Learn about our Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) program

The AMI program involves the installation of state-of-the-art metering technology for all of our residential and commercial electric and gas customers. It will take several years to replace or modify all three million DTE Energy customer meters. 

Once fully implemented, this technology, as part of our SmartCurrents program, will provide you with additional information about your energy use. This will help you better manage your energy costs. AMI meters are paving the way for smart grid technology.

We have partnered with Itron, a leading technology provider for the energy industry, to provide the equipment and help implement the program in Southeastern Michigan. A vendor has not yet been selected for AMI implementation in other areas of Michigan.

Your current electric meter will be replaced with a digital meter that can be managed remotely. In most cases, your natural-gas meter will not be replaced, but will be adapted with a radio frequency transmitter. There is no charge to you.

AMI benefits

Once installation is complete, DTE Energy will not enter your yard, home or business on a regular basis, except for occasional maintenance or to begin or end electric service. You will no longer have to unlock your gates or secure your pets on the day the meter will be read. Because meters will be read remotely, you’ll receive fewer estimated bills. Increased meter data collection will help you better understand and manage your energy use.

With AMI you'll have:

• A less-intrusive meter-reading process
• Fewer estimated bills
• Automatic power-outage detection
• Access to your daily energy usage information via the Internet (once fully implemented as part of the SmartCurrents program
• Increased meter-reading process efficiency

What will change

Your new Detroit Edison electric meter will be the same size as your current meter. It will have a digital display, similar to a digital clock, instead of dials. It will use secure radio-frequency transmissions to send your usage information to us. The new meters are highly accurate and difficult to vandalize, which is expected to help us reduce cases of energy theft.

Your MichCon natural-gas meter will have a radio-frequency transmitter installed behind the existing meter face, so your natural gas meter will not look any different.

Instead of meter readers walking door-to-door, your electric and/or gas usage information will be transmitted to us over a mobile or fixed network. 

How AMI works

Installation Update

Questions? e-mail us