Winning DTE’s energy efficiency contest makes a big difference at small-town market
Ice rink benefits from DTE’s energy efficiency programs
PRESIDENT’S LETTER
A CLOSER LOOK Together, DTE and ENERGY STAR® are helping businesses save energy.
5 QUESTIONS Call MISS DIG at 811 before breaking ground on summer renovations
SEASON’S SAVINGS Take control of your business’s energy use this summer
DID YOU KNOW? DTE has a robust plan in place to prepare for extreme weather.
FEATURES
ENVIRONMENTALISM Eco-conscious Van Buren plant saves energy with DTE programs.
SPOTLIGHT Contractor works with DTE and Michigan Saves to help customers switch to LEDs.
CleanVision is our ambitious goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. Equipping businesses like yours to become more energy efficient will help us get there. CleanVision
24 4 10 8 12 29 28 5 6
ENERGY ADVISORS Meet some of the team in DTE’s Energy Efficiency Program for Business.
14 CONTEST Small-town market wins DTE energy efficiency makeover.
INDUSTRY INSIDER Michigan Energy Efficiency Conference and Exhibition marks 25 years.
18
26
FINANCING DTE partners with Michigan Saves to offer low-interest loans for qualifying energy efficiency projects.
LIGHTING Oakland Mall saves on maintenance and gets a brighter parking lot with DTE.
FREE SUBSCRIPTION:
A FREE subscription to EnergySmarts for Michigan Business magazine awaits you online at dteenergy.com/subscribebiz.
ENERGY JOURNEY
Allen Park Community Center and its rink benefit from DTE’s energy efficiency programs.
COMMITTED TO IMPROVING ELECTRIC RELIABILITY WHILE MAINTAINING AFFORDABILITY FOR OUR CUSTOMERS
Summer is in full swing. As Michiganders, we know it as a time of picnics and barbecues, beach days and holiday parades. But summer also brings extreme weather that can bring down trees and branches, damaging electrical equipment and causing outages. Your business relies on safe, reliable power, and it’s our job to provide it to you.
At DTE, we’re committed to reducing outages by 30% and cutting the duration of outages in half over the next five years. We’ll do this by remaining focused on building the grid of the future — one that is stronger, smarter and less susceptible to changing weather patterns. When outages do occur, we will continue to lean on the extraordinary skills of our field workers, as well as the latest technology, to get the lights on faster.
At the same time, we remain laser focused on maintaining affordability for our customers throughout the summer months. We all know that as temperatures rise, so does electric usage as we turn to air conditioning and other devices to keep cool. That’s why now is a great time to partner with DTE to help lower your bills.
In this issue of EnergySmarts, we share stories from businesses, like yours, that have taken advantage of our wide range of energy efficiency programs not only to lower their monthly bill but also to improve their operations and create a more comfortable atmosphere for customers and employees. These businesses include a community ice rink in Allen Park that upgraded its lighting to bright, energyefficient LEDs, a manufacturer in Van Buren that fixed its compressed air leaks and achieved significant savings, and a market in Imlay City that will save by installing an energy-efficient beer cooler.
All of this was made possible through DTE’s free energy efficiency assessments, rebates and solutions.
And it’s not just Michigan customers taking notice — experts rate DTE energy efficiency programs among the best in the nation. For the third consecutive year, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency named DTE an ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year (read more about ENERGY STAR® on the next page), and the American Council for an EnergyEfficient Economy places DTE in the top five in the country for driving energy savings.
I hope you enjoy reading about these small businesses and are encouraged to try our programs for yourself. You can visit dteenergy.com/getstarted to learn about free energy assessments, rebate programs, instant discounts on ENERGY STAR®–certified products and much more.
I hope you have a safe and enjoyable summer.
Matt Paul President and COO, DTE Electric
Published and distributed by DTE Energy, One Energy Plaza, Detroit, MI 48226 dteenergy.com
EDITOR
Anne Santori
EnergySmarts for Michigan Business welcomes your comments. Send inquiries, questions or comments to: EnergySmarts for Michigan Business 1590 WCB
Energy One Energy Plaza Detroit, MI 48226-9952 or email EnergySmartsMI@dteenergy.com
For a free subscription to EnergySmarts for Michigan Business, subscribe online at dteenergy.com/subscribebiz.
Powerful partners
Together, DTE and ENERGY STAR® are helping businesses save energy.
Partnerships are crucial to DTE’s work helping customers improve their energy efficiency. One important collaborator is the Environmental Protection Agency, which recently named DTE an ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year for 2024.
ENERGY STAR®, the EPAadministered, government-backed symbol for energy efficiency, plays an important role in DTE’s programs. The energy performance of products that carry the blue symbol is independently verified, so consumers and businesses can trust that what they are buying is more energy efficient than conventional models with no sacrifice to quality. You can find the blue symbol on many different kinds of products, from kitchen appliances and HVAC equipment to lighting and electronics.
Sustained Excellence
DTE incorporates ENERGY STAR®–certified products into its programs so customers can upgrade their equipment to trusted, energysaving models at a reduced price. In the Energy Efficiency Program for Business, for example, DTE offers rebates for qualifying upgrades, and in the suite of Instant Discount programs, business owners can buy discounted ENERGY STAR®–certified food service, HVAC and lighting equipment from participating distributors.
DTE’s programs that incorporate ENERGY STAR® save customers a significant amount of energy. Together, in one year, the Instant Discount programs and DTE’s New Home Construction program — which incentivizes builders to meet ENERGY STAR® specifications —
saved more than 200,000 megawatt-hours of electricity and almost 100,000 MCF of natural gas. That’s the equivalent of 112,693 homes’ energy use for a year. Those savings benefit both customers, who may get a lower gas or electric bill as a result, and DTE as it works toward its CleanVision goal of netzero emissions by 2050.
The EPA has now recognized DTE as an ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year for three consecutive years. “Receiving this award reflects our commitment to implementing energy-saving programs that are beneficial to our customers and support the environmental impacts of ENERGY STAR® standards,” said Carmen Welch, director of energy efficiency for DTE, in a press release. “We will continue expanding our investments to help achieve our CleanVision and build a sustainable future that our customers can be proud of.”
DTE’s partnership with ENERGY STAR® extends to energy benchmarking, which is the process of measuring a building’s energy use and comparing it to that of similar buildings, past consumption or a reference level. Energy and water benchmarking have become mandatory in Ann Arbor and Detroit for certain types of buildings. Both cities are using the ENERGY STAR® Portfolio Manager®, an interactive digital tool for benchmarking a building’s energy use. DTE is working with Ann Arbor and Detroit businesses to help them get the required data to upload to the ENERGY STAR® Portfolio Manager® to meet their benchmarking requirements. Having that data, in turn, can help business owners better understand their energy use and make informed decisions to improve efficiency going forward.
Learn more about ENERGY STAR® at energystar.gov and find ENERGY STAR®–certified products at energystar.gov/ products/business.
Learn more about DTE’s energy efficiency programs, including the Energy Efficiency Program for Business and the Instant Discount programs, at dteenergy. com/getstarted.
Learn more about the ENERGY STAR® Portfolio Manager® at energystar.gov/ buildings/benchmark.
Manufacturer on a mission
International company’s Michigan plant uses two DTE programs on its quest to save energy and cut emissions.
DTE offers a range of programs to help businesses save energy. One Michiganbased manufacturing plant has combined two of these programs to work toward achieving a global energy-saving goal.
Environmentalism is a priority at Constellium, a company that develops, manufactures and recycles aluminum products and has locations throughout Europe, Mexico and the United States. The company has pledged to reduce its greenhouse gas emission intensity by 30% by 2030.
Its plant in Van Buren, Michigan, which produces automotive crash management systems and body structure components for vehicles, is leading the way with the help of DTE’s Find & Fix Compressed Air (FFCA) and Retro-Commissioning (RCx) programs. Together, these programs saved the plant approximately $228,000 on energy bills and cut 1,925 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions in 2023. Constellium also received a total of $117,707 in rebates by participating in these programs.
“Everybody at the plant level is very excited for everything that DTE has to offer us,” says plant engineer Jennifer Barnes. “Everybody’s always looking to cut costs, right? But you need somebody with knowledge and expertise in the industry. DTE has somebody like that at our disposal to come in and help whenever we need it. It’s just phenomenal.”
Partnering with DTE
Barnes began as an intern at Constellium in 2021 while studying mechanical engineering at Kettering University in Flint, Michigan. Upon graduation, she was hired full time.
“One of my main responsibilities is to track our energy consumption and work towards those reduction goals,” Barnes says. “I was given a task, and I didn’t really know how to tackle it. I was looking for different resources
online, and I stumbled across DTE.”
To reach the 30% reduction in greenhouse gas intensity, the plant broke down the goal into bite-size pieces: trimming 3% of the original emission intensity every year for 10 years, starting in 2021. The Van Buren plant was one year behind, so Barnes needed to reduce energy usage by 6% the first year to stay on target.
DTE’s energy advisors recommended the FFCA Program to start.
Left: Automotive components are manufactured at Constellium’s plant in Van Buren, Michigan. Right: Rolls of aluminum are made for parts by Constellium. Both photos courtesy of Constellium.
Find & Fix Compressed Air Program
Compressed air is used by 70% of manufacturing companies for a variety of processes. When there are leaks, systems need to work harder to provide the same quantity and pressure of air.
“Our research has shown us that customers who use compressed air know they have leaks,” says Bill Clemens, an energy efficiency manager at DTE. “It also showed us that leaks are often ignored and settings are adjusted to compensate for the lost pressure.”
Companies overlook leaks for a variety of reasons. They may lack detection equipment or the time to investigate, or they may not want to stop production or spend money on repairs. The FFCA Program focuses on removing those barriers.
Constellium’s Van Buren plant uses compressed air primarily to remove aluminum chips and clean automotive parts during production. In line with DTE’s research, Barnes says they were aware of leaks but never confronted their effects on energy usage and the bottom line.
“DTE helped us to quantify and put into perspective just how important it is to fix those leaks,” she says.
year alone. They also got a rebate check from DTE that helped cover the “fix” costs.
Retro-Commissioning Program
Constellium also used DTE’s RCx Program, which optimizes equipment, operations and processes rather than replacing capital-inefficient equipment. Beyond energy savings, benefits of the program may include enhanced indoor air quality and comfort, extended equipment life, and reduced maintenance and operation costs. Similar to the FFCA Program, the study costs in the RCx Program are fully funded by DTE.
Because of DTE’s programs, Constellium has saved ~$228,000 on energy bills
Through the FFCA Program, DTE sent an energy consultant and an energy engineer to tour the 320,000-square-foot plant using an ultrasonic leak detector. In total, they found 48 leaks, which they marked and detailed in a report for Constellium; in the report, they also highlighted available rebates if the company chose to fix at least 50% of the leaks.
Barnes says they repaired all the leaks, saving $62,000 on their electric bill the first
DTE sent Jiawei Bu, an energy manager, to explore additional energysaving opportunities. He conducted a weekend audit to identify and measure energy being used during nonproduction hours.
“Jiawei pinpointed and identified what was consuming energy, and then together we developed a plan to reduce that consumption,” Barnes says.
That plan included shutting off idle equipment, such as supply fans, exhaust fans
and cooling pumps, and making other system optimizations. In addition, 30 more leaks were identified during another off-hours survey (it is considered industrial best practice to conduct a leak survey every six months).
Constellium successfully implemented all the suggested measures, which has led to annual savings of approximately $166,000. Additionally, the company received a rebate check for $96,000 from DTE, offsetting the investment costs immediately.
Barnes says she plans to continue working closely with DTE to streamline energy usage and costs. The Van Buren plant has become a model of what Constellium’s other locations can do to meet the company’s energy-saving goals.
“I’m able to take what I’ve learned through DTE and their programs to our other facilities as best practices,” Barnes says.
To schedule a Find & Fix Compressed Air Program survey, call 248.206.2420 or email ffair.dteenergy@esciences. us. Learn more at dteenergy.com/ ffcompressedair.
To meet with a Retro-Commissioning Program specialist, call 248.430.5579 or email dtercx@esciences.us. Learn more at dteenergy.com/rcx.
David Luks, owner of DLuks Energy, is a participating contractor in DTE’s Small and Medium Business Program. Photo courtesy of David Luks.
DLuks savings
Lighting contractor works with DTE and Michigan
Saves to help customers switch to LEDs.
DTE offers a wide array of programs to help business owners trim energy usage, yet busy entrepreneurs don’t always have time to explore what’s available.
That’s where participating contractors step in.
Participating contractors are licensed experts who are well versed in energysaving improvements, and they know all about DTE’s various programs that make equipment upgrades easy and affordable. They are also up to date on the latest incentives and limited-time offers available through DTE.
Among these contractors is DLuks Energy. The Clinton Township–based contractor specializes in helping companies switch to LED lighting. Owner David Luks combines DTE’s Small and Medium Business Program, which offers rebates and complimentary energy assessments, with Michigan Saves, a nonprofit green bank that provides lowinterest financing, to help customers make the change.
“What really drew me to the programs was the energy savings,” Luks says. “If you find the right customers, the energy savings more than pay for the cost of installation and equipment. The ROI is so fast, especially using Michigan Saves.”
Making the switch
Luks grew up in a family of entrepreneurs and worked in the wireless cellphone business, serving as a major account manager for companies like AT&T and Verizon. After 20 years, he began to look for something new.
In 2017, he discovered DTE’s energy efficiency programs, which appealed to Luks on many levels. They help business owners save money on energy efficiency upgrades via rebates for new equipment. Those upgrades, in turn, help business owners save energy.
LEDs are a common and beneficial lighting upgrade; they use much less energy than incandescent bulbs and fluorescent tubes.
“Getting rid of the old and bringing in the new is safer, energy efficient and better for the planet.”
—DAVID LUKS, OWNER OF DLUKS ENERGY
“Getting rid of the old and bringing in the new is safer, energy efficient and better for the planet,” Luks says.
Luks launched his business seven years ago and hasn’t looked back. He now travels throughout DTE’s service territory helping schools, churches, retailers, industrial businesses and other types of customers reap the benefits of DTE’s Small and Medium Business Program.
“The longer you run your lights, the better this program works for you,” he says.
Customers can reach out to DTE to request an energy assessment to get started (see
About Michigan Saves
Michigan Saves offers affordable financing for businesses and nonprofits throughout Michigan. To encourage more energy efficiency improvements, DTE provides an interest rate buydown, enabling Michigan Saves to offer an exclusive low interest rate. Benefits include the following:
✔ Special financing as low as 1.99% APR with terms up to 36 months and 2.99% APR with terms up to 60 months for projects up to $150,000.
✔ Quick, hassle-free applications and credit approval (one business day) through an experienced lender.
✔ Financing for gas and electric projects, including energy-efficient lighting, refrigeration, and heating and cooling equipment.
Visit michigansaves.org for more information.
Source: DTE
Toolbox). The process begins with a visit from an energy advisor, who will walk through the business and examine energy usage throughout the building. Oftentimes, the advisor will install equipment — such as screw-in lighting and power strips — on the spot at no cost.
For larger projects, the advisor will leave a detailed report with recommendations for optional upgrades as well as information about available rebates.
If business owners opt to complete the upgrades, they may use a contractor of their choice, make the upgrades themselves or contact a participating contractor like DLuks Energy.
Finding financing
Luks says he stays current on LED lighting technology. LEDs are up to 80% more efficient than other types of bulbs, and upgrading to LEDs is usually the single most effective change businesses can make to save energy.
The only thing stopping many businesses from making the switch is the expense, Luks says, but in addition to the rebates that DTE’s Small and Medium Business Program provides, Michigan Saves puts the work within reach.
Michigan Saves lets business owners finance upgrades at a low interest rate.
“Every quote we offer a customer includes the Michigan Saves program,” Luks says. “When they find out about the program, they like it a lot.”
Customers put the money they save on their energy bill each month toward the loan. Once it’s paid off, that money can go toward their bottom line.
“We call that cash flow positive, and that is the biggest tool we use to convince customers this is a great way to go forward,” Luks says.
Customers that have their lights on for long hours — such as a manufacturer that
runs multiple shifts, or a retail outlet open seven days a week — recoup their costs the fastest.
Many customers own their buildings, and the work represents a capital improvement that makes the property more valuable.
The best part? DLuks Energy and DTE take care of the paperwork and do the upgrades when it’s most convenient, so there’s little disruption.
“When we send our electricians in to do a job, they’re usually just working on one room at a time,” Luks says. “You can grab a coffee break or use the conference room for a half-hour, and we’re done.”
Learn more about energysaving opportunities and sign up for a complimentary assessment at dteenergy.com/smallbusiness. TOOLBOX
Call 811 before you dig
Stay safe by contacting MISS DIG before breaking ground on summer renovations.
As the weather heats up this summer, so do many DTE customers’ home and business renovation projects. Whether you’re planning to add a new deck to your backyard or uproot a dying tree that is blocking your business, engaging in safe digging practices is crucial. Contacting MISS DIG, Michigan’s utility safety notification system, before you start any excavation is one of the first steps.
“Safety is our top priority at DTE,” says Scot Runke, manager of gas operations at DTE. “We work with MISS DIG in a few different capacities, including communicating with them about the locations of our lines and helping to spread safe digging messaging to our customers.”
Through its work with MISS DIG, DTE hopes to prevent damage to gas lines that can result from irresponsible digging practices. Here, Runke answers five questions about DTE’s goals in this collaboration, as well as what customers need to know before they break ground on their newest projects.
1.
How does the MISS DIG program work?
MISS DIG is a not-for-profit organization. State laws require anyone planning to do any type of digging to have the utility lines at their site marked before they begin their project. This service is completely free and for your safety. MISS DIG requests provide information such as the type of work being done, date of the project, location where the work will be performed, etc., and this can be filled out online or over the phone by calling 811.
Once a request is submitted, MISS DIG references their mapping information and reaches out to utility owners in the area, like Consumers Energy, DTE and AT&T, and it is the company’s responsibility to go to the site and mark where their lines are.
2.
What are the dangers of damaging a natural gas pipeline?
A simple example is when someone is doing a project and they go out with a shovel and just start digging. They don’t know what’s down there, and if they puncture a line, now there could be a very dangerous situation with a gas leak.
Even if the line isn’t directly punctured, digging can disrupt the protective coating on the natural gas pipeline, causing a more rapid deterioration of the equipment. When minor damage occurs to the line and is then covered up, it can cause a slow underground leak. Gas will follow the path of least resistance as it travels and potentially leak back into a building if a line gets damaged.
3.
What types of projects require contacting MISS DIG?
As a rule, anything that disturbs the ground. For homeowners, this could mean replacing a fence line, repositioning posts, installing a new mailbox and more. For
business owners, this could mean removing an old tree, planting a new one, maintenance and more. Any project that requires digging should involve contacting MISS DIG.
Another instance that often gets overlooked is event planning. When someone hosts an event that requires a tent, the stakes that go into the ground can go very deep. Even if you have a near miss when putting the spike in the ground, when you pull the stake out, it’s easy to puncture a line.
4.
What are the consequences of not calling MISS DIG at 811?
The responsibility if damage occurs falls on who is holding the shovel, whether it’s a homeowner doing a project or an excavator. The fine for this type of damage would be a repair bill from DTE. We’d bill for the crew, for the repairs needed and to get the property back to its previous state after the repair is made.
5.
Why is the MISS DIG program so important?
Safety is a top priority, which is why we encourage people to use this service. Even though it’s the responsibility of whoever is doing the digging, the homeowner or business owner should be equally concerned about safety. And even if you think you remember from a prior MISS DIG visit where the lines may be, you should always request a new visit. Even if your memory is somewhat accurate, if you’re a few inches off, the results can be dangerous.
Making a request with MISS DIG is quick, simple and free. Filling out and submitting the form only takes about a minute. Tickets should be submitted at least three days before the digging project begins and can be submitted at missdig811.org or by calling 811.
“Safety is our top priority at DTE. We work with MISS DIG in a few different capacities, including communicating with them about the locations of our lines and helping to spread safe digging messaging to our customers.”
Left to right: DTE energy advisors Sean Trowbridge, Sara Savoia, Anas Muslmani, Leonard Paluzzi, John Middleton, Jeff Linkimer and Andy Rickard.
It takes a team
DTE’s
energy advisors help businesses get the best bang for their buck with energy efficiency upgrades.
Since 2009, DTE’s Energy Efficiency Program for Business has paid out nearly $669 million in energy efficiency rebates to customers in the commercial, industrial and governmental sectors.
Equipment upgrades, new construction, major renovations and even HVAC maintenance may all qualify.
Connecting customers to rebates is an energy advisor team that works from start to finish reviewing project goals, recommending equipment and available rebates, and confirming energy savings and final rebates.
“Any project that results in measurable energy savings is considered, and if our customer doesn’t know where to start, we can walk [through] their facility and point out various technologies that align with rebate measures in our catalog,” says energy advisor Andrew Johanns, who works with automakers and their Tier 1 suppliers.
There is an entire catalog of measures that qualify for rebates, from installing LED lighting and controls to implementing energy management systems to putting in variable frequency drives and process equipment. In addition, custom rebates may be available for energy-saving upgrades that don’t fit neatly into one of the listed measures.
The key to determining which energy efficiency opportunities and corresponding rebates make sense for a specific customer starts with the basics, says energy advisor Jeff Linkimer. A customer simply must contact the call center to get started (see Toolbox).
“One of the best ways to begin is to meet and walk around the facility, understanding certain processes or equipment,” says Linkimer, who specializes in energy efficiency consulting for automotive manufacturers and suppliers. “We also like to participate in discussions pertaining to future projects and note the areas that we believe we’d be able to assist with.”
No detail is too small when it comes to helping customers improve their energy efficiency, especially for entities that don’t have energy managers.
Energy advisor Jeremy Mondrella says he is currently working on a lighting project for a large medical center that involves 11,000 fixtures and 1,200 lines on the lighting schedule.
“We help with the [rebate] application and give them any and all support they need, even for things like counting fixtures, determining the rebate and any kind of back-end work,” says Mondrella, who services public-sector systems such as schools, airports and medical facilities. “We not only want to save our customers money and energy costs, but also time, too.”
MEET THE ENERGY ADVISORS
Hometown and college: Valparaiso, Indiana; Indiana University and Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis
Specializes in: Automotive original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and Tier 1 suppliers
Learn more about the Energy Efficiency Program for Business: Visit: dteenergy.com/equipment-rebates Call: 866.796.0512 (option 3) Email: dtesaveenergy@dnv.com
“I enjoy helping people achieve whatever goal they set for themselves, whether it is helping a small company cut their operating costs so they can expand and hire more people or assisting a large
JEFF LINKIMER, Energy Advisor III
“We not only want to save our customers money and energy costs, but also time, too.”
—ENERGY ADVISOR JEREMY MONDRELLA
industrial company curtail their emissions in hopes that the surrounding areas will reap the benefits of a cleaner environment.”
ANDREW JOHANNS, Energy Advisor I
Hometown and college: Grass Lake, Michigan; Michigan State University
Specializes in: Automotive OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers
“For me, it’s the customer interactions [I enjoy most]. I used to work in an environment that wasn’t conducive to talking and interacting with folks. Now, getting out, talking to people and helping them solve prob-
lems has been better than you can imagine. Just building those relationships and being thought of as someone who is trustworthy and worth listening to has been great.
“Another thing I enjoy is our ‘Lunch and Learn’ trainings, where we cover topics like chiller tune-ups, maintenance items with rebates, the Inflation Reduction Act and building controls/ new technology. In the future, we hope to bring forth a general application training and more measure-specific titles.”
JEREMY MONDRELLA, Energy Advisor I
Hometown and college: Greenville, Ohio; University of Michigan and Carnegie Mellon University (graduate school)
Specializes in: Public-sector entities (i.e., state, county and township facilities; airports; and school systems)
“I enjoy all the work that I’ve gotten to do, especially with the local governments. It’s been pretty fulfilling, especially when Canton Township reached out for a boiler replacement project, which has grown into other projects. Right now, they’re redoing one of their sports centers’ lighting, which is about $70,000 worth of rebates — half the project. My wife works for local government, so I know firsthand what kind of difference better energy efficiency and rebates make for them.”
By Becky Kalajian
“Anyone who thinks it’s not worth it to enter [DTE’s Small Business Energy Efficiency Makeover Contest] is just plain wrong. I’m so glad I took the chance.”
—RICK GUERRERO, OWNER OF IC COUNTRYSIDE MARKET
IC Countryside Market won $5,000 in DTE’s energy efficiency contest
‘A
real game changer’
Winning DTE’s energy efficiency contest makes a big difference at small-town market.
Up M-53 from Detroit is the kind of place where the owners know your name.
Perched on the main drag in Imlay City, the IC Countryside Market has been the town hangout for years. The decadesold business — which serves up homemade soups, subs and sweet treats, plus a host of grocery and convenience items — was purchased in 2022 by locals Rick and Heather Guerrero.
Like most new small-business owners, the Guerreros bought not only the business and building but also the equipment, some of which was more than 50 years old.
With limited cash on hand and store transactions averaging just a few dollars each, Rick says reducing the $1,700 monthly electric bill was a priority.
First off, the couple installed LED lighting, fans and weather stripping on some coolers, decreasing the monthly bill by $300, which Rick considered “super important.”
“For us to save a buck here and a buck there can be the difference in expanding inventory or even hiring more people,” he says.
Upgrade game changers
To keep the market open for years to come, the Guerreros knew they had to do more. Their attention turned to the walk-in beer cooler, which was running on a 1970s-era threephase compressor and condenser.
CONTEST, continued on page 16
Left to right: Ty Guerrero, Rick Guerrero, Heather Guerrero, and Tiffany Guerrero.
The Small Business Energy Efficiency Makeover Contest kicks off Sept. 18 and runs through Nov. 8. Entrants must be legal residents of Michigan and current DTE commercial customers with an electric or a combination gas-electric account. Visit dteenergy.com/makeover to learn more and enter.
“It was very, very inefficient,” Rick says. “In the past two years, we’ve spent almost $2,000 repairing it.”
To replace the unit, a local contractor quoted the Guerreros $11,000, which Rick says was “prohibitively expensive.” After receiving the quote this past fall, Rick happened to notice an email from DTE announcing the annual Small Business Energy Efficiency Makeover Contest, which awards energy efficiency assessments to 10 finalists and $5,000 in energy efficiency improvements to three grand-prize winners.
“I thought, ‘Gosh, this could really help us out,’” he says. “So, I filled it out and then forgot all about it.”
A month or two later, he found out he was a top 10 finalist, which prompted a DTE energy advisor to stop by and assess where the market could save energy.
“That really floored me that we even made it that far,” Rick says. “And [the advisor] agreed with me: The beer cooler was one of [the] main energy vampires.”
To Rick’s shock a few months later, DTE called to tell him he had won one of the contest’s three $5,000 grand prizes.
Soon after, more good news: Another contractor’s bid for the beer cooler upgrade came to $6,000 — a big drop from the original $11,000 quote because it included the rebate that DTE offers.
“We were like, ‘This is unreal,’” Rick says. “It was a real game changer for us.”
The contest
Michelle Liang, a DTE marketing analyst, says DTE’s contest is an opportunity for smallbusiness owners to kick-start their energy efficiency journey. In the contest entry form, business owners are encouraged to highlight any gaps they may have in achieving optimal energy efficiency at their business because of lack of financial means, resources or time.
“Recognizing their need to improve their business’s energy efficiency will empower them to take action in helping to create a more
comfortable and safe environment for their employees and customers and help the planet,” Liang says.
IC Countryside Market was chosen, she says, because the Guerreros showed that they understood the importance of energy efficiency and how it could benefit their business.
“They had already taken the first steps to become more energy efficient and were committed to doing more to improve their business’s energy efficiency,” she says.
Energy-efficient future
IC Countryside Market in Imlay City, a winner of DTE’s contest, sells sandwiches, ice cream, and grocery and convenience items.
Following the LED lighting and compressor/ condenser unit retrofits, Rick says he has his eye on a few other projects that the second contractor — who participates in DTE’s energy efficiency programs — recommended.
“He mentioned the seals on our walkin coolers needed to be upgraded, plus insulated curtains, both of which are definitely in the plan someday,” he says. “He assured us we were on the right track with
our ideas and they aligned with what he was seeing.”
Down the road, Rick says he would like to expand all the coolers to be walk-in instead of using leased coolers from vendors that pump heat into the store throughout the summer.
“It’s like a dog chasing its tail,” he says. “Those things create more heat to try and cool harder.”
The benefits of entering the contest went beyond winning the grand prize; Rick says that by broadening his contacts through DTE, he realized the power of second opinions.
“Just by reaching out, I was taken from impossible to what is possible,” he says. “Anyone who thinks it’s not worth it to enter is just plain wrong. I’m so glad I took the chance.”
Low interest, high impact
DTE partners with Michigan Saves to offer low-interest loans for qualifying energy efficiency projects.
Cost — or concern about cost — may be the biggest obstacle facing business owners looking to improve their company’s energy efficiency.
Together, DTE and Michigan Saves are knocking down that barrier. On top of the complimentary assessments, discounted products and rebates for upgrades that DTE already offers, the energy company also partners with Michigan Saves to provide lowinterest loans to business owners who want to tackle qualifying energy-saving projects.
Finding funding
The best way for a small business to start its energy journey is with a complimentary
assessment by a DTE energy advisor (schedule yours at dteenergy.com/ smallbusiness). During the assessment, the advisor will tour the property and pinpoint where energy-saving improvements could be made. When applicable, the advisor may install complimentary equipment — such as faucet aerators and LED screw-in bulbs — on the spot. Finally, the advisor provides a report that details bigger upgrades the business owner could make as well as available rebates to help cover their cost.
When rebates don’t cover the full cost of a project, a low-interest loan from Michigan Saves could fill the gap and put moreexpensive projects within reach. Founded in 2009, Michigan Saves connects customers
Michigan Saves has helped provide $600+ million in financing
“DTE wants these customers to make these improvements so they can lower their energy demand, which helps DTE reach its goals.”
—TODD O’GRADY, MICHIGAN SAVES’ DIRECTOR OF OUTREACH
looking to make energy efficiency upgrades with lenders who offer lowinterest loans for eligible projects.
For DTE business customers, the benefits are even greater. “Through our relationship with DTE, they take our current rate and they buy it down,” says Todd O’Grady, Michigan Saves’ director of outreach.
As O’Grady explains, a commercial rate that may be hovering around 7% gets knocked down to between a 1.99% and 2.99% APR for qualifying DTE customers depending on the length of the loan. Plus, he adds, customers still may receive rebates from DTE for any qualifying project through the DTE Energy Efficiency Program for Business.
Bridging the gap
The Michigan Saves website hosts a database of area contractors who can provide estimates for energy efficiency projects. (Ultimately, customers work with a contractor of their choice from Michigan
Saves’ authorized list.) Once an estimate is provided, customers can apply for financing for any of 150 eligible improvements. Michigan Saves’ website provides information about the organization’s lending partners (michigansaves.org/ building-owners), including amounts available, terms and APRs; links to apply online when applicable; and contact information to reach a representative from the lender directly.
Eligible projects include insulation, commercial kitchen equipment upgrades, occupancy sensors, HVAC systems and electric vehicle charging stations. O’Grady says lighting and associated control systems are most common, but “[almost] anything that saves energy we can do.”
These projects can get “very expensive,” O’Grady adds. For many businesses, financing is what makes energy-efficient improvements possible. The average loan is for $40,000, with some bigger projects — for, say, school districts — surpassing $1 million. “Since our start, we’ve done over $600 million in financing,” O’Grady says.
These low-interest loans are made possible because Michigan Saves holds a loan loss reserve, initially funded back in 2010 with $5 million from the Department of Energy and the Michigan Public Service Commission. This reserve fund allows Michigan Saves to stand behind any loan it helps facilitate, essentially. What this means for DTE business customers is that lenders have even more incentive to fund loans. “That lowers the interest rate, and it lowers
the underwriting requirements,” O’Grady says. “So, people with lower credit scores are able to get funding from us because we’re lessening the risk for lenders.”
Michigan Saves’ goal is to lower the demand for fossil fuels and to continue to aid energy efficiency projects throughout the state. The core model, as O’Grady puts it, is “energy efficiency, renewable energy.” These Michigan Saves loans in turn benefit both business customers who want to make substantive improvements and DTE as it works toward its goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
“DTE wants these customers to make these improvements so they can lower their energy demand, which helps DTE reach its goals,” O’Grady says.
To learn more about Michigan Saves … Visit: michigansaves.org Email: info@michigansaves.org Call: 517.484.6474 TOOLBOX
Kyle Kar, Allen Park’s deputy director of parks and recreation.
“Every referee who comes here says this is the brightest rink. They love it.”
—KYLE KAR, ALLEN PARK’S DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND RECREATION
Skating into savings
Allen Park Community Center and its rink benefit from DTE’s energy efficiency programs.
The Allen Park Community Center is a hub of activity for all ages. Located in the heart of the city’s downtown, the building houses a fitness center, a gymnasium, meeting spaces and the state-of-the-art Frank J. Lada Civic Arena, which has one of the largest seating capacities of any ice rink in Michigan’s “Downriver” area.
Operating the building for long hours is expensive, and city officials trust DTE to help them trim the center’s energy usage. DTE’s Jeremy Cappello has been their point person guiding them on their energy efficiency journey.
Cappello is an Allen Park native and has played hockey at the civic arena for 30 years. He now coaches his young sons, Jack, 6, and Joey, 3, in youth hockey at the very same rink.
Cappello also serves as an energy efficiency program manager for DTE.
When Allen Park embarked on extensive renovations to its community center, which included upgrading lighting fixtures to LED panels in the rink and other large spaces, Cappello stepped in to help.
Cappello recommended DTE’s Energy Efficiency Program for Business to secure rebates for the new lighting fixtures Allen Park had ordered and installed. Not only did DTE help Allen Park save on the equipment, but the energy-efficient LEDs have helped cut the community center’s electric bill in half, according to Kyle Kar,
ENERGY JOURNEY, continued on page 22
Allen Park’s deputy director of parks and recreation and the community center.
“When you’re dealing with taxpayer money, you have to be fiscally responsible, which is our main goal,” Kar says. “We need to look at alternative methods of doing things.”
City officials were so happy with the results that they scheduled a complimentary energy assessment through DTE’s Small and Medium Business Program to see how else they could save.
Energy-saving tour
Cappello and DTE energy advisor Ezra Dreffs met up with Kar on a recent spring day to tour the facility and see where additional energy-efficient upgrades could be made.
Kar led the team through the 70,000-square-foot building, pointing out the LED lights that had already been installed in the fitness center, where Allen Park Senior Program members were riding stationary bikes, and the gymnasium, which was busy with recreational walkers doing laps on an elevated track.
Kar opened doors to smaller rooms where lights hadn’t been replaced.
“All the random areas are what’s left,” Kar explained. “We want to know how far we can take this and how much we can save.”
Dreffs examined lighting in a meeting room where a quilting group had fabrics draped over the tables. In another, lights were on dimmers to create a calming
atmosphere for yoga classes.
During these DTE energy assessments, advisors may install energy-efficient products on the spot at no cost. In this case, Dreffs replaced 13 faucet aerators in the building’s public bathrooms, updated three incandescent lights with LED bulbs and installed 13 low-flow showerheads in the locker rooms. The retail value of the products was $370, and they are expected to save 1,032 therms and 272 kilowatthours per year.
Dreffs wrote up a report with recommendations for additional energysaving work and equipment, including furnace and boiler tune-ups, new exit sign bulbs, interior occupancy sensors, demandcontrolled sensors in the community kitchen
and LED bulbs in various locations. If the city opts to do the work, potential DTE rebates for the various products total more than $3,660.
Community connections
The walk-through ended with a tour of the building’s crown jewel, the Frank J. Lada Civic Arena.
“This is my hometown rink. I grew up playing here, so I have more of an investment. To see the changes happening is inspiring.”
—JEREMY CAPPELLO, DTE PROGRAM LEAD
Kar says the new LED lighting in the arena not only saves energy but also helps improve the safety and atmosphere of the rink.
“Every referee who comes here says this is the brightest rink,” Kar says. “They love it.”
The new lights were part of the overhaul that has elevated the civic arena’s reputation and helped bring in two large tournaments — the Michigan High School Athletic Association state regionals and quarterfinals — generating revenue and revitalizing the city’s hockey program, which has grown from two teams to six.
Best of all, with the short-term rebates from DTE and long-term energy savings,
the return on investment will be swift, Kar says: “Our ROI will be less than two years. Once we clean up all the little stuff and we’re fully LED, what will that look like?”
To Cappello, the job represents how DTE programs benefit businesses, organizations and communities in real time.
“This is my hometown rink,” he says. “I grew up playing here, so I have more of an investment. To see the changes happening is inspiring.”
Learn more about energy-saving opportunities for your business at dteenergy.com/getstarted. TOOLBOX
Water-saving showerheads
LED lighting upgrades
25 years and counting
Energy leaders discuss the past, present and future of the industry at the annual Michigan Energy Efficiency Conference and Exhibition.
The energy industry has come a long way over the past 25 years, but there is still plenty of room for growth and maturation.
That was a major message from the experts presenting at the 25th annual Michigan Energy Efficiency Conference and Exhibition hosted by DTE and The Engineering Society of Detroit in Novi this past May. The premier event — the only one of its kind in Michigan — includes a keynote presentation, educational sessions and vendor exhibits to inform commercial and industrial businesses about technology, products and services that can assist them in successful energy management.
“Celebrating 25 years is an accomplishment that we do not take lightly,” said Sharon Roberson, a principal marketing analyst at DTE and one of the event’s organizers. “The longevity of this one-of-a-kind event shows that there has been, is and will continue to be a need for this energy efficiency conference.”
In honor of the event’s quarter-century milestone, featured panelists — a professor, an energy efficiency program manager and a senior energy engineer — discussed the past, present and future of the industry.
The evolution of technology, particularly controls to manage equipment in an integrated way, has been a huge win for energy efficiency, noted Nicholas Thornton, a senior energy engineer for PES Group and DTE.
Challenges remain in the world of energy
Roughly 550 people (and Nora, the DTE dog) attended the 25th annual Michigan Energy Efficiency Conference and Exhibition hosted by DTE and The Engineering Society of Detroit in Novi this past May. The one-of-a-kind event included a keynote presentation; 20 educational sessions; 40 vendor exhibits; and an awards ceremony that honored energy efficiency leaders in the categories of education, impact, innovation and leadership.
efficiency work — for one, a lack of awareness, said Kristen Cetin, a professor at Michigan State University and the director of MSU’s Industrial Assessment Center. Misconceptions about what people in the industry do and underestimating the importance of reducing energy waste are others, Thornton added.
Thinking about energy efficiency as a journey is essential as technology and the overall landscape continue to change, said Feras Karim, a solution architect and program manager at Leidos, who manages DTE’s
Strategic Energy Management program.
That’s exactly how the team at DTE views energy efficiency.
“As schools, businesses and communities throughout Michigan strive to become more energy efficient, DTE understands that there is always something new to learn,” Roberson said. “This event has been able to give our customers a firsthand look at the latest technologies, energy efficiency programs and approaches to energy management.”
In turn, the conference and “other DTE initiatives have allowed us to help our customers meet their own sustainability goals as well as help us push toward our CleanVision goal of achieving net-zero carbon [emissions] by 2050,” Roberson added.
To recognize these customers paving the way in energy management, DTE and ESD also gave out their annual energy efficiency awards in the education, impact, innovation and leadership categories. This year, respectively, ZF Marysville, Gasser
Bush Associates, the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and Cathy Farrell from the Wayne County Airport Authority were honored. (Scan the QR code to watch a video about how Farrell has worked with DTE to save energy at Detroit Metro Airport.)
and financing, optimization, and DTE programs. Roughly 550 people attended the event to network and learn more about energy efficiency best practices.
In addition to the panel discussion and awards presentation, the 25th annual event included 40 exhibitors showcasing energysaving products, programs and services, and 20 educational sessions about controls, hot topics and technology, LEED certification
“We have a responsibility to educate commercial and industrial businesses on energy-related technology, products and services that will assist them in successful energy management,” Roberson said. “We look forward to continuing the partnership between DTE and ESD and hope to offer this conference for years to come.”
By Becky Kalajian
In a good light
Oakland Mall ditches costly maintenance and gets a brighter parking lot with DTE program.
One evening in 1968, a brand-new mall in Troy switched on its outdoor lights for the first time, welcoming suburban shoppers to browse and buy.
Fifty-six years later, Oakland Mall’s original 250 parking lot lights shut off permanently. In their place emerged an array of highefficiency LED lights, new fixtures, concrete foundations and underground conductors, casting an ambient glow that the mall’s owner calls a “transformation.”
“The whole place went from a dull yellow to a bright white,” says Mario Kiezi, who bought the mall two years ago in a bid to revitalize the space. “It’s a better, safer amenity; it’s aesthetically pleasing for our tenants and our guests.”
Oakland Mall’s lighting transformation was made possible through DTE’s Outdoor Protective Lighting (OPL) program, which offers maintenance-free exterior lighting to homeowners, businesses, schools, municipalities — just about anyone who has outdoor lighting needs.
“Our installers can install a brand-new system, upgrade an old system and even add lighting onto existing DTE utility poles,” says Glenn Roland, principal marketing specialist for DTE’s Community Lighting department.
How the program works
The innovative program has three key components:
1. DTE can replace one or thousands of exterior lights at residential, municipal and commercial properties.
2. Customers are responsible for costs associated with installation, which can be partially offset by DTE construction credits and rebates. DTE also offers financing options for the remaining installation costs.
3. DTE owns, operates and maintains the outdoor lighting, giving customers peace of mind with a predictable monthly bill and no additional maintenance costs.
Sometimes, there is even zero installation cost to the customer, Roland says.
Mario Kiezi, owner of Oakland Mall in Troy, stands by the new parking lot lighting made possible through DTE’s Outdoor Protective Lighting program.
After Before
“If the lighting solution is to attach a fixture on one of our wooden DTE utility posts, we may already have electrical distribution there, so there is little to no cost at all to the customer,” he says.
DTE’s outdoor lighting catalog covers a large range of styles and uses. All the lights available are energy-efficient LEDs controlled by photocells that allow the lights to turn on and off automatically.
“These are all great features, plus the customer has a lower carbon footprint, which makes them eligible for some energy efficiency rebates,” Roland says.
The process begins with a simple phone call, after which a DTE lighting specialist will visit the site, collaborate with the owner/manager and then generate a state-of-the-art lighting design for approval.
“Everything starts with a conversation: What is the customer looking for? What is the problem they are trying to solve?” Roland says.
Once the site visit is over, the final design phase can take a few weeks, depending on the project’s complexity.
With the final design in hand, the OPL team issues an agreement detailing cost, plus financing and rebates available.
“Typically, we get the lights installed within 90 days after signature,” says Roland, whose projects have been as small as a single unit to as big as hundreds of fixtures.
“The whole place went from a dull yellow to a bright white. It’s a better, safer amenity; it’s aesthetically pleasing for our tenants and our guests.”
—MARIO KIEZI, OAKLAND MALL OWNER
Savings all around
Customers who maintain private lighting systems often contact DTE to learn more about the efficiencies the OPL program offers.
“Our customers are finding they don’t want to be in the lighting business anymore, so they look to DTE as an affordable and practical solution to their outdoor lighting needs,” Roland says.
After purchasing the mall, Kiezi says he found himself exactly in that predicament: with outdated lights that were dim and inefficient and would break unpredictably.
Roland says Kiezi’s situation is not uncommon.
“If it’s a light that’s 25 to 30 feet up in the air, it’s costly to hire a company to come out and to replace a light fixture,” he says. “Just with that alone, there are a lot of unbudgeted and unforeseen expenses.”
Kiezi — whose family once owned an ice cream store at the mall and who calls the purchase a “sentimental” business investment — says the ongoing expense of maintaining the old lights was approaching six figures a year.
After the installation, even with DTE’s financing payment, he says his bottom line is net positive.
“Plus, we are no longer required to maintain, replace or fix broken fixtures; DTE comes out automatically,” he says. “Our team doesn’t have to pay attention to broken light bulbs, because DTE flags that and sends a crew.
“It’s so wonderful; it’s almost too good to be true.”
Old lighting
New, energy-efficient LED lighting
Stay cool and save
Take control of your business’s energy use this summer with these space-specific tips.
Summertime ushers in plenty for businesses to be excited about: more potential customers out and about, longer days and, given the warmer weather, lower natural gas usage.
On the flip side, summer can mean higher energy costs. Your business may see more traffic from customers and seasonal employees, who all need to be kept cool and comfortable, so some additional energy use may be unavoidable. Still, these easyto-follow tips can help you save energy throughout your space.
1.
Upgrade lighting and install occupancy sensors in offices,corridors,restrooms and storage rooms. Upgrade your business’s lighting to energy-efficient LEDs and consider installing occupancy sensors. Businesses can shop discounted lighting options — including flat panels, linear tubes and screw-in bulbs — from trusted brands via the DTE Marketplace (dtebusinessmarketplace.com). In restrooms, hallways, storage rooms and other less-
frequented areas, save even more energy with lighting controls that detect movement to avoid illuminating unoccupied rooms. According to the Department of Energy, installing occupancy sensors can reduce lighting-related energy use up to 90% in the least-trafficked spaces.
2.
Check cooling systems and install programmable thermostats in industrialspaces,offices and retail spaces. Install programmable thermostats that maintain a higher temperature in lessfrequented areas, like unused conference rooms, and during your business’s off-hours. For the most accurate readings, thermostats should be on interior walls away from vents, doors and windows.
Also, check your air conditioner’s filters monthly and change them when needed. Dirty filters can make your system work harder to maintain a cool climate on those sweltering summer days, wasting energy and money.
3.
Insulate windows and doors in retailspaces and offices. Properly sealed windows and doors aren’t only important during the winter months. Air conditioners work hardest during the summer season, so sealing leaks and adding proper insulation can help make sure that hard-earned crisp air isn’t slipping through the cracks.
4.
Set electronics to “sleep” mode and upgrade equipment in offices,retail spaces, and commercial kitchens and industrialspaces. For a simple way to save, set computers, printers and other electronics to “sleep” mode during off-hours to avoid wasting energy. For a heavier overhaul, consider upgrading equipment like printers and refrigerators to energy-efficient models. You can find ENERGY STAR®–certified products at energystar.gov/productfinder.
Learn more about managing your energy usage this summer at dteenergy.com/coolingseason.
To find even more ways to save, schedule a complimentary energy assessment with a DTE energy advisor, who will tour your business and recommend energy-saving upgrades and rebates to help cover their cost.
Spring and summer storm season in Michigan, and across the upper Midwest, can bring extreme weather events. Thunderstorms, high winds, heavy rainfall and even tornadoes can strike and disrupt the electrical grid. To prepare, DTE takes strategic, proactive measures ahead of storm season to help minimize the impact of power outages on customers. Here are just some of the many ways DTE prepares in advance.
Regular maintenance and inspection of all infrastructure
DTE conducts routine maintenance and inspections of its electrical infrastructure, including the power lines, substations and transformers, to ensure everything is in good working condition. This process helps
DTE identify and address any potential issues or weaknesses in the system that could be vulnerable when storms occur.
Tree trimming
Trees and their branches on or near power lines can pose a risk during storms, as falling branches or trees can damage those lines and cause interruptions. Trees that come into contact with DTE equipment account for half the time that customers spend without power. DTE has trimmed more than 30,000 miles of trees along its lines over the last six years and is trimming thousands more in 2024 to help minimize the risk of storm-related outages.
DID YOU KNOW?, continued on page 30
Emergency response plan
DTE has a well-defined emergency response plan in place for the summer storm season. The plan outlines procedures for quickly responding to power outages, mobilizing restoration and repair crews, and coordinating with local emergency management agencies to ensure a prompt and efficient response to all storm-related incidents.
Equipment stockpiling
DTE stockpiles essential equipment and materials, such as poles, transformers and wires, in strategic locations to facilitate quick and safe repairs in case of storm damage during extreme weather. This helps reduce downtime and accelerate the restoration process.
Coordination with other utilities
Electric providers like DTE often collaborate and coordinate with neighboring utilities in the region to share resources and support each other during storms. When DTE needs backup after a major storm, for example, it can get help from out-of-state utilities — which can supply extra crews and equipment — to restore power in affected areas of its service territory.
Employee training and readiness
DTE invests in regular training and readiness programs for its employees to ensure they are well prepared to handle all storm-related emergencies. These programs can include specialized training on storm response, safety protocols and equipment operation.
Enhanced communication and customer outreach
DTE prioritizes communication with customers before, during and after storms. When applicable, DTE provides updates on storm preparations, outage notifications, estimated restoration times and safety information through various channels,
such as DTE’s online outage center (see Toolbox), social media channels and traditional media across Southeast Michigan and beyond.
Continuous monitoring of customer outreach
DTE meteorologists closely monitor weather conditions during summer storm season through advanced meteorological tools and systems. They track developing storms, predict potential impacts and work with DTE’s emergency response team to make informed decisions on resource allocation and response strategies.
Secure First wire down teams
DTE Secure First teams, made up of various staff members and contractors, help keep the public safe with wire down situations during storms. To do that, these teams prepare and train for many hours in advance of extreme weather. Remember: Always stay at least 25 feet away from any downed wire and anything that wire is touching.
Restoration prioritization
In the event of power outages, DTE will prioritize restoration efforts based on critical infrastructure, public safety needs and the number of affected customers. This approach helps ensure that power is restored first to critical facilities, such as hospitals and emergency services, followed by residential and commercial areas. DTE’s goal is to restore residential and business customers’ power in 48 hours or less.
DTE takes a multifaceted approach to prepare for summer storm season. These proactive measures help minimize the impact of storms and extreme weather events on the electrical grid and make for quicker, safer restoration of power to electric customers across DTE’s service territory.
TOOLBOX
During extreme weather, please view DTE’s outage center and dynamic outage map on the DTE app or at outage.dteenergy.com.
