DTE Energy reported that just over 91% of customers had power at 12 a.m. on Sunday. President and CEO Jerry Norcia previously promised to have approximately 90% of its customers back with power by the end of Friday.
Around 230,228 DTE and Consumers Energy customers remained without power by 12 a.m. Sunday after Michigan's worst ice storm in 50 years left over a million people without power. In some areas over half an inch of ice coated everything from trees to wires, bringing down branches and utility poles across southeast Michigan.
DTE Energy Co. and Consumers have been working to clear downed wires and restore power to most affected clients by the end of the day Sunday.
DTE reported 180,551 customers without electricity at 12 a.m. Sunday. This is the second-largest storm in terms of the number of DTE customers impacted in the utility's 120-year history, Matt Paul, executive vice president of Distribution Operations at DTE, said in a virtual press conference Saturday.
The vast majority of DTE customers would be back online by the end of the day Sunday but a small number will still be out of power on Monday and Tuesday, Paul said Saturday.
"We're also tracking some potential freezing rain that may come into our region on Monday and Tuesday," Paul said. "With snow and possibly freezing rain coming in, it will impact how quickly our crews can get from point A to point B and in climbing poles and things like that."
There is a chance for freezing rain on Monday afternoon and evening but it will likely transition to all rain quickly, according to National Weather Service meteorologist Dave Kook. An event similar to last week's ice storm is not likely, Kook said.
DTE prioritizes fixing the largest outages first, in addition to emergency facilities and schools, Paul said. Areas in and around Ann Arbor and Washtenaw county were hardest hit by the storm and that's where DTE's workforce is concentrated.
Consumers Energy reported roughly 94% of its customers have power but 49,677 remained without at 12 a.m.
Nearly 300 Consumers Energy crewsand line workers from out of state were deployed in the field and will continue working on outages throughout the weekend, as long as there is favorable weather, the company said in a news release.
Consumers Energy will serve free meals at the Grand River Brewery at the Gene Davis and Sons Banquet Center, 3575 Francis St, Jackson, from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Sunday. They hosted two similar events Saturday morning to thank customers for their patience during the outages.
"While our crews have been working 24/7 to clean up after the storm and restore power to all of our customers, we know power outages can be frustrating," Norm Kapala, one of Consumers Energy’s officers in charge for the event, said in a news release. "These events are just small tokens of our appreciation for our customers’ patience and understanding as we continue our efforts."
Over 11,000 downed wires were reported during and after the storm. DTE has addressed most of the roughly 3,000 downed wires that were reported to the utility, Paul said Saturday morning. Downed wires are a major safety concern and Consumers Energy warned people to be alert, stay at least 25 feet away and report them to local police and utilities.
Wayne county was also hit particularly hard by the storm, DTE officials said at a press conference Friday. Several warming and respite centers are open around the city of Detroit, including Detroit public libraries, which are operating under normal business hours and under COVID-19 protocols. Several recreation centers are also open and can provide residents without power relief from the cold.
24-hour warming centers
Patton Recreation Center, 2301 Woodmere, open through Monday at 8 a.m.
Farwell Recreation Center, 2711 E. Outer Drive, open through Monday at 8 a.m.
Detroit Recreation Centers
Adams/Butzel Center,10500 Lyndon from Monday – Friday 8 a.m. – 9 p.m. and Saturday: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Kemeny Recreation Center,2260 S. Fort from Monday – Friday 8 a.m. – 9 p.m. and Saturday: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Here are some examples of damage/loss that DTE does not cover: Damages or losses resulting from storms or weather-related conditions. Loss or damages including hotel/lodging, food loss, damaged appliances due to voltage surges, loss of wages/revenue or tree trim debris removal expenses.
There are a variety of circ*mstances that can cause power outages ranging from natural causes like weather and animals to equipment failures and scheduled upgrades. In Michigan, fallen trees or broken limbs are the reason behind a power outage around 33% of the time, making them the leading cause for lost electricity.
Under service quality rules issued by the Michigan Public Service Commission in 2023, utilities in the state are obligated to credit customers who experience a power outage lasting longer than 120 hours during a state of emergency, an outage lasting longer than 16 hours under normal conditions, or more than seven ...
A distribution fuse can take a few minutes to repair; a distribution transformer can take a couple of hours to replace; but widespread damage to the transmission system can take days, weeks, or even months to repair.
Most power outages can be restored within hours, but those caused by storms or violent winds that damage electrical lines and equipment can linger for days or even weeks.
Most power surges happen at the connection site of plug to an outlet, but power surges can also damage old wiring within the walls of your home. This type of damage could be covered by your homeowners dwelling coverage (Coverage A).
Smaller, repeated power surges could be the reason your TV or cordless phone mysteriously stops working. These smaller surges can slowly cause damage, so your computer or stereo may continue to function until the integrity of the electronic components finally erode.
You will receive a $38 outage credit if you have more than 6 interruptions in 12 months. The interruptions must last at least 5 minutes to qualify. Once the credit is paid, the number of interruptions resets to zero. Your utility will add the credit to your account once you qualify.
With the most annual power outages, Maine is surely left in the dark. The Pine Tree State tops the list with an average of 4.35 power outages every year, a stark increase above the national average of 1.62 per year.
The report found that Michigan experienced the second-highest number of power outages, during which at least 50,000 customers or more lost power, between 2000 and 2021. Outages increased by 78% between 2011 and 2021 compared to the prior decade.
Natural gas and nuclear both generate more than a quarter of all energy generated in Michigan. Together, these three sources account for nearly 90% of all the electricity generation in the state. The map below shows where electricity is generated in Michigan.
As the USDA notes in Keeping Food Safe During an Emergency, your refrigerator will keep food safe for up to 4 hours during a power outage. Keep the door closed as much as possible. Discard refrigerated perishable food such as meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and leftovers after 4 hours without power.
Massive power outages offer multiple lessons on how to position the transportation system for optimal performance during disasters. The largest power outage in U.S. history rolled across much of the Northeast from Detroit to New York City on a hot and humid Thursday in August 2003.
The Cold Weather Rule was established to protect residential customers from disconnection if they are unable to pay their electric bill in full. Energy and the member. The Cold Weather Rule offers a reconnection plan that may allow service to be turned on if service was disconnected as of November 1.
Typically, your electricity will be restored within 1 to 2 business days of payment being received. Contact your local electricity provider to find out the exact details of when your power will be restored.
During a major storm, our top priority is restoring power to hospitals, nursing care facilities, police and fire stations, communication facilities (radio and television stations), and sanitary pumping facilities.
For customers who are having trouble paying their final balance by the due date, DTE provides an additional 60 day grace period before reporting any unpaid balance to credit reporting agencies.
Check your main fuses or circuit breakers to see if they have blown or tripped. Replacing a fuse or resetting a circuit breaker may restore your electricity. If the problem is not in your home, call your electric supplier. A repair person will be dispatched as quickly as possible.
Introduction: My name is Aracelis Kilback, I am a nice, gentle, agreeable, joyous, attractive, combative, gifted person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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