Feds, DTE Energy plan to invest $168M into Metro Detroit Smart Grid

metromode, 10/29/2009

Metro Detroit's smart grid is getting smarter now that it's about to receive a major investment.

The federal government has pledged $84 million in stimulus dollars to the project and DTE Energy and its partners plan to match that number.

"This is just for next year and 2011," says Scott Simons, a spokesman for DTE Energy.

The money will go toward DTE's SmartCurrents program, which will install advanced meters to allow the Detroit-based firm's employees to read and control them remotely. These meters are already being installed in Bloomfield Township and Grosse Ile.

About 700,000 of these meters will be installed over the next two years. The plan is to eventually change them all out over the next five years.

Source: Scott Simons, spokesman for DTE Energy
Writer: Jon Zemke

Detroit