Detroit Evening Report: DTE, Consumers audit shows ‘worse than average’ restoration times, old equipment
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An audit released by the Michigan Public Service Commission on Tuesday shows DTE Energy’s reliability problems are partially caused by antiquated equipment.
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The commission ordered an independent, third-party audit of DTE and Consumers Energy back in 2022 to examine the status of the state’s electrical grid.
The report found that in 2022 and 2023, both utilities were “worse than average” compared to other utilities when measuring time it took to restore power to customers after an outage.
The audit also showed that many of DTE’s transformers were installed between 1924 and 1960, and the number of customers experiencing four or more outages per year is “greater than usually acceptable for utilities.”
In a statement released Monday, DTE Electric President and CEO Matt Paul said the utility remains “laser-focused” on reducing power outages by 30% and cutting outage time in half by 2029.
“We’ve been making significant investments as part of our accelerated plan to quickly transition to a smarter grid, aggressively trimming trees, updating our existing infrastructure and rebuilding significant portions of the grid,” the statement read.
The audit, was the first of its kind in the state. For more highlights from the report, visit Michigan.gov/mpsc.
Other headlines for Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024:
- The city of Dearborn will open its first of three “PEACE” parks on Friday. PEACE is an acronym for “Park Equity and Access for Civil Engagement.”
- Wayne State University has been placed on the 2025 U.S. News & World Report rankings of best colleges in the country.
- Detroit’s fifth annual Black Film Festival gets underway on Wednesday, highlighting filmmakers and actors from the city.
- The Detroit Tigers continue their quest for the playoffs Wednesday night, playing against the Tampa Bay Rays at Comerica Park.
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