Power For All

Power For All

In July of 2020, Detroit, Highland Park, and Hamtramck residents were among 160,000 DTE customers who lost power for up to 48 hours over two outage events, during a dangerous heat wave and ongoing pandemic. Two days later, a Detroit resident was hospitalized for electric shock after a DTE power line fell for the 4th time. 

This is not a new issue. Detroit, Highland Park, and Hamtramck residents are twice as likely to be killed by downed power lines than others in DTE service territory.

DTE’s racist disregard for our communities threatens our health and safety, and impacts ...

In July of 2020, Detroit, Highland Park, and Hamtramck residents were among 160,000 DTE customers who lost power for up to 48 hours over two outage events, during a dangerous heat wave and ongoing pandemic. Two days later, a Detroit resident was hospitalized for electric shock after a DTE power line fell for the 4th time. 

This is not a new issue. Detroit, Highland Park, and Hamtramck residents are twice as likely to be killed by downed power lines than others in DTE service territory.

DTE’s racist disregard for our communities threatens our health and safety, and impacts our pocketbooks. DTE is one of the worst utilities in the country in terms of reliability , and it has deadly consequences for communities already burdened with DTE's pollution and high, fast-rising energy bills. We demand accountability!

We are calling on the Michigan Public Service Commission to hold DTE accountable & ensure customers are compensated for DTE's failures.

  • Ensure that customers are automatically compensated for power outages – customers should receive automatic bill credits that reflect the real costs associated with power outages, including lost groceries & lost work.

  • Make DTE pay for their poor performance – the amount of money utilities can make should be based on their quality of service, relative to national standards.

  • Require that DTE prioritize safety and reliability, especially in low-income communities – preventing future power outages and injuries from down power lines

  • Commit to racial and economic justice in health – consider the economic costs of health impacts caused by energy pollution in all MPSC decision-making

  • Commit to supporting community-based clean energy as a reliability measure, and don’t approve short-sighted investments in fossil fuels.

WATCH: Check out the press conference with Highland Park Council President Carlton Clyburn and Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib, and the Work For Me, DTE fellows calling for accountability from DTE!

READ: The report from Citizens Utility Board showing DTE's poor pefrformance

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Call On The MPSC

Demand fair treatment of people impacted by power outages and better performance from DTE!

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Email Tips +

The form letter includes the key demands we are making, but your voice is impactful! Here are a few ways to personalize your email:

  • Describe how outages have impacted you or your family. How much did it cost you when your power went out? Did you lose a fridge of groceries? Did you lose a job or need to take time off? More detailes the better!
  • Share your unique perspective on the issue - Are you an emergency responded who has had to guard downed power lines? Are you a business owner who has lost power at a critical time?
  • What do you think would make DTE's outage response better? Tell the MPSC your thoughts!