DTE Energy stepping up efforts to keep customers and workers safe from harm

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Dec 18, 2014, 12:09 ET

DETROIT, Dec. 18, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- DTE Energy is taking new steps to remind the community of the company's commitment to ensuring the safety of its customers and workers.

DTE is focusing on three key areas suggested by customers and employees in the field: imposters pretending to work for DTE, roadside safety awareness and physical threats against utility workers.

"We know some of our customers are contacted, either at their door or by phone, by people claiming to work for DTE Energy who don't," said Mark Stiers, president and COO, DTE Gas.

DTE workers drive marked vehicles and wear ID badges. Customers should always be on high alert, and when in doubt, call DTE at 1-800-477-4747.

DTE is also reminding drivers to be cautious when crews are working in their neighborhood. More than 4,000 construction zone and utility related crashes occurred in Michigan last year. Ten were fatal and more than 100 resulted in serious injuries.

"Our crews are in the field to ensure our customers have safe and reliable energy," said Jerry Norcia, president and COO, DTE Electric. "We appreciate drivers slowing down, and going around, when they see our orange cones."

Unfortunately, distracted drivers aren't the only hazards crews encounter in the field.

"Occasionally, our workers are threatened—and sometimes even assaulted—in the field," said Stiers. "We're asking our customers to help be our eyes and ears. If you see something, say something. We're one community."

Customers who notice an assault in progress are urged not to intervene. Instead, they should call 911. In Michigan, it is a felony to assault a utility worker.

"Our employees live in the communities we serve," said Stiers. "We want to work with our customers in those communities to ensure safety for all."

This week, a new commercial addressing worker safety will begin airing on radio stations in DTE's service territory.

About DTE Energy
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 an electric utility serving 2.1 million customers in Southeastern Michigan and a natural gas utility serving 1.2 million customers in Michigan. The DTE Energy portfolio also includes non-utility energy businesses focused on power and industrial projects, natural gas pipelines, gathering and storage, and energy marketing and trading. Information about DTE Energy is available at dteenergy.com, twitter.com/dte_energy and facebook.com/dteenergy.

DTE Energy is ranked "Highest in Customer Satisfaction With Residential Natural Gas Service in the Midwest U.S. Among Large Utilities," according to the J.D. Power 2014 Gas Utility Residential Customer Satisfaction Study^SM.

Disclaimer: DTE Energy received the highest numerical score among large utilities in the Midwestern U.S. in the proprietary J.D. Power 2014 Gas Utility Residential Customer Satisfaction Study^SM. Study based on 69,806 online interviews ranking 17 providers in the Midwestern U.S. (CO, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, MI, MN, MO, NB, OH, WI). Proprietary study results are based on experiences and perceptions of consumers surveyed September 2013-July 2014. Your experiences may vary. Visit jdpower.com.

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SOURCE DTE Energy