Building the grid of the future
DTE is laser focused on building the grid of the future, one that is smarter, stronger, and more resilient.
As a result, customers can expect and DTE is committed to reducing power outages by 30% and cutting outage durations in half by 2029.
How will that be achieved?
The plan is well underway and focused in four key areas:
Quickly transitioning to a smarter grid
- With our new Systems Operations Center and recent launch of our state-of-the-art grid management system, DTE has laid the foundation of investing in smart grid technology.
- Now, the company is adding significantly more technology to the system by installing 10,000 smart devices, known as reclosers, effectively automating the entire system by 2029.
- How will this make a difference? It allows DTE to pinpoint damage so crews can get to the damaged area and make repairs faster. It enables damage to be isolated and power to be rerouted during an outage so many customers can be restored within minutes while crews make repairs. These devices will automatically de-energize a line when a wire is on the ground – keeping customers safe.
Aggressively updating existing infrastructure
- Crews are in the field every day, replacing and upgrading poles, cross arms, transformers, and other pole top and substation equipment. In 2023, DTE inspected and upgraded pole top equipment across more than 1,700 miles.
Rebuilding significant portions of the grid
- While updating equipment is important, just like you can only repair a car for so long, before it needs to be replaced, DTE is completely rebuilding the older portions of the electric grid. This is critical work where entire substations are rebuilt from scratch and entire circuits replaced – the equipment that delivers power to customers’ homes.
Trimming trees
- Tree trimming remains one of the most effective methods to improve electric reliability. Trees account for half of the time our customers are without power and in areas where tree trimming is up to date, customers experience a 40% improvement in reliability.
- DTE has trimmed nearly 40,000 miles of trees since 2015 will have its entire system on a 5-year cycle by the end of 2025.
- DTE is committed to maintaining an aggressive tree trim cycle, to battle new growth and keep trees and branches away from electric equipment where it can cause harm.
We’ve made significant investments in the grid, but we’re not done yet. Over the next five years, we plan to invest more than $9 billion more to make our grid safer and more reliable for customers.
Building a world-class grid of the future for our customers will take time – but that investment is critical for Michigan’s future.
Interested in seeing the work being done in your community? Visit our Electric Reliability Improvements Map online.