Demand Response
Simple changes add up to energy savings
Manage Your Energy Usage and Earn Rewards
By participating in Demand Response, you can help decrease demand, manage energy usage and protect the environment. Demand Response programs also contribute to our goal of helping Michigan become a cleaner, better place for future generations.
- Manage your energy use in high demand times and take advantage of incentives.
- Rely on automated solutions during Demand Response Events, which may include adjusting your home thermostat temperature or cycling an air conditioner.
Demand Response Gives You Options
What Is a Demand Response Event?
A Demand Response event is when we activate programs during periods of high energy usage to decrease demand, helping to keep costs down and protect the environment. When you enroll in a Demand Response program, our automated systems reduce your electricity usage during an event.
What Happens During a Demand Response Event?
*The alert could be an email from your provider, a banner in your provider’s app or directly on your smart thermostat. At the start of an event, your enrolled smart thermostat, electric vehicle or program-specific equipment will automatically adjust to reduce electricity use.
Efficient Ways to Save
Flexibility and planning are keys to saving money. You can reduce your electricity costs and protect the environment by shifting or reducing some of your energy use to off-peak weekday hours or all weekend — especially on days when Demand Response Events are called.
Do Laundry on Weekends
With off-peak hours all day Saturdays and Sundays, the weekend is a great time to catch up on laundry.
Tip: Use cold or cool water settings for washing. Heating water accounts for up to 90% of the energy used in each wash load. And fill — but don’t overfill — your dryer for each load. Smaller loads use the same amount of energy as larger ones.
Set a Thermostat Schedule
You can reduce heating and cooling costs by setting a schedule on your smart thermostat that aligns with your peak/off-peak rate hours. Refer to your DTE bill for additional details regarding your rate.
Tip: When setting your thermostat, find a temperature that is comfortable for you and your household. Keep in mind that the greater the difference between the indoor temperature and outdoor temperature, the more energy is being used. Program your smart thermostat to reduce your energy usage when you’re asleep or away.
Run Your Dishwasher During Off-Peak Hours
A great way to save money and energy is to run your dishwasher during your off-peak rate hours. Refer to your DTE bill for additional details regarding your rate.
Tip: Many dishwashers now have a delay setting. Load the machine after dinner and set it to run overnight to take advantage of off-peak pricing.
Save with Smart Strips & Plugs
Many electronic devices continue to draw energy even when not in use. Installing a smart power strip can help you manage energy use by better regulating these devices.
Tip: A smart plug controlled by a smartphone app lets you power off lamps, TVs, printers and gaming consoles when they aren’t being used.
Frequently Asked Questions
Demand Response plays a role in managing spikes and electricity demand. For DTE, Demand Response addresses two primary goals:
- To provide our customers with more ways to lower their energy costs.
- To help manage energy costs and support clean energy.
Demand Response can also help achieve the company's goal of net zero emissions by 2050.
Less energy consumption during Demand Response events provides benefits for everyone: By reducing the need for additional generation during these periods, the cost of energy is kept lower for all customers.
Demand Response programs are being offered across the U.S. and internationally. They provide customers like you the opportunity to participate in managing and balancing your energy usage at home.
By participating in Demand Response programs, you can reduce electricity consumption during periods of high demand by shifting some of your usage and receive incentives like special rates, bill credits and other rewards.
A Demand Response event may vary from a slight adjustment to your thermostat to other automated adjustments, like cycling your cooling system, depending on which option you choose. You may not even notice a significant change from these adjustments.
Although we have enough generation for our own customers, Demand Response events can occur when demand for electricity may exceed available generation in other areas connected to the same electric system as DTE through the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO). For example, an extreme heat wave in a surrounding state that causes a spike in electric consumption can trigger a Demand Response event in Michigan, since 15 states in the Midwest and the South are connected to the same grid.
Contact Us
For more information, please call us toll free at (833) 627-2300 from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday (excluding holidays).
For questions specific to DTE Smart Charge, please email us at smartcharge@dteenergy.com.
Demand Response
Simple changes add up to energy savings.
Find an Option That Works for You
Review and compare your Demand Response options below to find the one that works best for you. Each option includes a link to more details, benefits, requirements and information on how to enroll or switch to your preferred choice.
Smart Savers
Perfect for residential electric customers who already have a smart, Wi-Fi-enabled thermostat installed.
Events: During Smart Savers events, all participating thermostats will be automatically adjusted up to four degrees from the thermostat’s original setpoint. Adjustments typically last no more than four hours on non-holiday weekdays throughout the year.
- Provides a simple way to save energy that requires no effort on your part during scheduled Smart Savers events.
- Leverage energy savings to manage your bill when costs are highest.
- You'll receive a $50 bill credit each year you participate in events.
Smart Savers benefits and requirements
If you are a Nest customer, this program is known as “Rush Hour Rewards.” If you are an ecobee customer, this program is tied to “eco+.”
“Frequency of communication is good, not too much, and its direct and helpful.”
– Simon C., Participant since 2022
“Saves you money by lowering usage when it is not needed, and you don’t have to think about it.”
– Steve S., Participant since 2022
“It was easy to participate in the program and the program worked smoothly without any discomfort to us.”
– Wendy K., Participant since 2018
“Good communication and helping others understand how easy it is to be impactful in saving energy and money!”
– Kathleen M., Participant since 2019
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- Testimonial 2
- Testimonial 3
- Testimonial 4
CoolCurrents®
Ideal for residential electric customers with central air conditioning or a whole-home air source heat pump who can install an additional smart meter and a 24-volt power source connection.
Events: During events, we’ll briefly cycle your air conditioning or air source heat pump in 15-minute intervals by sending a signal to the device. The cycling of your equipment will be limited to no more than eight hours in a 24-hour period and no more than 30 minutes per hour.
Includes a discounted Interruptible Space Conditioning rate designed to help you save when compared to the Time of Day 3 p.m. – 7 p.m. rate:
- Save up to 29% on the cooling portion of your energy bill throughout June and September during peak hours.
- Customers with a whole-home air source heat pump save up to 25% on the electric heating portion of their energy bill during peak hours.
Water Heating Service
Great for your household budget if you can allow temporary interruptions of electricity to your water heater and have a separately metered circuit for water heating.
Events: There may be temporary interruptions of electricity to your water heater for up to four hours per day.
- Provides a lower rate for electric water heater usage.
DTE Smart Charge
Ideal for electric vehicle (EV) drivers that would like their EV’s home charging to occur during off-peak time periods, based on the time of use electric rate they’re enrolled in.
Overview: DTE Smart Charge helps EV drivers manage their charging during times of the day that help manage spikes in demand. DTE Smart Charge will schedule daily charging to meet your charging needs and will occasionally shift charging to help optimize clean and affordable energy generation.
- You’ll always have control of your participation and can opt out of an event at any time.
- You’ll receive a $5 monthly incentive for enrollment and participation.
Explore Other Electric Pricing Options
DTE offers three tiered pricing options that work alongside your participation in a Demand Response program. Learn more about:
- Time-of-Day option from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
- Time-of-Day option from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Overnight Savers option from 1 a.m. to 7 a.m.
Please visit Electric Pricing Options to review all your electric pricing alternatives, add-ons and incentives.
Contact Us
For more information, please call us toll free at (833) 627-2300 from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday (excluding holidays).
For questions specific to DTE Smart Charge, please email us at smartcharge@dteenergy.com.
Contact Us
For more information, please call us toll free, (833) 627-2300 from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday (excluding holidays).
For questions specific to DTE Smart Charge, please email us at smartcharge@dteenergy.com.