Usage & Rates Explained

Your energy use: the more you know, the more your business can save.

Impacts on your monthly bill

Learn how to manage the impact weather can have on the amount of energy your business uses, how billing cycles affect your energy bill and how rates are determined. You’ll also find insightful information that will help you:

  • Better understand your bill
  • Learn more about payment options
  • Manage your account
  • Save money by reducing energy usage and waste

Managing in any weather

When temperatures rise and your use of air conditioning increases, your actions for energy efficiency can make a big difference. Managing temperature settings on and off-business hours with a programmable thermostat can result in significant savings. In fact, if you adjust your thermostat 7° to 10° from your normal settings for eight hours each day—regardless of the season—you can save as much as 10% on energy costs over the course of a year!

How "Days Billed" affects your monthly payment

Since billing cycles can range from 26 to 35 days, comparing one month’s bill to another may not help you fully understand your electric usage. For a convenient way to evaluate your bills, check out our Energy Usage feature. We also offer helpful payment programs such as Flexible Due Date, which allows you to schedule the due date of your monthly energy bill.

Saving money starts with saving energy

We offer a variety of energy efficiency resources for businesses. Tips for All Businesses includes energy-saving actions for specific kinds of operations as well as any business committed to reducing energy use and costs. Ways to Save features Tools to Improve Your Bottom Line. The free Business Energy Advisor portal helps you filter information based on types of businesses and technologies. For longer-term savings and investments, please review our business Incentive Programs.

How your rates are determined

Your bill reflects the total amount of energy used (kWh), measured by a meter reading at the end of each of your billing cycles. The rates you pay are set by the Michigan Public Service Commission—an independent third party that conducts a public process known as a regulatory rate review. To learn about this process, watch this short video and visit electric rate information in the Quick Links section.

Keeping your electricity affordable, efficient and reliable

Electric Pricing Factors: The price you pay for electricity helps us deliver the energy your business counts on, including costs for building, operating and maintaining our power plants and distribution system.

Efficient Energy Sources: DTE generates energy through the most affordable and reliable sources, such as low-sulfur coal, natural gas, renewable resources and nuclear power.

Maintaining the Energy Grid: You can learn more about the significant investments we’ve made to our electric system by checking out our Electric Enhancements.

Find ways to lower your company's energy bills

Visit our Save Money & Energy section.

Get the latest electric rate information

Electric Bill Insert

Electric Rate Card

Electric Rate Book

We're always looking to the future

Usage & Rates Explained

Your energy use: the more you know, the more your business can save.

Impacts on your monthly bill

Learn how to manage the impact weather can have on the amount of natural gas your business uses, how billing cycles affect your energy bill and how rates are determined. You’ll also find insightful information that will help you:

  • Understand your bill
  • Learn about payment options
  • Manage your account
  • Save money by reducing natural gas usage

Weather is a big factor

Just like the seasons change, so do your natural gas needs.

Your energy bill is shaped mostly by how much energy you use, and in the winter, you are likely using more natural gas and electricity because:

  • You’re using more heat: Cold weather means you turn up the heat to stay warm. Your furnace uses both natural gas and electricity to heat your business. 
  • Your furnace is working harder: Big drops in temperature make your furnace work extra hard to keep your business at your desired temperature. 
  • You’re staying indoors more often: Shorter days and colder weather may keep your team inside more, using more lights, adjusting the temperature, and using seasonal heating items like electric space heaters.

How "Days Billed" affects your monthly payment

Your monthly billing date depends on when you started your DTE service. If your billing period ends on a holiday or weekend, we shift the dates of your monthly billing period slightly. Your billing periods can be anywhere from 26 to 35 days, which will also affect your monthly bill amount. 

Saving money starts with natural gas efficiency

Discover how your business can cut energy use and reduce costs with DTE’s suite of energy efficiency resources for business. Start with a complimentary energy assessment, where our experts will walk through your facility, identify opportunities to save energy and install free energy-saving products on the spot. Explore our Tips for All Businesses , a practical guide with tailored energy-saving actions for all types of industries, whether you’re running a restaurant, retail shop, office or manufacturing site. Visit the  Business  Energy  Advisor  to research energy efficiency technologies and solutions customized to your business type and equipment. Learn more and start saving energy and money today with DTE’s energy efficiency offerings for businesses

How your rates are determined

DTE is a regulated energy company, meaning our prices must be reviewed and approved by the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) - an independent third party. Through a public process known as a regulatory rate review, DTE provides the MPSC the true costs of providing natural gas to our customers, which determines your natural gas bill. To learn about this process, watch this short video.

We buy natural gas when prices are lowest

We do everything in our power to keep your gas prices low while maintaining a reliable supply of natural gas to your business:

  • We buy gas year-round, often when prices are lower, most times up to three years before you need it. Our team is always looking for the most economical option available that will provide you with reliable gas service. 
  • We use our unique underground reservoirs to store gas we buy in advance, so it’s ready when you need it.

This buying method keeps our gas prices stable and helps you budget. Plus, we don’t mark up the cost of the actual gas you use – you pay what we paid when we bought it.

Find ways to lower your company's energy bills

Visit our Save Money & Energy section.

We're always looking to the future