We know you’re facing challenging times, and we want you to know we’re doing everything we can to protect you from rising prices, including buying natural gas year-round to protect you from market volatility. Our gas supply purchasing and planning department maintains buying a steady supply of natural gas for you, locking in natural gas prices up to three years in advance, and buying throughout the year before the gas is needed, and then storing it underground in naturally-occurring rock formations. These reservoirs, located deep underground, hold the gas until demand increased. Michigan’s geology makes it ideal for storing gas thanks to rock formations that previously held oil and gas, which has since been extracted.
Buying natural gas in advance helps stabilize the cost of natural gas and insulates you from unexpected gas price changes. We do not mark up the price of natural gas, meaning what you pay is what we paid for the gas. While prices are changing, our buying and storage strategy is still providing the lowest natural gas price in Michigan to customers.
If you ever feel like you won’t be able to pay your monthly bill, please reach out to us as soon as possible. We offer a number of energy assistance payment plans, and we are happy to work with you to determine the best program for your budget and lifestyle.
You can also take lowering your monthly bill into your own hands by following these energy efficiency tips:
- Lower that thermostat: Setting your thermostat to 68 degrees Fahrenheit during winter months and turning it down a few extra degrees while you sleep can help you save up to 10% annually on energy costs.
- Insulate windows, doors and pipes: You can save up to 10% on your annual energy bills by sealing air leaks and adding insulation. Install caulking and weatherstripping around doors and windows.
- Give your furnace a boost: Keep your furnace working at peak efficiency by regularly changing air filters, cleaning the vents and getting routine tune-ups. If it’s older, consider a modern, high-efficiency model and save with rebates.
Stay up-to-date with winter energy tips at dteenergy.com/staywarm.