SOUTHFIELD, MI (CBS DETROIT) DTE Energy would like to remind its customers of the services it offers to keep their heat on as winter weather approaches Metro Detroit.
“Disconnect is always the last resort,” stated Jason Sparks, director of Energy Assistance at DTE Energy.
According to Sparks, shut-offs won’t occur for clients who have trouble keeping up with payments if temperatures fall below 15 degrees for two or more consecutive days.
During the winter, the firm provides two shut-off prevention services.
“The first is our Winter Protection Plan, which is intended especially for clients with modest incomes. Customers who make small, more manageable payments along the way (at least 7% of your expected annual bill) are protected from disconnect from November 1 through March 31. “All seniors in our service territory are protected from service disconnect with our other winter product, Senior Winter Protection,” Sparks stated.
According to the organization, it is dedicated to preventing shutdowns throughout the year, not only in the winter, and it provides a variety of choices to assist individuals in getting back on track.
In addition to working with the state of Michigan, which offers state emergency help, we collaborate with other neighborhood organizations, including as the Salvation Army, Thaw, and the United Way, to offer our clients energy assistance. Our Low-Income Self-Sufficiency Plan, which we have in-house at DTE, basically safeguards customers from disconnecting by offering them affordable monthly payments based on their income, Sparks explained.
Even though expenses can occasionally seem overwhelming, DTE encourages people to get in touch if they need assistance.
“We strongly advise clients to contact us as soon as they need assistance navigating this situation. “Reaching out to us is really the first step, but there are many pathways and resources available,” Sparks said.
Additionally, DTE provides a range of energy assistance credits. Those at 110% of the Federal Poverty Level are eligible for the Home Heating Credit. A person can obtain this credit along with their taxes, and it helps defray winter heating expenses.
Another option is the Residential Income Assistance Credit, which is a monthly credit that is applied to a customer’s account in the amount of the gas customer charge or the electric service charge.
DTE provides a number of year-round cutoff protection options in addition to winter protection, such as critical care and medical emergency protection for clients who have a verified medical emergency or who have life support systems installed in their homes.
Active Military Protection is another feature of DTE. A person may request up to 90 days of shutoff protection and then petition for extensions if they are summoned to full-time active military duty during a state or national emergency.
Finally, DTE’s Shutoff Protection Plan may be available to consumers who are at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level. If monthly payments are made, this plan offers insurance against service interruptions all year round. Seniors 65 and older can also participate in this program.
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