DTE Energy will credit at least $42 to Birmingham-area customers who lost power during the late August and early September storms. The utility said more than 450,000 customers were affected across Metro Detroit.
The credit is automatic. Customers do not need to call DTE or file a claim, according to a Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) guide on outage credits. DTE will apply the money directly to qualifying accounts within one to two billing cycles.
Who qualifies
Eligibility depends on how long the power was out and how many DTE customers the event affected. As Fox 2 Detroit reported, the $42 credit kicks in when a customer loses power for more than:
- 16 hours, if less than 1% of DTE's customers had an outage
- 48 hours, if between 1% and 10% of customers were affected
- 96 hours, if 10% or more of customers were affected
The late August and early September storms knocked out power for hundreds of thousands of customers, but neither DTE nor the MPSC has stated publicly which percentage tier applies to this event.
Once a customer's outage crosses the qualifying threshold, DTE owes an additional $42 for every 24 hours the outage continues. A customer without power for five straight days under the 96-hour tier would receive $84 (one day beyond the four-day threshold).
Customers who have experienced more than six outages lasting at least five minutes within a 12-month period also qualify for the $42 credit, according to the MPSC. That count resets to zero once the credit is applied.
Where to find it
Paper-bill customers can look for the credit on the first page under "Summary of Charges." Electronic-bill customers will see it in the "Bill Summary" section.
What DTE won't cover
The credit does not cover food spoilage, hotel stays, damaged appliances, lost wages or tree-debris removal. DTE said in its outage credit terms that it is not responsible for storm-related damages or losses.
Customers who believe DTE's equipment caused property damage can submit a separate damage claim form through DTE's website.
Storm scale
The storms, which included a historic tornado, left some Birmingham-Bloomfield residents without electricity for days. As we reported Sept. 5, Bloomfield Township's Department of Public Works cleared 30 trees from roads and properties in the aftermath.
DTE said in a Sept. 7 statement to WXYZ that its Storm Response Team of more than 4,000 workers had restored 99% of affected customers and said it expected to restore power to all remaining customers that day, Monday, Sept. 7.
Residents with questions about outage credits can contact the MPSC at 1-800-292-9555.
