DTE’s outage response after last week’s storms is continuing to leave some Metro Detroit residents frustrated and exhausted, even as the company’s CEO says crews are working to restore electricity across the region.
DTE Energy CEO Joi Harris provided an update Tuesday, July 7, as thousands of customers remained without power days after severe weather swept through the area.
The utility has faced mounting criticism over shifting restoration estimates and the length of time some neighborhoods have gone without service.
In Redford Township, homeowner Julie Neal said she spent nearly a week repeatedly calling DTE after a power line came down in her yard during Friday night’s storms.
“I was given a first restoration date of Saturday, from Saturday it went to Monday, and from Monday it went to Tuesday at 11:30, and at 10:20 last night they changed it to today at 11:30 with no explanation,” Neal said.
Neal said the downed line remained live and repeatedly caught fire, prompting calls to the fire department. She said despite the hazard, DTE crews did not repair the line for four days.
“It’s been the most frustrating experience I’ve ever had with a utility company,” Neal said. “This was the biggest fail on DTE’s part.”
Neal said she and her husband relied on a generator while they waited, but still went without air conditioning.
Even after crews arrived Monday night, Neal said the problem wasn’t immediately resolved. She said the power had to be cut again after the line began smoking.
“They went down to the corner; we had a neighbor come running down the street asking where they were because her backyard was smoking,” Neal said.
Neal said electricity finally returned around 3 p.m. Wednesday.
In Detroit, resident Jeanette Kowolski said she was still without power Wednesday night at her apartment on Tireman Avenue. Hers was the only building in her apartment complex left in the dark.
“It’s devastating,” Kowolski said. “We have to sleep like so we can feel the air come in through the window and we shouldn’t have to do that.”
Kowolski said she received repeated messages from DTE showing her estimated restoration time repeatedly pushed back. Kowolski said the long wait has felt unacceptable.
“We shouldn’t be in the dark since Friday of last week,” she said. “It was Friday of last week and we’re still here.”
DTE said crews were working to restore power to Kowolski’s apartment late Wednesday evening.
In a statement to Local 4, DTE reiterated that its Storm Response Team will continue working until power is restored to all customers.
“We know being without power for an extended period is frustrating, and we’re sorry for the disruption this has created.
Friday’s severe weather caused widespread damage, leaving nearly 400,000 customers without power.
While we have restored service to 99.9% of those impacted, we recognize that does not ease the frustration for customers who may have received multiple estimates and could still be waiting.
In some instances, when we arrive at an outage location, we discover even more damage than anticipated, which can cause additional delays.
Our Storm Response Team, made up of more than 4,000 dedicated members, remains focused on continuing our work until every customer has their power fully restored.
Regarding the reports of live wires that were on the ground, safety is our top priority – and we encourage everyone to stay a school bus length – at least 25 feet – away from all power lines and anything they’re in contact with – always consider them live and dangerous.”
DTE