Today on the Detroit Evening Report, we cover the ramifications of last night’s storms, new city-wide projects and upcoming community events.

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Power outages across the state

DTE Energy says about 22,000 customers had no power this morning after severe thunderstorms Sunday night caused widespread damage in the lower peninsula. Consumers Energy reported 163,000 homes and businesses were without electricity as well. DTE estimated power would be returned to 95 percent of customers by the end of the day.

Monroe Streetscape Project breaks ground this week

The Greektown Neighborhood Partnership will be hosting a groundbreaking ceremony for the Monroe Streetscape Project on Wednesday, April 2. The project will focus on improving the safety and accessibility for pedestrians in the corridor. Improvements include wider sidewalks and outdoor café spaces, a flexible, curb-less roadway, and reduced lanes to slow traffic. The project is expected to be completed by the summer of 2026.

Career and education assistance program launches

The City of Pontiac is collaborating with Oakland80 to launch a series called Career and Education Navigators to assist residents in applying for financial assistance to attend college, find jobs, and get other services. Multiple resources will be available to job seekers and residents looking to further their education, including locating scholarships, financial assistance to pay for books, supplies, childcare and transportation. It will also include job seeking services.

The events are free and open to all Pontiac residents. The program kicked off today, March 31, in Pontiac City Hall and will take place every Monday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, visit pontiac.mi.us.

MDOT looking for snowplow designs

The Michigan Department of Transportation is accepting applications for 2025-2026 Paint the Plow Program. MDOT is looking for submissions from students on creative and original designs to be painted on snowplow blades in an effort to communicate safe winter driving practices for all Michigan residents.

The program is open to all Michigan high schools. The application deadline is Friday, May 16. Selected schools will be notified before the end of the 2025 school year and arrangements will be made for the delivery of their plow blade in the fall. Interested schools can visit michigan.gov/painttheplow for more information and to submit their design.

Easter Funfest Carnival planned for April 19

The Detroit Department of Recreation is hosting the Easter Funfest Carnival on Saturday April 19. The event will feature bike giveaways, an Easter basket giveaway, carnival rides and food trucks. There will also be an Easter egg hunt, Oompa Loompa sack race, face painting, pony rides and a petting zoo. The carnival will run between 1–5 p.m. at Lasky Recreation Center. For more information, visit their Facebook event page.

Detroit yard waste collection begins

Yard waste collection in Detroit begins today, March 31 and ends December 19. The curbside pickup will occur alongside weekly trash pickup. For more information, visit detroitmi.gov.

Do you have a community story we should tell? Let us know in an email at detroiteveningreport@wdet.org.

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The Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) has approved a rate hike for Consumers Energy, allowing the utility to collect an additional $154 million in revenue.

This amount is significantly lower than the $325 million originally requested by the company. Starting in April, the average monthly bill for Consumers Energy customers will increase by $2.78.

This approval comes after rate hikes for both DTE and Consumers Energy were granted in the past year. According to a report by the Center for Biological Diversity, DTE now has some of the highest energy costs in the Great Lakes region. The report also raised concerns about the need for rate increases, especially after it was revealed that DTE earned $1.1 billion in net income in the first nine months of 2024.

Today on The Metro Katherine Peretick, a member of the Michigan Public Service Commission, spoke about the commission’s decision-making process. She explained that utilities must submit detailed cases, which are reviewed by interveners and the commission. If a decision isn’t reached within 10 months, the utility automatically receives the requested rate increase. Peretick emphasized that commission decisions must be based on technical evidence, not personal opinions.

Use the media player above to hear the full conversation.

More stories from The Metro on Thursday, March 27, 2025.

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.

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In metro Detroit, a quarter of low-income households pay more than 19% of their earnings to keep the lights on. Metro Detroiters from vulnerable communities, including Black, Hispanic and Native American residents, tend to shoulder the highest energy burdens. People living in low-income multifamily buildings, as well as older adults and renters, are also hit harder by energy costs. 

A significant energy burden means powering appliances and heating and cooling your home could be out of reach. Energy insecurity touches every facet of life. It can make it hard to hold down a job, hard to get to school, and hard to stay healthy.

DTE Energy recently filed a notice for its plan to raise rates. That request will then be filed with Michigan regulators in April and will take multiple months of review. If it is approved, residents would not see a rate hike until next year. This rate hike request comes just months after Michigan regulators approved another DTE rate increase. In January, the utility was OKed to raise rates by $217 million.

Rate hikes by DTE are among several pressure points worrying advocates. 

Shutoffs for nonpayment are a big part of DTE operations. According to a recent report by the Center for Biological Diversity, DTE shut off electricity 150,000 times for residents who couldn’t pay their bills between January and September. 

“DTE customers already have some of the highest residential rates in the country — the average bill is 17% more than that of the Great Lakes region and 11% more than the U.S. average,” the report reads. 

In a statement sent to The Metro, DTE spokesperson Ryan Lowry said the utility cannot yet comment on the rate hike request until it is filed in April with the Michigan Public Service Commission. He pointed out ways the utility supports low-income families.

“DTE and its agency partners offer a variety of assistance options to help those in need, and last year alone, we connected customers to nearly $144 million in energy assistance,” he said. 

Lowry said DTE was “proud to see Governor Whitmer sign four pieces of legislation into law to double the funding available for low-income Michiganders under the Michigan Energy Assistance Program, as well as expanded the criteria for the program so that anyone at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level would be eligible.”

Advocates, though, say increasing energy costs, shutoffs and DTE’s reliance on fossil fuels are a big problem.

Khary Frazier with Soulardarity, a nonprofit working to make clean energy accessible and affordable to all, joined The Metro on Wednesday to discuss how high energy costs affect metro Detroiters.

Use the media player above to hear the full conversation.

Hear more stories from The Metro on Wednesday, March 19, 2025.

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.

Tonight on The Detroit Evening Report, we cover new incentives for utilities to improve reliability. Plus, construction begins on I-696 East.

Subscribe to the Detroit Evening Report on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

Reliability incentives announced for utilities

DTE and Consumers Energy could face significant penalties within two years for missing reliability targets. But they could also get incentives for meeting or exceeding those goals.

The Michigan Public Service Commission says it will impose penalties of up to $10 million on each of the utilities for failing to reduce the frequency and duration of outages after storms. But the companies could also be awarded the same amount of money for meeting or exceeding outage improvement targets.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel along with others say the order is a start, but the penalties aren’t high enough, and don’t begin soon enough. Both utilities say the order supports what they’re already doing to improve reliability. 

MDOT I-696 construction begins

Construction on the “Restore the Reuther” project began today, spanning across eastbound I-696 from Lahser Road to I-75.

MDOT Spokesperson Diane Cross says the two-year project is part of a larger reconstruction of I-696. She says about 100,000 drivers will need to take another freeway. MDOT’s detour takes drivers south on M-10 on the bottom of the Davidson, then back north on I-75 to get back on I-696 East. But Cross says drivers will take a few weeks to find the best alternative routes for themselves, including other local roads like 8, 12 or 14 Mile Roads. 

Survey shows adults over 50 benefit from work

A National Poll on Healthy Aging found 34 percent of Michigan residents over age 50 have jobs. The University of Michigan’s Jeffrey Kullgren is the survey’s director.  

“So we found among working adults, age 50 and older, work has positive impacts on physical health, mental health and overall wellbeing,” Kullgren says. “And interestingly, these outcomes are especially pronounced for working adults age 65 and older.”

Kullgren says people report facing barriers such as a lack of training and transportation, or having disabilities. He says employers can provide more time off for doctor’s appointments.  

Wayne State MFA thesis exhibition to open

A new exhibition opens Friday, March 7 at the Wayne State University Art Department Gallery. “BEYOND” explores the themes of transformation, identity and migration. The artworks feature images of water, landscapes and materials which represent resilience. Artists featured are Michael Brzozowski, Alyssa Grace Olson and Ross Owusu. 

International Women’s Panel

The Detroit Public Library is hosting an International Women’s Day: Storytelling Festival on Saturday, March 8. This free event takes place at the main branch of the Detroit Public Library from 2-4:30 p.m. That’s at 5201 Woodward Ave. Galleria Detroit, MI 48202. For more information, visit their Eventbrite page.

Detroit Youth Poetry Con

The Detroit Youth Poetry Con is hosting a free youth poetry showcase in Detroit this month. Participants will learn how to write poetry and connect with artists. The event is put together by InsideOut Literary Arts with the Wayne State University English Department and the NBA Foundation. There will also be special performances by InsideOut youth. 

The day-long event takes place on Saturday, March 15 starting at 9:30 a.m. Registration closes on Sunday, March 9. For more information, visit insideoutdetroit.org.

Do you have a community story we should tell? Let us know in an email at detroiteveningreport@wdet.org.