government
Farmington mayor pushes DTE, state regulators for long-term power outage solutions
By Ruta Ulcinaite at WXYZ Channel 7 (ABC Detroit) - News
· July 9, 2026
· 3 min read
As another round of storms approaches the area, Farmington residents are bracing for more power outages and some are asking what can proactively be done to prevent the kind of widespread outages seen just last week. Watch Ruta Ulciniate's video report: Farmington mayor pushes DTE, state regulato...
Key takeaway " LaRussa sent a letter also signed by city council to both DTE and the Michigan Public Service Commission in 2022 after a massive storm caused widespread power outages.
Why this matters in The Detroit
Farmington's push for long-term power outage solutions has significant implications for the broader Detroit area, where residents have grown accustomed to frequent outages during severe weather events. Mayor Joe LaRussa's efforts to collaborate with DTE and state regulators could set a precedent for other local governments to take a more proactive approach to addressing this issue. The fact that Farmington has seen a reduction in outage frequency and duration suggests that progress is possible, but the persistence of outages during recent storms underscores the need for continued improvement. LaRussa's proposal to bury power lines during infrastructure projects could be a model for other communities, particularly in areas with high growth and development. As the region braces for another round of storms, the success of Farmington's efforts will be closely watched, and could inform similar initiatives in neighboring cities and towns.
About this story
Original reporting by WXYZ Channel 7 (ABC Detroit) - News . The Detroit surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
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Category: government ·
Published: July 9, 2026 ·
Source: WXYZ Channel 7 (ABC Detroit) - News ·
Reading time: 3 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? As another round of storms approaches the area, Farmington residents are bracing for more power outages and some are asking what can proactively be done to prevent the kind of widespread outages seen just last week. Watch Ruta Ulciniate's video report: Farmington mayor pushes DTE, state regulato...
When was this published? This article was first published on July 9, 2026 by WXYZ Channel 7 (ABC Detroit) - News and curated for The Detroit readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Ruta Ulcinaite at WXYZ Channel 7 (ABC Detroit) - News. To learn more about how The Detroit selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more government coverage from The Detroit, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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