Dexter Weighs Underground Power Lines, Reliability Concerns

At its April 13 work session, Dexter City Council revisited a long-standing goal of burying overhead power lines downtown while also exploring broader questions about energy reliability, costs and whether the city should play a larger role in providing electrical services.

The discussion, held during a City Council work session reviewing city goals, was informational only, with no decisions made.

Mayor Shawn Keough said relocating overhead lines underground remains an objective, though questions remain about feasibility and cost. “I think still needs to be a goal,” Keough stated, referring to burying lines downtown.

The conversation expanded beyond infrastructure to include whether Dexter should consider alternatives to its current reliance on DTE Energy. City Manager Justin Breyer said the topic emerged a few years ago when Ann Arbor began studying the possibility of creating its own municipal electric utility.

“At that point, council expressed an interest in maybe taking a look at that option,” Breyer said, adding that such a move would be “extremely expensive.”

Councilmember Joe Semifero noted that Ann Arbor has not committed to a full municipal system, in part due to those costs. Instead, the city is exploring a hybrid approach that could include localized microgrids powered by solar panels and supported by battery storage.

“They would have battery storage, solar panels … that would be shared between users,” Semifero said, describing a system designed to improve reliability during outages.

By contrast, nearby Chelsea operates its own electric utility, which manages infrastructure similarly to DTE, though questions remain about how it handles power generation.

Reliability emerged as a central concern throughout the discussion, particularly for businesses affected by frequent outages or brief power interruptions. Even short disruptions can have outsized impacts, noted one councilmember.

City officials also emphasized that critical municipal infrastructure, such as wells and wastewater treatment facilities, already relies on backup generators to maintain operations during outages.

Officials discussed whether backup power solutions should extend to private businesses, especially in the industrial park. Ideas included an uninterruptible power system to prevent disruptions, but questions arose over who should pay for it, with some favoring a shared, business-funded approach and others pointing to private responsibility. Councilmembers also noted that brief power “dropouts,” not just full outages, can damage equipment and disrupt operations, underscoring the need for reliable short-term backup power.

Officials agreed the topic warrants further exploration, particularly as the city looks to balance reliability, cost and long-term infrastructure planning.

“I think we should have some goals towards it,” Keough said.

The discussion is expected to continue in future meetings as the city evaluates potential strategies to improve electrical reliability and resilience.

Featured photo: Overhead power lines run along Second Street in Dexter, discussed by city officials as part of ongoing conversations about burying lines and improving electrical reliability. Photo by Doug Marrin.