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CURRENT ISSUES: Stop a dividend tax hike. Contact Congress now!

Current tax rates on dividend income, which now are capped at 15 percent, are set to expire on December 31. For the millions of Americans who own stocks that pay dividends, their tax rates on this income would surge—almost tripling in some cases. Now is not the time to reduce dividend income through higher taxes and penalize Americans who invest in our nation’s future. Your voice matters—use this site to tell Congress to stop a dividend tax hike!

Our company reports first quarter 2012 results; maintains earnings guidance.

Today, our company reported first quarter 2012 earnings of $156 million, or $0.91 per diluted share, compared with $176 million, or $1.04 per diluted share, in 2011.

Unusually warm weather negatively impacted first quarter earnings at MichCon, Detroit Edison and Energy Trading.

Operating earnings for the first quarter 2012 were $156 million, or $0.91 per diluted share, compared with 2011 operating earnings of $188 million, or $1.11 per diluted share. Operating earnings exclude non-recurring items and discontinued operations. 

"The extremely warm weather this winter translated into lower heating bills for customers. At the same time, it created clear challenges for us," said Dave Meador, executive vice president and chief financial officer. "This quarter's earnings were lower than expected because of the weather, but we believe that by leveraging DTE Energy's portfolio of businesses, using our distinctive continuous improvement program and through one-time cost reductions, we will identify opportunities throughout the balance of the year to offset the impacts of this unfavorable weather and meet our financial goals."

Our company reiterated our 2012 operating earnings guidance of $3.65 to $3.95 per diluted share. Read more about our first quarter results here.

New "DreamTrips" vacation benefit for DTE Energy employees and retirees

Our company is offering you the opportunity to travel for less. When you become a member of the DreamTrips Vacation membership through Rovia Travel, you’ll enjoy 4 & 5 star vacations at 2 & 3 star prices.

Choose from a wide variety of pre-packaged, scheduled DreamTrip Vacations packed with added values and amenities...at wholesale-like pricing. Vacation planning is easy and stress free, because all the work is done for you!

Aside from the scheduled DreamTrip vacations, you will also have access to hotel and resort getaways all over the globe, so you can escape to anytime at substantial savings.

The DreamTrips Vacation membership is a unique voluntary benefit available to DTE Energy employees and retirees. See the flier for DreamTrips enrollment details. Due to special pricing for DTE Energy, please contact Lecia Brunetti, 248.971.0442, for the username/password needed to enter the website. Interested in having Lecia stop by and explain the vacation program at your next social event or retiree group meeting?  Please call 248.971.0442 to make arrangements.

You're amazing! Our employee and retiree donations totaled more than $1.5 million for United Way.

Thanks to your generosity, more than $1.5 million was pledged during this year’s United Way campaign.

The DTE Energy Foundation will add an additional $750,000 to the total, bringing DTE Energy support of 34 United Way organizations throughout the state to more than $2.25 million.

The funds will help provide human-service programs and services that support quality education and job training, and provide essentials, such as food and shelter, to those in need.

Thank you for investing in the future by supporting United Way.

Interested in exploring other says to support United Way? To volunteer, visit the UW website.

Company introduces new retirement benefits for non-rep new hires

DTE Energy will introduce new post-employment health care and retirement income benefits for new non-represented employees who are hired or rehired by Detroit Edison, MichCon, Citizens Gas and DTE Energy Corporate Services, LLC on or after Jan. 1, 2012. 

The new benefits will help the company better manage costs and bring our new hire benefits more in line with those offered by our peer companies. 

DTE Energy will spend approximately $120 million on post-employment health care and life insurance benefits this year, and approximately $150 million on retirement income benefits.  As more Baby Boomer employees reach retirement age, our company’s so-called “legacy” benefit costs will continue to climb. 

“Our challenge is to find ways to manage these rapidly mounting costs to keep our services affordable and our company healthy,” said Larry Steward, vice president – Human Resources.  “In the long run, these new plans will help us do that.”

Read more  here.