What To Do When You Can’t Pay Your DTE Bill
DTE Energy is a gas company servicing various areas of Michigan. When the weather changes, your usage will change, which can cause great fluctuation in your bill amount from month to month. When you do not know what to expect, it can be hard to make your payments on time. Here’s what you can do.
How To Pay The Bill
DTE offers several ways to pay your bill to make it more convenient for you. Here are the ways you can pay your bill.
Pay your DTE bill online: To pay your bill online visit: https://www.dteenergy.com/cso/eBill/oneTimePayments/accountPaymentList.do?destinationMapping=makePayment. You can choose to make a one-time payment with your checking account, credit, or debit card, or you can enroll in automatic payments.
In Person : To pay your bill in person, visit the DTE payment center locator to enter your zip code and find the nearest pay station. Some agents will charge a small fee to process your payment, but DTE does not get any of these fees. Fee amounts vary from location to location.
By Phone : To make a payment by phone, call customer service at: 1-800-477-4747 and follow the prompts.
By Mail : Mail your payment with your bill stub to the following address:
DTE Energy
P.O. Box 740786
Cincinnati, OH 45274-0786.
Questions About Your Billing Statement or Account?
DTE gives customers a chance to learn more about products and service fees through the FAQs about Billing and Payments page. If a fee appears on your bill and it is not described in the FAQs section, customer service may be able to help. Call customer service at 1-800-477-4747.
How The Penalty Fees Work
The late fees associated with your bill depend on the plan you are on. If you are participating in the Shut Off Protection Plan, you will not have late fees. If you are on Budget Billing, you will be subject to a 2% late fee, applied to only the past due portion of the bill. If you are turned off for non-payment, you may be required to pay a deposit to restore service, and this deposit amount is determined by the system. You will be required to pay a $50 reconnection fee for gas services, and a $20 reconnection fee for electric services. There may also be a fee for returned checks.
I Can’t Make A Payment
If you cannot make a payment, contact customer service at: 1-800-477-4747. They can work with you to make a payment arrangement or to discuss other options. There is a Shut Off Protection Plan that averages your bill amount to spread it over 12 months, but your payments must be made on time every month or you risk being pulled from the program. There is also the Budget Plan, which gives you the ability to pay whenever you want, as long as the balance is paid before the due date. A Winter Protection Plan is available for seniors and other low income customers to prevent power from being shut off from November 1st to March 31st, but you must pay a portion of your annual bill and a portion of past due payments during this time and starting April 1st, the bill amount will increase to cover winter costs.
An additional resource for customers that can’t pay your bill is LIHEAP. A common question asked by customers is how to qualify for energy assistance with LIHEAP? You must meet income guidelines as well as apply early due to limited funding. Upon approval, you use the LIHEAP funds for your heating or cooling costs from the months of November to March.
Will They Work With Me To Pay My Bill?
Yes, DTE will work with you to pay your bill. When we spoke to Customer Service, several different options were presented, and they were very courteous. If you are having trouble paying your bill, follow the options in the “I Can’t Make A Payment” heading. Are you a DTE customer who has had issues with bill payment in the past? Share your experience below.
