Fallen trees and limbs account for nearly half of the time DTE customers spend without power. That’s why DTE has invested nearly one billion dollars since 2019 to trim and remove trees that could damage electric equipment, causing outages. Last year alone, DTE trimmed more than 350 miles of trees near our electric equipment in Detroit — that’s the same distance from Detroit to Louisville, Kentucky. The company expects to trim another 340 miles throughout Detroit this year.
By the end of this year, the company will have trimmed every mile in its service territory to industry standards.
In the future, DTE plans to monitor and track fast growing species on customers’ property and will prioritize trimming circuits where those species are to maintain trimming to the industry standard across its service territory. The company also plans on removing brush and smaller trees underneath lines more aggressively and will make every effort to collaborate with homeowners on this work.
More reliable power and trimming trees go hand-in-hand, but you shouldn’t have to choose between reliable service and beautiful trees. By planting the right trees in the right place, you can have both. If you’re planting trees on your property this summer, consider following the company’s Right Tree, Right Place guidelines:
- If you are planting within 20 feet of a power line, on either side of the line, pick trees like star magnolia, dwarf arborvitae or some varieties of dogwood that will not grow more than 20 feet high.
- Trees like Japanese maple, redbud and flowering dogwood, that will grow between 21 and 45 feet, should be planted 20 to 50 feet away from power lines.
- Lastly, trees that will grow 46 feet or taller, red oak, basswood or white pines, should be planted more than 50 feet away from power lines.
Even if you don’t have overhead equipment or service lines on your property, it’s important to call MISS DIG at 8-1-1before you begin any kind of digging project. MISS DIG will identify and stake any underground utility lines in the area like natural gas, cable, electric lines and more. Not only is it a fast, free and helpful service that can prevent dangerous situations, but it’s also the law to call before you dig.
You can learn more about choosing the Right Tree for the Right Place at dteenergy.com/treetrim.
