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Our commitment to ESG best practices — such as producing clean, affordable and reliable energy, emphasizing workplace diversity, equity and inclusion, and providing strong corporate governance policies and practices — is ingrained in our culture and processes and ensures our stakeholders inform our management strategy.  

In 2021, we completed a refresh of our sustainability priority assessment to understand the changing priorities, needs and expectations of our stakeholders and our business. We are using the assessment results and insights to enhance our sustainability strategies, inform stakeholder engagements, improve ESG reporting and support the risk management process. See the 2021 Sustainability Priority Assessment for the full list and descriptions of our 25 sustainability priorities. 

To supplement our sustainability priority assessments, which are conducted every 3-5 years, we have established processes to engage all stakeholders periodically throughout the year to provide additional insights into their needs, priorities and experiences.  

Our employees  

At DTE, our employees are the foundation of our company and the energy behind our operations. Throughout our company, we strive to maintain a positive, collaborative workplace environment where everyone feels valued. Employee engagement is the key enabler and driver to achieving our other priorities.  

To measure the success of our engagement efforts, we rely on the Gallup employee engagement survey. Gallup is a global research and polling company that helps private and public sector organizations boost organic growth through measurement tools, strategic advice and education. DTE ranked in the top 3% among employers worldwide in engagement by Gallup. This extraordinary achievement can be attributed to our persistent focus on engagement, including our industry-leading safety performance, a robust diversity and inclusion program with nine employee resource groups, comprehensive health and wellness programs and a thriving volunteerism program. 

Our customers  

DTE’s operational success is, in part, measured by our ability to maintain customer satisfaction. While DTE has for many years closely monitored overall sentiment for many years, in 2020, the company implemented a new Net Promoter Score (NPS) measurement system to continually evaluate customer satisfaction on a continuous basis. An executive committee uses insights from the data to inform operational decisions and support our engagement strategy with customers, regulators and investors. 

To effectively utilize NPS data, DTE reviews weekly survey results that provide immediate and ongoing quantitative and written insights into successes and opportunities. These real-time responses create a narrative for DTE’s long-term strategy, while also providing the opportunity for immediate customer service when needed. Through NPS, DTE also “closes the loop” with customers to learn more from those who provide feedback, with the ultimate goal of improving performance. 

DTE’s corporate citizenship efforts, including our COVID-19 response, volunteerism, and corporate giving, help drive positive customer brand perception, as measured by NPS. Throughout 2020, it was imperative to monitor these responses for DTE to continue to effectively serve the varying needs of statewide customers. Additionally, following our COVID response efforts, our NPS feedback relayed significant increases in our brand values. 

Our community  

We value relationships with local community organizations, nonprofits and leaders as our partners and representatives of our customers and communities. We engage our community partners through an annual community partners meeting and community advisory council forums that allow for open dialogue with key community leaders and organizations and identify opportunities for us to work together. Furthermore, we conduct listening sessions with targeted community leaders to respond to emerging community needs, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, and lean on their insights to shape our response. In recent years, we have also strengthened our relationships with environmental justice organizations as valued stakeholders and representatives of our communities. 

Our team also listens and responds to local, state and federal officials’ constituents and executes on a local level, interacting with municipal, elected leaders and other influential community members across Michigan to ensure their needs are voiced and addressed.  

DTE’s supply chain is a vital part of its commitment to provide safe, reliable energy for its customers. Beyond the basics of delivering high-quality, cost competitive services, supply chain specializes in ensuring suppliers operate efficiently, safely and ethically. DTE also uses its procurement dollars to support local economic growth, provide opportunities for diverse businesses and build strong, vibrant communities.  

Our investors  

Over the last six years, we’ve consistently engaged with our investors on ESG topics. These discussions provide critical insight on key areas of focus for our investors and provide an opportunity to discuss our ESG priorities. As part of our process, we share highlights of the discussions and feedback from our investors with our Corporate Governance Committee. We will continue to engage in a variety of ways with shareholders to provide timely and relevant information on topics of interest.  

Shareholder engagement is a year-round process for us. In 2020, the company’s shareholder engagement team, consisting of members from the Corporate Secretary’s office, the General Counsel organization, Investor Relations, Environmental Management, and Corporate Communications, held discussions with shareholders who collectively own or exercise voting control over 40% of the Company’s outstanding shares, with our CEO and Lead Independent Director participating in several of discussions. 

Stakeholder Engagement Matrix (See GRI standards 102-40, 102-43, and 102-44) 

DTE Energy engages stakeholders through a variety of channels that facilitate meaningful dialogue around topics of mutual interest. The table below highlights some of the most significant ways the company connects with stakeholders. The last (right) column in the table describes the material issues each group is most interested in based on interactions with them – and what the company hears from stakeholders.  

Stakeholder Group 

Type of Engagement 

Frequency 

Topics Raised 

Communities 

   

  

  

  

Community partners meeting 

Annual meetings in Southeast Michigan (SEMI) and Greater Michigan (GRMI) 

Customer service and assistance programs 

Community outreach (organizations, events, partnerships) 

Jobs and employment (training, access, hiring process) 

Diversity, equity and inclusion 

Economic development (entrepreneurship, small business support) 

Energy efficiency 

Reliability and infrastructure 

Public safety 

Neighborhood development 

Community advisory council meetings 

Semi-annual (March, November) in SEMI; annual in GRMI 

External partnerships (nonprofits, ethnic chambers, associations, clubs attending/supporting events and programs) faith-based organizations 

Regularly throughout the year 

Volunteering (board service, events, long-term programs) 

Regularly throughout the year 

Neighborhood stakeholder meetings 

Quarterly 

Community engagement monthly check-in meetings 

Monthly 

Customers 

 

DTE Energy website, Empowering Michigan blog, DTE Impact website 

Updated regularly 

Customer satisfaction 

Cybersecurity 

Economic development 

Energy affordability 

Energy efficiency 

Greenhouse gases 

Reliability and infrastructure 

Renewables 

Safety 

Volunteerism 

Corporate Citizenship 

Newsletters:  

  • Customer Connections 
  • Residential Customer Connections  
  • Natural Living 
  • Business Customer Connections  
  • EnergySmarts Magazine 
  • Community Connections 
  • Quarterly wind landowner newsletter 

Billing statements and messaging 

Monthly 

Press releases and local media 

Regularly throughout the year 

Customer feedback via online comments and phone hotline 

Continuous dialogue 

Account management for large commercial & industrial customers 

Continuous dialogue 

Net Promoter Score 

Weekly 

Employees 

 

Company intranet (Our DTE) 

Updated regularly 

Community assistance 

Volunteerism 

Cybersecurity 

Diversity, equity and inclusion 

Employee engagement 

Safety 

Environment 

Corporate Citizenship 

Future of Work 

Customer Service & Satisfaction 

Tri-annual 

State of the Customer meetings 

J. Norcia Monthly Townhalls  

Training events 

Ongoing throughout the year 

Town Hall meetings 

Regularly throughout the year 

Employee feedback via online comments 

Continuous dialogue 

Engagement survey 

Semi-Annual 

Pulse Survey 

Bi-weekly 

Volunteerism 

Ongoing throughout the year 

Employee Energy Groups 

Monthly 

Performance reviews 

Annual, with quarterly check-ins 

Facility neighbors 

 

Press releases and local media 

Regularly throughout the year 

Air emissions 

Community assistance 

Economic development 

Habitat and biodiversity 

Reliability and infrastructure 

Renewables 

Safety 

Waste management 

Public Safety 

Education 

Jobs and Employment 

Transportation 

Beautification 

Community meetings associated with specific facility projects or events 

Periodically as needed 

 

Program partner newsletters and communications 

Periodically as needed 

Community meetings associated with ongoing neighborhood work and programming 

 

Regularly throughout the year 

 

Government (local, state, federal) 

 

Attendance at state agency meetings and legislative hearings 

 

Continuous dialogue 

Community assistance 

Customer satisfaction 

Cybersecurity 

Economic development 

Energy affordability 

Energy efficiency 

Greenhouse gas emissions 

Reliability and infrastructure 

Renewables 

Safety 

Environment 

Attendance at meetings and hearings with federal regulators and policymakers 

Continuous dialogue 

Volunteer events 

Regularly throughout the year 

Press releases and local media 

Regularly throughout the year 

Facility tours for legislators 

Regularly throughout the year 

Industry associations 

 

Attendance at regular meetings and conferences. For example: 

  • Edison Electric Institute 
  • Nuclear Energy Institute 
  • American Gas Association 
  • Interstate Natural Gas Association of America 
  • Michigan Manufacturers Association 
  • Michigan Chamber of Commerce 
  • Detroit Regional Chamber 

Regularly throughout the year (monthly, quarterly and annual) 

Air emissions 

Cybersecurity 

Energy efficiency 

Greenhouse gases 

Habitat and biodiversity 

Reliability and infrastructure 

Renewables 

Safety 

Waste management 

Future of natural gas 

Ongoing discussions around specific topics of concern to DTE Energy 

Continuous dialogue on a project or case by case basis 

Environmental groups 

 

Attendance at regular meetings and conference, including: 

  • Wildlife Habitat Council 
  • Detroiters Working for Environmental Justice 
  • Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES) 
  • Friends of the Detroit River/Detroit River Keeper 
  • International Wildlife Refuge Alliance 

Regularly throughout the year 

Air emissions 

Energy efficiency 

Greenhouse gases 

Habitat and biodiversity 

Renewables 

Waste management 

Environmental Justice 

Decarbonization pathways 

CWA /NPDES 

 

Ongoing discussions around specific topics of concern to environmental groups related to DTE Energy activities. DTE regularly engages with the following organizations: 

  • Clean Air Task Force 
  • The Nature Conservancy  
  • Environmental Defense Fund 
  • Michigan Environmental Council 
  • Michigan League of Conservation Voters 
  • Natural Resources Defense Council 
  • Sierra Club 

Continuous dialogue on a project or case by case basis 

Shareholders 

 

Investor calls 

Quarterly 

GHG emissions 

Reliability and infrastructure 

Renewables 

Safety 

Financial performance 

Full scope of ESG Sustainability issues, as appropriate 

Press releases 

Periodically throughout the year 

DTE Energy Investor Relations website 

Updated regularly 

Investor Relations Day 

2-5 years 

Suppliers 

 

Supplier meetings, symposiums, executive reviews 

Weekly, monthly, quarterly and/or annually 

Cybersecurity 

Diversity and inclusion 

Economic development 

Energy efficiency 

Energy affordability 

Environmental sustainability 

Reliability and infrastructure 

Renewables 

Safety 

Waste management 

Supplier scorecards 

Weekly, monthly, quarterly and/or annually 

 
To learn more about our ESG efforts and disclosures, please visit our Sustainability Performance site.