DTE Energy

Want to opt out of DTE's smart meter program? You need to pay a fee

Michigan Radio Newsroom — Thu, 16 May 2013 16:35:58 +0000

Those who want to opt out of DTE Energy’s smart meter program now face a fee.

According to MLive, the Michigan Public Service Commission “ruled that DTE can charge customers an initial fee of $67.20 and a monthly fee of $9.80 to opt out of the smart meters.”

Melissa Anders reports that:

US EPA to propose rules on wastewater from power plants

Tracy Samilton — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 16:48:39 +0000

Burning coal in a power plant creates byproducts called fly ash and bottom ash. That ash contains a lot of bad stuff - mercury, lead, arsenic, to name a few.

While some plants ship the dry ash to landfills that accept hazardous materials, others mix the ash with water to make a slurry, which is moved into holding ponds.

Eventually, the water in those ponds is released into the nearest waterway.

State officials want your input on Michigan's energy future

Rebecca Williams — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 17:02:52 +0000

In Michigan, we get more than half of our electricity from coal. All of that coal is imported from other states.

In a couple weeks, you’ll get a chance to weigh in on how we’ll use energy in the future.

When Governor Rick Snyder gave his Special Message on Energy and the Environment last fall, he said he wanted to hold forums around the state to talk about energy.

Winds hitting 60 mph black out 195,000 in Michigan

The Associated Press — Sun, 20 Jan 2013 19:19:06 +0000

DETROIT (AP) - Winds that gusted to 60 miles per hour have swept across Michigan, knocking down trees and power lines and cutting off electrical service to at least 195,000 homes and businesses.

Detroit-based DTE Energy Co. says 120,000 of its southeastern Michigan customers lost power in the overnight storm, and about 110,000 remain blacked out at midday Sunday.

Jackson-based CMS Energy Corp. says the storms knocked 75,,000 of its customers off line, and about23,000 were without service at midday Sunday across Michigan's Lower Peninsula.

Lawsuit over DTE Smart Meters

Michigan Radio Newsroom — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 21:48:22 +0000

A lawsuit over Smart Meters is creating a David and Goliath Situation with two Oakland County homeowners. Smart Meters are relatively new technologies that use a wireless signal to transmit power use information to the utility.

Michigan utility sends crews to New York to help restore natural gas service

Steve Carmody — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 17:33:33 +0000

Michigan utilities sent hundreds of linemen to the East Coast last week to help restore electricity to areas hard hit by Hurricane Sandy.

Now Consumers Energy is sending two dozen workers to help restore natural gas service to parts of Long Island, New York.

Roger Morgenstern is a Consumers Energy spokesman. He says restoring natural gas service presents a very different challenge than getting the lights back on after a storm.

Michigan utilities preparing for Hurricane Sandy

Steve Carmody — Mon, 29 Oct 2012 14:39:05 +0000

Michigan utilities are making their own preparations for Hurricane Sandy.

The storm is expected to strike the East Coast later today, but the hurricane's outer bands are being felt as far west as Michigan.

“Well, right now we’re monitoring the storm….and seeing how it might impact our southeast Michigan service area,” says Scott Simon, a DE Energy spokesman.

DTE has already freed up about a hundred contract linemen to help restore electric power in the Mid-Atlantic States that are expected to take the brunt of Hurricane Sandy.

Power company exec asks Democrats not to support 25 x 25

Lester Graham — Wed, 05 Sep 2012 17:05:51 +0000

DTE Energy CEO Gerard Anderson asked Michigan delegates to the Democratic National Convention to oppose a state constitutional amendment increasing the use of renewable energy. The proposed so-called 25 by 25 amendment would mandate 25 percent of electricity come from renewable sources such as wind, solar, or bio-fuels by the year 2025. It will appear on the ballot in November.

Anderson says he’s not opposed to increasing the use of renewable energy, but it should be done through the legislature, not by amending the constitution.

DTE to start pollution cleanup in Ann Arbor this week

Mark Brush — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 12:14:52 +0000

Starting today, DTE plans to bring in the heavy equipment needed for the pollution cleanup along the Huron River west of the Broadway Bridge in Ann Arbor.

Black, oily coal tar pollution has been underground for decades.

It was left behind by an old manufactured gas plant owned by the utility company. Two years ago regulators discovered the coal tar was getting into the river. Now, DTE plans to spend between $2-3 million digging it out.

Utility customers get credits after 2-day outage

The Associated Press — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 19:26:37 +0000

DETROIT (AP) - About 8,000 DTE Energy Co. customers in Oakland County will receive credits on future bills after losing service this summer due to a substation fire.

The Detroit News reports Friday that the credits will range from $25 to $250 and show up on bills over the next several months.

Residences and businesses in Royal Oak and Berkley, north of Detroit, lost power for two days last month.

DTE Energy spokesman Len Singer says the amount of the credits will depend on the length of time customers were without electricity.

The newspaper reports that customers can seek a $25 credit if an outage lasts more than 16 hours under normal conditions or more than 120 hours under catastrophic conditions.

Don't want a smart meter? You'll have to pay for privilege

Tracy Samilton — Thu, 02 Aug 2012 13:46:37 +0000

The state's biggest electricity provider says customers who don't want a smart meter will have to pay extra for the privilege.

Smart meters use radio signals to allow two-way communication between a customer's residence and the utility.

The meters let utilities know immediately who has lost power, among other things. The company will also be able to remotely shut off power and turn it back on.

Cleaning up a pollution puzzle in Ann Arbor (PHOTOS)

Mark Brush — Tue, 31 Jul 2012 13:00:25 +0000

The city of Ann Arbor recently spent more than one million dollars rebuilding an old mill race along the Huron River. The Argo Cascades is a series of little waterfalls and pools where kayakers and people floating in inner tubes come to cool off.

But downstream from the Cascades on the other side of the river, there’s a problem.

There's been pollution lurking underground for some time from an old industrial plant, and two years ago regulators found that some of the pollution was making its way into the Huron River.

The days before natural gas

A good day to sit next to an air conditioner in Michigan

Steve Carmody — Tue, 17 Jul 2012 22:04:25 +0000

How hot was it today?

Hot enough for Consumers Energy to smash its all-time record for electricity demand.

Another hot day without electricity for many Michiganders

The Associated Press — Sat, 07 Jul 2012 13:59:12 +0000

DETROIT (AP) - Utility workers are battling high temperatures as they work to restore electricity to tens of thousands of Michigan homes and businesses without power following thunderstorms this week.

DTE Energy said early Saturday about 45,000 of its customers were without power, mostly in Oakland and Wayne counties. Consumers Energy reported about 23,700 of its customers without power.

Most of those without electricity lost service after storms late Wednesday and Thursday. DTE says most of its customers should have power back by Saturday night.

Many Michiganders still waiting for the power to be turned back on

Steve Carmody — Fri, 06 Jul 2012 15:58:48 +0000

Nearly 150,000 Michiganders are sweating through today without electricity.

Severe storms earlier this week knocked out power to more than 400,000 Michigan utility customers.

Spokesmen for DTE and Consumers Energy say it may be late Saturday or early Sunday before all the electricity is restored.

Dan Bishop is a spokesman for Consumers Energy. He says utility crews expect to make a lot of progress today, despite having to work in temperatures around 100 degrees.

“The heat is obviously the story of the day,” says Bishop. “The most important concern for us is to make sure our crews are well hydrated and working safely.”

Consumers Energy is getting some extra help from linemen from Missouri and Indiana.