DTE Energy gifts $6 million to local outreach agencies to assist customers with heat, lights and financial stability during the frigid holiday season across Michigan

DETROIT, Dec. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- DTE Energy today announced it is donating $6 million to Michigan outreach agencies to help low-income residents across the state of Michigan stay safe and warm during extreme cold weather that has already affected many customers, even before the official start of winter. This donation is expected to help drive enrollment of nearly 7,000 customers in DTE's Low-Income Self Sufficiency Plan (LSP) payment program, which offers fixed monthly payments based on customer income and energy usage.

"We understand the challenges some of our customers face, especially during extreme weather, and we are committed to providing assistance to help lighten the load, especially during the holidays," said Mark W. Stiers, president and chief operating officer of DTE Gas, DTE Energy. "This $6 million donation will allow our agency partners to help many of our customers keep the heat and lights on during the upcoming holiday season and through the New Year."

The donations will be administered by The Heat and Warmth Fund and the United Way for Southeastern Michigan, and will provide relief to elderly, unemployed, underemployed and disabled DTE customers across Michigan who are struggling to pay their energy bills. The Accounting Aid Society will also receive a donation to help them provide financial counseling and tax preparation services to middle- to low-income households.

"With this new $3 million donation and DTE's continued commitment to delivering safe, reliable energy to families in need, THAW is even more empowered to help families stay safe and warm this winter," said Saunteel Jenkins, chief executive officer, THAW. "Michigan winters can be frigid, and at THAW, our goal is to assist as many residents as possible with basic human needs like heat and electricity."

This $6 million donation follows a $5 million donation that DTE made to THAW and the United Way for Southeastern Michigan earlier this year.

"This significant DTE contribution, on top of the $2.5 million donated earlier this year, allows United Way to widen its Basic Needs safety net to serve even more families and ensure that they are warm throughout the winter," said Herman Gray, president and CEO, United Way for Southeastern Michigan. "We are very grateful to DTE for their longstanding partnership that enhances our collective commitments to residents throughout Southeast Michigan."

More than 35,000 residents were enrolled in DTE Energy's LSP during the 2015-2016 program year, and DTE's goal is to enroll more than 45,000 in the program this year. Both agencies will be conducting enrollment until February 2017 for eligible individuals seeking utility assistance for the 2016 – 2017 program year, which runs through October 2017. Visit dteenergy.com/lsp for additional program information and for information about the LSP enrollment process.

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 1.2 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. Information about DTE Energy is available at dteenergy.com, twitter.com/dte_energy and facebook.com

SOURCE DTE Energy

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