DTE Energy to Provide Free Programmable Thermostats to Its Natural Gas Business Customers

DETROIT, March 1, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- DTE Energy is reaching out to help its natural gas business customers become more energy efficient.

DTE Energy will provide free programmable thermostats (including installation) to the first 6,000 businesses that contact the company.  The free thermostats are available only to DTE Energy's natural gas customers.

"Adjusting temperature settings with a programmable thermostat for just eight hours a day can help businesses save as much as 10 percent on annual heating and cooling bills," said John Lobbia, DTE Energy marketing program manager.  "While savings can vary depending on a number of factors, programmable thermostat enable businesses to easily and consistently reduce energy usage during non-business hours."

The thermostat giveaway is part of DTE Energy's Your Energy Savings initiative, which is designed to help customers save money and help the environment by using less energy.  The Your Energy Savings program provides incentives that reduce the up-front cost of installing more efficient equipment and make it easier for businesses to invest in energy efficiency.

The program offers incentives for an array of energy-saving technologies. Customers can pick from a menu of "prescriptive" measures with predetermined incentive rates and energy saving estimates, or can submit their projects for custom measures which are calculated on a case-by-case basis.

"Since a portion of energy costs are a controllable operating expense, every dollar saved can make an impact to a business's bottom line," Lobbia said.

Natural gas business customers interested in participating in the program can call (866) 796-0512 (option 3) or e-mail [email protected]

SOURCE DTE Energy