DTE Smart Savers FAQ

• DTE’s voluntary demand response program is designed to reward you for reducing your electricity use during periods of high demand, while helping the environment and reliability of the electricity grid.

• Participants agree to brief, limited events which adjust their thermostats during peak electric demand until September 30th. You can anticipate at least one adjustment, and a maximum of up to 56 event hours per summer. Peak demand periods for adjustments typically occur on especially hot days. Adjustments will occur on non-holiday weekdays.

• DTE residential or small commercial business electricity customers who have installed a qualifying connected thermostat controlling their central air conditioning system or air source heat pump system are eligible.

The program:

• Supports Michigan’s energy initiatives.

• Protects our environment by lowering emissions.

• Helps reduce the cost of peak energy in our region.

To be eligible to enroll, you must meet the following qualifications:

• You are a DTE residential or small commercial business electric customer.

• You use your thermostat to control your central air conditioning or air source heat pump system.

• You have an installed, eligible internet-connected thermostat.

• You must have AMI metering installed at your service address.

• You must not have a second separately metered service like, for example, the Interruptible Air Conditioning rate.

• You must not be enrolled in the SmartCurrents or CoolCurrents programs.

• Residential and commercial customers will receive a $50 bill credit annually at the end of each season for staying enrolled and participating in events throughout the season.

• The annual incentive can be terminated at any time at the discretion of the Utility Company.

You can find the terms and conditions for the program here: DTE Smart Savers Terms & Conditions

You can find the program terms and conditions for all thermostat providers below:

• Confirm your eligibility for the DTE Smart Savers program with these three questions:

  1. Are you a DTE residential or small commercial business electric customer?

  2. Do you use your thermostat to control your central air conditioning or air source heat pump system?

  3. Will you allow DTE to make short, low impact thermostat adjustments on high energy usage days?

• If you confirm these three questions, please choose whether you have an internet-connected thermostat to enroll in the DTE Smart Savers program or if you would like to purchase a thermostat.

  • If you have an existing thermostat, please select among the eligible models.

  • If you don’t have an existing eligible thermostat, please choose a model, purchase

     and install it. Once you have installed and activated, come back to enroll your new thermostat in the DTE Smart Savers program.

  • Click the Enroll Now button to go to your thermostat’s enrollment site, where you’ll follow a series of simple steps to enroll.

  • Once your eligibility is confirmed by DTE, you will be enrolled in the program. You will receive notification on your eligibility status in your email.

Depending on your thermostat provider, you will receive an email or notification in your web or mobile application.

• At the start of an event, your thermostat will be automatically adjusted up to 4 degrees above the current temperature.

• The adjustment will typically last no more than 4 hours, and will occur between 12 pm and 8 pm. Adjustments will not occur on holidays.

• Once the temperature adjustment is over, your thermostat will return to its normal set point and/or schedule.

• In some cases, your thermostat might be adjusted down 3 degrees prior to an adjustment event to pre-cool your home or business.

• You can opt out of an event at any time from your mobile device, web browser, or thermostat. For the majority of devices, when you opt out of the pre-cool, you are also opting out of the temperature adjustment. If you own an ecobee device, you must also opt out of the temperature adjustment.

Adjustments events will only affect the temperature by a few degrees, with minimal impact on comfort. And you can easily opt out of an event at any time, for any reason. Your participation is voluntary.

Yes. At any time during an event, you can opt out from your thermostat, mobile device, or web app.

For the majority of devices, when you opt out of the pre-cool, you are also opting out of the temperature adjustment. If you own an ecobee device, you must also opt out of the temperature adjustment.

Send an email to dte@energyhub.com requesting to end your participation in the DTE Smart Savers program. Unenrolling from the program will end your participation for all your enrolled thermostats.

You can reach out to dte@energyhub.com.

SmartCurrents combines the advantages of a free smart thermostat with Dynamic Peak Pricing – lower electric costs during most weekday hours and all weekend long. You can save money by reducing electricity use during periods of high demand while helping reduce stress on the grid. To learn more about SmartCurrents, click here.