DTE Energy is committed to reducing outages by 30% and cutting outage times in half by the end of 2029. As part of this commitment, we recently completed a project to improve electric service and support business growth in Van Buren Township.
This project, which DTE began in 2021 and completed in December 2025, included:
- Constructing a new electric substation. The new substation will help ensure electricity continues to be delivered safely and more reliably to homes and businesses as electric demand continues to grow.
- Installing more than two miles of new poles, power lines, transformers and electric equipment that are built to withstand extreme weather.
- Installing smart grid devices. These devices can identify the damage location causing an outage, so crews can arrive onsite faster to make repairs and reroute power to keep customers’ lights on while crews make repairs.
- Trimming trees growing close to power lines to clear the way for the new electric equipment. Trimming also prevents outages by keeping limbs and branches from falling on and damaging equipment. Trees are responsible for half the time our customers spend without power.
This new substation is more than just an infrastructure improvement — it’s about creating a resilient and future-ready energy grid that ensures safety, reliability and supports the growing needs of our customers. The new substation will allow for the adoption of more electric energy options like electric vehicles and will support Van Buren Township’s expanding business sector.
The substation powers several key businesses near Ecorse Road and I-275, including Ashley Capital, FedEx, Our Next Energy, and US Signal, helping to power economic development in the region.
Rebuilding work like this is just one part of DTE’s plan to build the grid of the future. We’re also transitioning to a smart grid, upgrading existing infrastructure and trimming trees. Interested in learning more about work in your neighborhood? Visit DTE’s Power Improvements Map.