LIVONIA, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Michigan residents are used to braving cold winters and scorching summers. But what they aren’t used to – nor should they be – is being left in the dark for days on end.

DTE Energy’s latest power outage fiasco during a summer storm last week had customers in Southeast Michigan fuming, with many wondering why Michigan’s electrical grid is starting to look more like a 20th-century relic than a reliable service in the nation’s automotive heartland.

Unhappy birthday.

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Take Hugo Giovannone from Livonia, who spent his birthday fueling up a generator instead of blowing out candles. He told CBS News Detroit about DTE, ”They were gonna have it fixed by the 28th then, ‘Oh, I’m sorry, due to the heavy damage, we can’t. It won’t be ready till the 29th,’ then the 30th, and today was the first day they finally showed up.” Giovannone finally saw a repair crew four days after losing power.

It’s a sentiment shared by Matt Hutchinson from Brighton, who said that he had to toss out his fridge’s contents during his fourth blackout day. “I’ve lived through hurricanes, I lived through tornadoes, and I’ve lived through earthquakes, and never once have I suffered as many significant power outages as I have in the last five years here in Michigan overall,” he said.

Michigan residents, it seems, are developing a survivalist’s resilience, but it’s not the kind they signed up for. And not one they want to continue.

“Fix the Damn Grid!” – The new battle cry for Michigan’s powerless.

While Democratic Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer rose to power with her catchy “fix the damn roads” slogan and still uses it today when talking about Michigan’s roadwork, her constituents are left wondering when “fix the damn grid” will finally make it onto her to-do list.

Hutchinson says, “We live in the most industrialized state in the nation, and our electric grid is not up to snuff. If Big Gretch can run on ‘fix the damn roads,’ who’s going to run on ‘fix the damn grid’?”

With residents fed up and energy companies scrambling, Michigan’s grid has become a rolling blackout waiting to happen – especially as the state pushes for millions of electric vehicles to hit the road while, at at the same time, forcing Michiganders to rely on on solar and wind for their energy needs because of mandated energy orders give to power companies like DTE and Consumers Energy.

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As Michigan strives for a green energy future, the power grid is buckling under the weight of poor maintenance, aging infrastructure, and ambitious climate goals. Even the Michigan Public Service Commission, chaired by a Whitmer appointee, is sounding the alarm, noting the state’s grid performance is simply “unacceptable.”

The recent barrage of rate hikes has also left residents paying more for less, and the thought of adding millions of EVs to the mix feels like adding insult to injury.

Credits, EVs, and the great Michigan grid gamble.

In a show of corporate generosity, DTE announced that customers affected by this latest power outage might be eligible for a whopping $38 credit – though it may take up to 90 days to hit accounts.

Meanwhile, the state continues to push toward a lofty goal of 2 million registered EVs by 2030, which experts warn could double the demand on an already strained grid. Add in state and federal bribes and policies to push for more electric vehicles and the switch to renewable energy sources like wind and solar, and it’s starting to look like a game of energy roulette.

Michigan’s energy future needs more than promises, solar panels, and wind turbines. It needs reliability, accountability, and a grid that doesn’t flicker like an old-school light bulb during a thunderstorm.