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.
- Lasky Recreation Center,13200 Fenelonfrom Monday – Friday 1 – 9 p.m.
- Northwest Activities Center,18100 Meyers Roadfrom Monday - Friday 8 a.m. - 10 p.m.
Overnight warming centers
- Cass Community Social Services, 11850 Woodrow Wilson, for families and single women
- Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries - Mack Warming Center, 11037 Mack Ave. for families and single women
- Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries - Third Street Warming Center, 3535 Third Ave. for single men
