Our four-point plan is underway to strengthen electrical reliability for our customers. This work includes tree trimming to reduce outages, updating our existing infrastructure, accelerating our transition to a smart grid and rebuilding the oldest portions of our grid. One of our oldest substations is located in Ann Arbor and has successfully served Ann Arbor residents for over a century. It is our goal to make sure this substation and the grid in Ann Arbor can support the increased energy needs of our customers. One of the jobs that will help us achieve this is pole replacements.
When poles become weathered or misaligned, we replace the poles with new, stronger poles that can better withstand extreme weather. To do this, our crews first safely deenergize the pole-top equipment. They then use long pieces of orange rubber called “blankets” to cover the power lines as another safety measure. A new pole is then put in place. The new poles will help us deliver reliable energy to Ann Arbor for years to come.
You may see more of our crews in the coming months as part of our accelerated electric reliability projects in your area, including more tree trimming, maintenance, and infrastructure updates. All these projects are underway to improve your service and reliability in the short and long term.
Make sure to regularly check out the Ann Arbor community page to learn more about what is going on in your neighborhood. You can also follow DTE on Facebook and Twitter for even more updates and information.