DTE spends $2.1 billion with Michigan businesses in 2019

Company quadruples local spending since 2010

DETROIT, Feb. 18, 2020 — DTE Energy today announced it spent $2.1 billion with Michigan businesses in 2019, creating and sustaining more than 9,800 jobs across the state and exceeding the commitment it made last spring by $600 million.

DTE has spent $11.4 billion with Michigan-based vendors since 2010, creating or retaining 34,000 Michigan jobs.

“Over the past nine years, we’ve more than quadrupled our investment with in-state businesses,” said DTE Chief Procurement Officer Tony Tomczak. “Today, nearly 65 cents of every dollar we spend goes to a Michigan supplier.” 

Below are highlights of DTE’s partnership with Michigan-based businesses:

• Southeast Michigan and Metro Detroit: DTE bought $1.6 billion in goods and services from 1,250 companies, generating and supporting 7,570 jobs. Nearly half of this spending – $783 million – was sourced from companies based in Detroit. 
• West Michigan: DTE spent $61 million with 200 companies, creating and sustaining 280 jobs.
• Northeast and Northwest Michigan: DTE invested $41 million with 160 companies, positively impacting 187 jobs.
• South Michigan: DTE partnered with 427 companies, spending $213 million and adding or maintaining 980 jobs.
• Central Michigan: DTE invested $58 million with 105 companies, creating and sustaining 267 jobs.
• Thumb Region: DTE spent $104 million with 144 companies, positively impacting 480 jobs.
• Upper Peninsula: DTE partnered with 47 businesses, spending nearly $13 million generating and supporting 60 jobs.

DTE is a founding member of Pure Michigan Business Connect, a public-private initiative that encourages companies to buy from Michigan vendors and connects local companies with in-state business opportunities. DTE requires that all new contract bids include at least two Michigan businesses.

Longtime supplier Carla Walker-Miller knows firsthand how DTE’s focus on local spending benefits Michigan business. She is CEO of Walker-Miller Energy Services, an industry leader in energy waste reduction consultation, employing specialists that show DTE customers how to reduce their energy use. When Walker-Miller became a supplier, she had 11 employees. Today, she operates a 120-person corporation in three states and DTE’s 2019 spend with her company exceeded $18 million.

“DTE helped my business maximize its opportunities,” she said. “In terms of embracing local companies, diversity, and inclusion, DTE is way ahead of the curve. They’re a clear leader. Their program is best-in-class in every way.”

Walker-Miller is among the growing list of women and minority-owned businesses helping DTE build a more inclusive supply base. Last year, the company spent $609 million with certified diverse suppliers and captured 14 industry-wide supplier diversity achievement awards, including the Michigan Minority Supplier Development Council Corporation of the Year and the Edison Electric Institute 2019 Supplier Diversity Excellence Award. DTE’s innovative approach to supplier diversity is based on outreach and mentoring.

“We seek out diverse entrepreneurs and help them grow,” said Tomczak, who is a board member of the National Minority Supplier Development Council. “Typically, these are small or mid-sized companies that we can connect to opportunities with DTE or with one of our large suppliers. We’ve seen businesses grow from employing three people to employing 300. We’ve replicated this success over and over again to generate thousands of jobs across our state.”

Michigan companies interested in learning about bid opportunities at DTE can find more information at dteenergy.com/supplychain.

About DTE Energy

DTE Energy (NYSE: DTE) is a Detroit-based diversified energy company involved in the development and management of energy-related businesses and services nationwide. Its operating units include an electric company serving 2.2 million customers in Southeast Michigan and a natural gas company serving 1.3 million customers in Michigan. The DTE portfolio includes energy businesses focused on power and industrial projects; renewable natural gas; natural gas pipelines, gathering and storage; and energy marketing and trading. As an environmental leader, DTE utility operations will reduce carbon dioxide and methane emissions by more than 80 percent by 2040 to produce cleaner energy while keeping it safe, reliable and affordable. DTE Electric aspires to achieve net zero carbon by 2050. DTE is committed to serving with its energy through volunteerism, education and employment initiatives, philanthropy and economic progress. Information about DTE is available at dteenergy.com, empoweringmichigan.com, twitter.com/dte_energy and facebook.com. 

 For further information, members of the media may contact:

Lisa Bolla, DTE Energy, 313.235.5555