DTE Energy announced on Monday that its “smart grid technology” has prevented almost 5,000 power interruptions and more than 1.8 million minutes of possible blackout time so far in 2024.
FYI: DTE’s smart grid is an interconnected system with automated technology like distributed management software and an operation center.
As the largest Michigan utility, DTE plans to completely automate its grid by 2029. The smart grid is loaded with power protections:
- It can detect and turn off downed wires for safety.
- Devices can isolate areas of damage and reroute the power so lights stay on during repairs to the system.
- The system can pinpoint damage locations for crews so they can arrive on-site faster to begin repairs.
Big picture: Thousands of homes in other utility territories like Xcel Energy’s are experiencing power outages up to 72 hours long due to harsh weather conditions this summer. Distributed generation has been widely-touted as the solution—which has threatened utilities like DTE, Entergy, and Rhode Island Energy into solving outage problems to keep generation central.
![Energy Central Top Voices 2024 [All Network Summary]](https://energynews.today/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/picture-274514-1696273521-90x60.webp)
