DTE Energy donates $10 million to local outreach agencies to help vulnerable families stay safe and warm year-round

DETROIT, Nov. 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- DTE Energy today announced it is donating a total of $10 million to four Michigan outreach agencies to help low-income residents stay safe and warm during the cold winter months and throughout the year.

The funds may be used to assist residents struggling to pay current and past due utility bills and may also be used to support placing them on DTE's Low Income Self Sufficiency Plan (LSP), which provides for affordable monthly payments based on income and energy usage. 

"We'd like to see that every customer eligible for energy assistance is able to receive assistance," said Mark W. Stiers, president and chief operating officer of DTE Gas, DTE Energy. "Lower temperatures are already upon us, so we have a great sense of urgency to assist Michigan's most vulnerable.   DTE's $10 million donation will empower our agency partners to help our customers in need stay warm and safe not just for the holidays but year-round." 

This marks the seventh year DTE has administered the Low-Income Self Sufficiency Plan program.  Since 2012, the plan has seen a nearly 90 percent success rate of enrollees completing their payment plan cycles and building a pattern of self-reliance.  

The DTE donations will be given to and administered by The Heat and Warmth Fund (THAW), The Salvation Army, United Way for Southeastern Michigan, and TrueNorth.   

"During cold Michigan winters, families across the state need as much help as they can get," said Saunteel Jenkins, THAW's chief executive officer.  "THAW is grateful to DTE for our 33-year partnership and this generous donation that will help families stay safe and warm."

"For the past several years DTE has partnered with The Salvation Army helping to provide a warm home for our less fortunate neighbors," said Major Glen Cady, Salvation Army Western Michigan Northern Indian Divisional Commander.  "This year once again DTE has stepped up to assist those who come to us in crisis situations. Their commitment to the people of Michigan is an inspiration to all of us at The Salvation Army."  

"This latest DTE gift will further strengthen our 2-1-1 agents in helping those in crisis stay warm and that medical equipment is operable throughout the winter months," said Darienne Driver, Ed.D., president and CEO, United Way for Southeastern Michigan. "We are most grateful for our DTE partnership that ensures energy assistance supports are available to those in need across southeast Michigan year after year."

"Our growing partnership with DTE Energy's LSP program allows us to connect more customers in Michigan with the help they deserve," said Nicole Fanjoy, the Division Director for TrueNorth Community Services' emPower program.  "We're very glad we can work with DTE to ensure even more people can be safe and warm this winter."

For additional program details and enrollment information, visit dteenergy.com/lsp.

About DTE Energy 
DTE Energy (NYSE: DTE) is a Detroit-based diversified energy company involved in the development and management of energy-related businesses and services nationwide. Its operating units include an electric utility serving 2.2 million customers in Southeastern Michigan and a natural gas utility serving 1.3 million customers in Michigan. The DTE Energy portfolio includes non-utility energy businesses focused on power and industrial projects, natural gas pipelines, gathering and storage, and energy marketing and trading.  As one of Michigan's leading corporate citizens, DTE Energy is a force for growth and prosperity in the 450 Michigan communities it serves in a variety of ways, including philanthropy, volunteerism and economic progress. Information about DTE Energy is available at dteenergy.com, empoweringmichigan.com, twitter.com/dte_energy and facebook.com/dteenergy.  

SOURCE DTE Energy

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