Guarding Downed Power Lines Will Now Be Billed To DTE

DETROIT (WWJ) - DTE Energy will soon have to reimburse Detroit for the cost of police and fire guarding downed power lines. City Council Tuesday passed a cost recovery ordinance that Councilmen Ken Cockrel says is only fair.

Fire Association president Ed McNamara says that he's been a long time supporter of the ordinance.

"It takes a little bit of a breeze and we have almost all of our fire companies out today on a mess of spaghetti call lines down - which is not safe," said McNamara.

DTE and AT&T opposed the cost recovery ordinance -- calling it a tax increase.

City Council will now set the fee rates.