As DTE Energy continues building a stronger grid, crews are busy providing downtown Detroit with underground upgrades aimed at greatly improving reliability.
At the corner of Howard Street and 3rd Avenue, work continues as a part of our $136 Million investment to rebuild the grid in the area for Financial District customers. The project involves installing 11 miles of upgraded underground piping, known as conduit, along with new cables; Rebuilding and upgrading 12 miles of overhead electrical equipment such as poles and power lines and upgrading manholes; And installing over 40 new transformers and replacing the nearly century-old Howard Substation with a modern, more efficient one.
This project is one of 13 included in the City of Detroit Infrastructure Initiative, a $1.2 billion effort to revitalize the underground infrastructure that supplies power to the greater downtown Detroit area, along with many other areas of the city.
The rebuild here is essential to reducing outages and strengthening the grid’s resilience and reliability. By modernizing our equipment, DTE is reinforcing the system and preparing it to meet future energy demands. Our commitment to these improvements guarantees that customers will continue to enjoy the dependable service they expect.
DTE Energy is dedicated to constructing a smarter, stronger and more resilient grid to enhance reliability. Our commitment to customers is to reduce power outages by 30% and to cut outage durations in half by 2029.
Rebuilding work is part of DTE’s plan to build the grid of the future. That plan, now well underway, includes transitioning to a smart grid, upgrading existing infrastructure, rebuilding significant portions of the grid and trimming trees.
To stay informed about ongoing projects you can explore DTE Energy’s Power Improvements Map or visit empoweringmichigan.com