Making the right choices for your household budget is often your number one focus, and it’s critical to research any decision that impacts your bottom line.
Did you know Michigan gives you the right to choose the company that provides your natural gas? No matter which company supplies your natural gas, DTE remains responsible for maintaining the infrastructure that delivers gas to you, responding to gas leaks and metering your usage and billing.
We have all the information you need to understand gas choice, alternative gas suppliers and figure out your current supplier.
What’s the difference between using DTE or an alternative gas supplier?
You can select the natural gas supplier of your choice or do nothing and continue to get your natural gas supplied by DTE under regulated rates. Regulated rates are those that the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) must review and approve on behalf of customers. The rates of alternative gas suppliers are not regulated. Unregulated rates are whatever the supplier chooses to charge, with no MPSC review or approval.
Alternative gas suppliers sometimes offer promotional rates when you start service; but remember, promotional rates may not last for your entire contract. For instance, you may be offered free natural gas for a few weeks or months – perhaps during the summer when you may not use much natural gas anyway – and the normal, unregulated rate could begin as temperatures drop and you begin using more gas to stay warm.
DTE will not contact you to offer special deals on rates – like lower rates for a limited time. If you receive a letter, email or phone call — or encounter a door-to-door salesperson — offering a discount, please know that this is not DTE and may be an alternative gas supplier pitching an unregulated rate.
Considering an alternative gas supplier?
If you wish to use an alternative gas supplier, you should shop around just as you would for any product. Check the MPSC’s comparison site at Michigan.gov/compareMIgas, which compares unregulated rates with DTE’s regulated rate. Call suppliers and get their prices and contract terms. Read all information provided by the supplier before you sign the contract.
Do not give your DTE account number to an alternative gas supplier until you are sure you want to sign up with this supplier. You could become a victim of “slamming” — which is when a supplier uses your account number to switch your service without your consent.
How do I figure out if I’m already using an alternative gas supplier?
If you use an alternative gas supplier, you should regularly review your bill and gas choice rate. Alternative gas supplier rates are unregulated, so they are subject to change.
Take a look at your DTE bill under the “Summary of Charges” section, if you are served an alternative gas supplier, you will see a text box identifying the name of the company providing your gas and the rate you are paying compared to DTE’s rate.
Here is an example of a message you would see on your monthly bill if you were using an alternative gas supplier.