14,000 DTE customers still without power, 3 days after storms brought down trees and wires across Metro Detroit

DETROIT (WWJ) -- Around 14,000 DTE E n ergy customers are still without power on Friday, with restoration crews still working overtime all across Metro Detroit.

DTE officials said the outages peaked at around 300,000 customers, after two waves of thunderstorms barreled through Southeast Michigan on Tuesday.

While around 50,000 outages remained on Thursday, the utility said it has now restored power to 85% of affected home and businesses, with the remaining customers being single outages that take longer to repair.

As of 11 a.m. Friday, the DTE outage map showed just over 14,000 customers were still without services, with Livonia, Birmingham and Redford among the trouble spots.

CHECK THE DTE OUTAGE MAP HERE

DTE officials are urging everyone never to touch any downed or damaged wires, after a man died by being electrocuted on Detroit's east side.

"Our thoughts and prayers go out to the man's family," said Director of Emergency Preparedness Bill Hutchinson, speaking live on WWJ. "I'd like to remind the public to stay away from, and do not tamper with electric equipment."

As for how something like this could happen, Hutchinson said, "We are working with the Detroit Police Department as this is still an active investigation."

Hutchinson said DTE crews are prioritizing downed wires, schools and first responders as restorations efforts continue.

In Clinton Township, WWJ's Charlie Langton spoke with resident Jeremy Schnaidt, who had downed wires sparking on his property, near 16 Mile Rd. and Gratiot, Wednesday night.

"A tree branch fell, split the wire in half," Schnaidt said. "So , my neighbor's hard has live wires that are down on his side smoking, and that I've got about six ends on my end that are just popping and smoking."

Schnaidt called the Clinton Township Fire Department, which did come out, but said this is DTE's issue to deal with.

DTE says people should remain at least 25 feet away from downed power lines or anything in contact with them. Assume any downed line is live and dangerous, and report them immediately. Call 9-1-1 if there is an emergency.

Meanwhile, AccuWeather says another round of gusty thunderstorms is possible on Friday. Stay with WWJ Newsradio 950 for updates, every 10 minutes on the 8s.