Converting to underground service is ideal for customers who want overhead clearance for a pool, deck or patio. The process of converting your service consists of installing your new underground service and then removing your existing overhead service.
The following information will provide you with the basic steps for converting overhead to underground service.
- Contact us at 800.338.0178.
Make sure to call us early in the planning stages so we can access your needs and determine costs. For some customers, we may need to extend higher voltage power lines, which requires additional time.
Please have the following information available:
- Your full name
- Telephone number
- Service address/major cross streets
- City/township
- DTE Energy account number
- We'll provide a consultation.
A DTE planning representative will contact you to schedule a visit to review the details of the job. If you're considering future exterior modification plans such as swimming pool, deck or patio, please mention these during your call.
- Consider a customer-installed trench for cost savings (optional).
During the consultation process, our representative will discuss how you can reduce costs by digging your own trench.
If you decide to dig your own trench, you'll reduce your installation costs, but add more steps to the process. Our representative will provide guidelines for digging your trench and help you determine the appropriate route.
Note: Before you begin digging, you will need to identify the location of existing underground utilities.
Miss Dig is the specialized central clearinghouse for this service, processing requests to locate and stake most underground public utility service. Visit
Miss Dig for more information.
- Know your service options during construction.
We will help you choose the service option that best meets your immediate needs:
- A meter box can usually be installed after the house has been framed and wired.
- If facilities are available, we can provide temporary electric service.
- Complete a municipal inspection.
Most municipalities require inspections of electrical installations. Check with your municipality for guidelines. The inspector will verify that the installation meets the National Electrical Code (NEC) and the municipality's local ordinance standards.
- Arrange a DTE Energy inspection.
When your municipality has approved your meter box installation, we will inspect the installation to make sure our standards are met for your service and safety.
- Begin the underground service installation.
We'll begin within 15 working days, unless delayed by poor weather conditions, storms or power outages. When delays occur, we make every attempt to resume our installation schedule within two weeks of power restoration. The installation of your overhead service drop and the meter in the meter box will complete the construction of your electric service installation.
The conversion or actual construction phase of your electric service will be completed in two stages.
Stage 1
An underground installation crew will:
- Dig a trench using approved construction equipment, unless you have already dug your own.
- Install the underground electric cable in the trench.
- Make the connections in your meter and at the power source.
- Backfill and mound the soil over the trench.
Stage 2
An overhead installation crew will:
- Remove the overhead service lines
- Connect the underground cable at the pole.
Please note that you or your contractor are responsible for:
- Further site restoration, such as compacting the soil, covering the soil with sod or other landscaping.
- Removing the overhead attachment point, overhead service entrance cable and overhead meter box from the house.
- Contacting and coordinating utilities such as your telephone and/or cable TV suppliers.
Tips on landscaping:
Appropriate clearances are important for providing safe working conditions when our field personnel are maintaining the electrical equipment on your property. The area around your meter box must be clear of permanent structures, such as shrubs, trees and central air-conditioning units. Transformers or other electrical sources that are used to connect and regulate your underground electrical service must also be clear of obstructions for periodic maintenance. When selecting a planting location, also avoid planting too close to other underground utilities such as gas, water and sewer lines.
If you have any nearby pole-to-pole overhead lines, remember trees branch outward as well as upward, and need adequate space to grow. By finding the right spot to plant your tree now, you can avoid interference with overhead electric power lines in the future. Tree limbs, which can knock down or come in contact with power lines, are the most common cause of power outages. We recommend you contact your local nursery when selecting a tree for planting near pole-to-pole power lines. DTE Energy will maintain necessary clearances for overhead pole-to-pole power lines.
