DTE Energy; reduce utility bills

DTE Energy Co. () is a Detroit, Michigan-based utility incorporated in 1995 involved in the development and management of energy-related businesses and services nationwide.

DTE Energy’s largest operating subsidiaries are Detroit Edison, an investor-owned electric utility serving 2.1 million customers in Southeastern Michigan, and Michigan Consolidated Gas Co. (MichCon), a natural gas utility serving 1.2 million customers in Michigan.

The name “DTE” is taken from the stock symbol for Detroit Edison, DTE. [1]


Credit Reporting Program

In August 2006, DTE began reporting payment information to the major credit beaureaus on all of its 2.5 million customers without offering the ability to opt-out, making it one of the few utilities in the US to do so. Previously, only seriously delinquent accounts were reported. Groups, such as the NAACP, protested this change, on the basis that such a policy would benefit those who have no problems paying their bills, but would hurt those who are the most vulnerable economically and most likely to miss a payment, such as the poor, elderly, and disabled. This, in effect, would hurt their credit rating, and further hamper their ability to advance in society.

In January 2007, DTE changed the policy to state that only payments 60 days or more overdue would be reported to the credit beaureaus. The policy of credit reporting of all other information, without the ability for customers to opt-out, continues.


See also

  • DTE Energy Music Theatre
  • American Light and Traction


External links

  • DTE Energy Co.
  • Credit Reporting Article

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