Frequently asked questions about Gas Advanced Metering Program

DTE Energy is upgrading the natural gas meters in your area.  We are installing a small transmitter which will allow a meter reader located nearby to record your usage information, without having to enter your yard or business. 

The transmitter we are installing records the amount of natural gas you use and encodes that information. Once a month, a meter reader collects your natural gas usage information either by driving by or walking near the natural gas advanced meters with a remote data collector. 

The transmitter uses very safe, secure, low powered radio frequency signal (less than a cordless phone used in your home) to send the encoded information to the data collector, a short distance away.  The data that is collected is returned to our billing system, just as the manual reading data was done previously-to generate your bill.

After the installation of the transmitter, we will no longer need to enter your yard or business to read your meter. This eliminates the need for you to remove obstructions, including snow, away from your meter.  Natural gas advanced metering also ensures you receive an accurate bill each month, with an actual – not estimated – meter reading. 

Natural gas advanced metering is being installed in the communities of the following counties: Alcona,  Alpena , Antrim,  Cheboygan,  Charlevoix,  Clare, Crawford,  Emmet,  Gladwin, Grand Traverse (southeast), Gratiot, Kalkaska,   Isabella,  Missaukee, Montmorency,  Osceola, Oscoda, Otsego, Presque Isle,  Roscommon,  Wexford

All customers slated for installation will receive a letter notifying of our intentions.

We will leave a note posted on your door or meter notifying you that your installation is complete.

If your meter is located outside your home, you do not need to be present when the meter is installed.  If your meter is located inside your home, an adult must be present at the time of installation, and the local station will contact you for an appointment.

 If your meter is inside a fenced area with locked gate, or you have a dog in the area of the meter, upon our validation of this-the local office will make contact to schedule an appointment to complete the installation.

Potentially it may change, and if this does happen, you will receive appropriate notification, prior to the date change.

For the vast majority of customers, no.  Installation of a natural gas advanced metering transmitter will not cause an interruption in your natural gas service unless a new natural gas meter is required.

No. This technology has been around for more than 17 years. More than 90 million transmitters have been installed worldwide. This technology has never been delayed, put on hold or stopped for reason of safety. There are no known health hazards from this type of device.

This is a different type of technology than is being used on electric meters in some other areas. 

Baby monitors, cell phones, garage door openers, television remotes, wireless laptops and remote car starters all use radio frequency signals to operate.  In fact, a cell phone emits 800 times more RF energy than a natural gas advanced meter. Because the cell phone is used much closer to your head, the exposure level is more than 3,500 times greater. Plus, the cell phone transmission is continuous during its operation. Natural gas advanced meters transmits only for a short amount of time.

Specialized technology protects the transmitters against hacking and your usage information is always encoded whenever it is sent. Once your information is entered into our billing system, we protect it the same way we always have -- by constantly checking and monitoring for threats or improvements. 

The only data that is ever transmitted-is the transmitter ID and gas usage meter read.  No personal information-such as name, address, phone number, account number, etc. is ever transmitted.

No, DTE Energy does not sell your natural gas usage information.

No. DTE Energy’s natural gas advanced meters only measure the total amount of natural gas you use during a specific period. The meters do not give DTE Energy information about when specific appliances or other items turn on or off.

After the installation of the transmitter, we will no longer need to enter your yard or business to read your meter. This eliminates the need for you to remove obstructions, including snow, away from your meter.  Natural gas advanced metering also ensures you receive an accurate bill each month, with an actual – not estimated – meter reading. 

Potentially it may change, and if this does happen, you will receive appropriate notification, prior to the date change.

If you want more information, please visit our Web page at dteenergy.com/meter or call 855.207.1977 and leave a message. A DTE Energy natural gas advanced metering representative will return your call.