This is a transformational time for the city of Detroit and for Michigan. From extreme weather becoming an everyday occurrence, to an increase in the adoption of electric vehicles, the power grid is being challenged like never before.
DTE has a plan already underway to meet that challenge head on – by investing in the grid of the future.
DTE has invested more than $5 billion upgrading the grid over the last five years alone. Investment must continue in order to provide Detroiters with the power they need and the reliability they deserve.
The plan is focused on four key points:
Trimming trees
- Downed trees and branches on electric wires and equipment account for two-thirds of the time Detroiters spend without power. That is why they enhanced the tree trimming program. Since 2020, DTE has invested more than $586 million in tree trimming and is on track to invest an additional $175 million this year.
- DTE has trimmed more than 25,000 miles of trees over the last five years and will trim 5,000 miles more in 2023.
- DTE has already trimmed 96% of trees in its right of way in the city of Detroit.
- By the end of 2025, DTE will have trimmed along every mile of its grid and will continue trimming on a five-year cycle to ensure that the trees stay off of equipment.
Updating existing infrastructure
- The investment as well in the maintenance of DTE’s existing equipment must continue. Modernizing and upgrading our existing infrastructure – like poles, crossarms and transformers – continues to make a significant impact on reliability.
Rebuilding significant portions of the grid
- Detroit was one of the first cities in the nation to fully electrify. DTE is investing heavily in rebuilding portions of the city’s grid to improve resiliency and reliability. During this rebuild in Detroit, there may be strategic opportunities to move more power wires underground.
Accelerating transition to a smart grid
- With its new Electric Systems Operations Center and recent launch of the state-of-the-art grid management system, DTE has laid the foundation to further invest in smart grid technology.
- In many cases, this technology will help DTE quickly pinpoint damaged areas on the grid and isolate outages to restore many customers in minutes.
- How will this make a difference? It can allow DTE crews to automatically reroute service around the outage area, keeping the lights on for more customers while front line crews make repairs quickly and safely.
DTE Energy has made significant investments in the grid, but they’re not done yet. Over the next five years, DTE plans to invest more than $9 billion more in the electric grid to make it safer and even more reliable for customers.
Building that world-class grid will take time – but the investment is critical for the city of Detroit—and for Michigan’s future.
Interested in seeing the work being done in Detroit and Wayne County? Visit the DTE Energy Electric Reliability Improvements Map online.
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