The world is becoming more dependent on electricity and Southeast Michigan is no exception. In many areas serviced by DTE, from Detroit to Ann Arbor and Birmingham, the equipment that powers homes and businesses was installed in the early to mid-1900s. Now it’s time to modernize and rebuild older sections of the grid.
DTE is investing more than $1.3 billion annually to modernize the grid across Southeast Michigan, including many areas in the city of Detroit. These upgrades will help improve reliability, safety and more for our customers. One of the most exciting upgrades we’re making is rebuilding/converting our aging overhead and underground infrastructure in some communities across our service territories.
What does rebuilding/converting mean?
We remove and replace the aging infrastructure with new, modern overhead and underground equipment. This includes the poles, wires, conduit, transformers and other electrical equipment that help deliver power from our substations to homes and businesses.
Why are you rebuilding/converting the infrastructure?
As we move to a more technology-driven, electrified lifestyle, areas of our service territory with older infrastructure will soon need more electric power than the old systems can deliver.
The new infrastructure is stronger and more resilient to extreme weather, which means improved safety and reliability for our customers. Additionally, it has a greater capacity to support existing and new residents and businesses in the city. The added electric power also will support more clean energy solutions like electric vehicles and a more electrified future.
Which neighborhoods will be converted?
Currently, we’re converting customers in the following Detroit neighborhoods. These areas were chosen based on data-driven research, with more being added as we progress.
- Ann Arbor
- Clawson
- Detroit
- Brewster, Brush Park, Douglas and Midtown neighborhoods
- Core City, Corktown, Hubbard Richard, Jeffries, North Corktown and Woodbridge neighborhoods
- Downtown Detroit — Central Business District, Midtown and New Center
- East Village, Elmwood Park, Gold Coast, Indian Village, Islandview, Joseph Berry Sub, Lafayette Park, McDougall-Hunt, Rivertown and West Village neighborhoods
- Airport Sub, Buffalo-Charles, Gratiot Town/Kettering, Gratiot Woods, a portion of Hamtramck, Pingree Park and West End neighborhoods
- Pontiac
- Webberville
Why aren’t you converting my neighborhood now?
We have plans to eventually update our entire service territory. However, to keep energy bills affordable for customers, we are staggering our conversion/rebuild schedule. Crews are starting in neighborhoods with both the oldest infrastructure and the greatest need for additional capacity.
I’m not getting converted to the new infrastructure yet. What are you doing to maintain and improve my electric reliability?
If your neighborhood’s infrastructure isn’t getting rebuilt at this time or doesn’t need conversion because it is already operating at our newer, higher voltage, we are still working to improve your reliability now. Here’s how:
- Constructing, modernizing, and expanding new substations
- Trimming trees near power lines
- Upgrading and replacing some electrical equipment and poles
- Reconfiguring and relocating existing power lines
- Installing smart grid technology, which allows us to reroute power to customers during an outage
- Incorporating preventative inspections and maintenance
Continuous improvement
DTE is dedicated to continuously improving our infrastructure, so you have the power you need now and far in the future., and the reliability you deserve Get more information on reliability improvement work happening in your neighborhood at empoweringmichigan.com/reliability-improvements.