides, our crews assess the extent of damage and begin restoration.
- There is trouble behind trouble. This is when there is one factor that originated the outage and another that’s preventing us from re-energizing the line.
- Outages require more complex and time-consuming repairs.
- There are many outages.
- Your electrical equipment is difficult to reach.
DTE told me my power is back on. It is not. So… What do I do now?
As customers receive notifications that their power has been restored, we encourage them to verify that the power is actually back on. While most homes in their area have likely been restored to power, there may be unexpected issues or damage causing a continued outage for one or just a few customers. We will always work around the clock until they are all restored.
To find more answers to your storm questions, visit empoweringmichigan.com. Get real-time updates and information about outages at our outage center or by following us on Nextdoor, Facebook and Twitter.