Detroit’s increasing demand for energy is being met by our crews performing upgrades throughout the city. That includes enhancing our existing overhead infrastructure in the Grandmont-Rosedale neighborhood to help the system withstand extreme weather and reduce outage times for our customers. This is a part of our four-point plan to improve reliability for our electric customers, which also includes trimming trees, rebuilding significant portions of our grid and accelerating our transition to a smart grid. This pole replacement took place at the intersection of Prevost Street and Kendall Street.
To ensure that there are no disruptions to the power, crews first set the new pole next to the older pole. Then, new equipment like cross arms, strengthened wires, conductors and reclosers (for automation) are added. Stronger cross arms are essential because they keep the pole-top equipment in place. Previously, wooden cross arms were used. However, they are susceptible to weathering and damage from insects and even small animals. The new steel cross arms are highly durable and resistant to corrosion. Stay up to date with the latest improvements taking place in your area by checking out our electric reliability improvements map. You can also find more on our Detroit community page to read about the work our crews are doing on Detroit’s west side.
