DTE Energy Programs Save Customers $50 Million in 2011

DETROIT, Feb. 29, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- DTE Energy announced that customers who participated in energy efficiency programs launched in June 2009 saved $50 million last year and can expect the steps they took to result in lifetime savings of over $700 million.

DTE Energy's energy efficiency programs are designed to help customers save energy, and therefore save money. The programs include appliance recycling, in-home energy audits, low-income weatherization assistance, and rebates and discounts on energy efficient light bulbs, programmable thermostats, clothes washers, among other things.

"Customer response to our energy efficiency programs continues to be overwhelmingly positive," said Trevor Lauer, DTE Energy vice president, Marketing & Renewables. "More than 200,000 of our customers took control of their energy use through these programs and saved millions of dollars as a result."

Comprehensive energy legislation passed in 2008 to assure clean, affordable energy for the future was the catalyst for the company's energy efficiency initiatives.  

Several DTE Energy customers that participated last year were complimentary of the initiatives, including one who said the energy efficiency programs "helped me get my energy costs down."

To give you some perspective on the magnitude of this effort in 2011:

• We outfitted over 76,000 apartment units with energy efficiency measures
• Recycled over 23,000 appliances
• Performed over 50,000 home energy consultations
• Distributed over 4.5 million discounted Compact Fluorescent Bulbs and 22,000 energy efficiency kits to our customers.
• Over 7000 businesses took part in our energy efficiency programs by installing over 6000 thermostats and performing close to 600 boiler tune-ups. 

"We're very proud of the role our energy efficiency programs have played in helping customers save money," Lauer said.

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 Detroit Edison, an electric utility serving 2.1 million customers in Southeastern Michigan, MichCon, a natural gas utility serving 1.2 million customers in Michigan and other non-utility, energy businesses focused on power and industrial projects, coal and gas midstream, unconventional gas production and energy trading. Information about DTE Energy is available at www.dteenergy.com/saveenergy and at twitter.com/dte_energy.

SOURCE DTE Energy