With a few smart steps, you can get your home ready for winter and manage your usage and energy bills.
Understand what impacts your winter energy bill
- You turn up the heat to stay warm when it’s cold outside. Remember, your furnace uses both gas and electricity to keep you warm. You may also use electric space heaters, which use a lot of energy and increase your monthly bill.
- Big drops in temp make your furnace work harder even when you’re asleep.
- Colder weather and shorter days mean you’re spending more time indoors and using more energy.
Easy ways to save on your energy bill
- Seal air leaks around your doors and windows – simple steps like caulking, or using low-cost, clear plastic window sheeting is an effective way to keep warm air in and cold air out.
- Replace your furnace filter before winter hits to keep your system running efficiently. Keep up to date with maintenance on your system by scheduling maintenance a furnace tune-up. You could qualify for rebates, helping you save on costs while also reducing your energy energy use. Visit dteenergy.com/hvac.
- Install a programmable thermostat to automatically adjust temperatures based on your schedule— you can save up to 10% a year on heating and cooling costs by dialing your thermostat back.
- See if you’re eligible for rebates. Seal in comfort and save up to 10% on annual energy costs. Get up to $400 in rebates when installing energy efficient insulation. Learn more at dteenergy.com/insulation.
Make sure you have a DTE online account
If you haven’t already, create your DTE online account to easily sign up for billing programs and monitor your energy usage with our free Bill Analyzer Tool.
Double check your gas supplier
You may not realize you are using an alternative gas supplier. Check your bill in your online account to see who is supplying your natural gas, then head to michigan.gov/compareMIgas to compare prices.
Keep your home safe this winter
- Check smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and replace the batteries or units if they’re old.
- If you smell or suspect a gas leak, leave the area immediately. Once you are in a safe place, call 911 and then call our Gas Leak Hotline at (800) 947-5000. This is a free service provided by DTE for our customers, 24/7.
Need help paying your bill? Contact us as soon as possible so we can connect you with the help you need before winter hits. Visit dteenergy.com/help for more information.