DTE Energy Issues Storm, Power Outage Tips
A line of severe thunderstorms is passing through Southeast Michigan.
A screen image from the National Weather Service's Detroit-White Lake office, which shows the advancing line of thunderstorms.
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Photos
Storms just one week ago caused more than 125,000 DTE Energy customers to lose power, some for days. Now, another round of thunderstorms has started and DTE Energy has issued the following tips:
- During any storm, you may wish to unplug major appliances and sensitive electronic equipment.
- If you lose power: If your power goes out, please report it. Your report will help determine the extent of the outage and damage to DTE's electrical system. Report from a mobile phone using mobile.dteenergy.com or by calling 800.477.4747
- Estimates for restoring your power: Estimates for restoring your power take several hours to prepare and may not be immediately available. These estimates may change once crews arrive on scene and fully assess equipment damage and tree-removal needs, or as additional severe weather impacts our restoration work.
Safety tips
- Play it safe.
- Stay at least 20 feet away from downed power lines and anything they are in contact with, including water puddles and metal fences.
- Keep children and pets away, too.
- Never drive across a downed power line.
- If a power line falls on your vehicle, remain inside your car until help arrives.
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Peg McNichol
5:27 pm on Monday, July 18, 2011
Police scanner traffic indicates a smattering of fender benders, at least one downed wire and a possible blown transformer in Canton; about 800 people are without power, according to DTE Energy's outage map.
J. Michael Lenninger
12:10 pm on Friday, July 22, 2011
Some in Brighton still were without power on Wednesday, July 20 due to a tree being down on a power line. The subcontractors handling the outages for DTE said they couldn't touch the tree until the tree removers (under contract) got there. "We can't cut a branch bigger around than our pinkie finger," he told me. Even though it was a 10-minute job, the tree removers weren't expected until the next morning, so some may have suffered needlessly because of contractor rules.