12/22/13 – As of 9 p.m., approximately 95,000 customers throughout DTE Energy’s Southeast Michigan service area are out of service due to ice storms that passed through the region overnight. About 138,000 customers have been impacted by the storm since Saturday night, and crews have restored power to about 43,000 customers.
DTE estimates that 40 percent of its customers will be restored by midnight and 90 percent by Christmas Eve.
The total number of customers affected may continue to rise as ice continues to weigh down tree branches, causing them to snap and take down power lines. Ice storms differ from windstorms or thunderstorms because the damage from ice often continues for several days. A quarter of an inch of ice is the equivalent of 500 pounds of weight on a span of power line. In some areas, as much as three-quarters of an inch has been found on DTE Energy power lines.
DTE Energy cautions its customers to accurately report their outages and/or downed power lines. Accurate reporting is crucial for DTE to respond with the correct resources. Incorrect reporting slows the restoration process.
The majority of the power outages are in:
Oakland County: 47,000
Lapeer County: 29,000
Livingston County: 6,000
All available crews are working 16-hour shifts around the clock to restore power. Nearly 400 linemen from utilities in West Virginia, Indiana, Ohio and Georgia are assisting with restoration efforts.
Safety is always a top priority. DTE would like to remind customers to stay at least 20 feet away from downed power lines and anything they’re in contact with, such as metal fences and cars. Treat every downed power line as if it were energized.
Another safety tip: Do not open refrigerators or freezers more often than absolutely necessary, turn off or unplug all appliances to prevent an electrical overload when power is restored, and as always operate generators outdoors.
Customers can report an outage, check on the status of an outage, and view our outage map, all from their smart phones. Customers may also call DTE Energy at 800.477.4747 to report power outages or downed lines.
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