Easily manage your budget with predictable monthly costs.
BudgetWise Billing® enables you to manage your budget and avoid seasonal spikes in energy costs. You’ll have predictable monthly payments – minimizing the ups and downs of energy costs impacted by weather. Learn how BudgetWise Billing works, including quarterly plan reviews and the annual Settlement Month, and find out if you are eligible.
You can enroll in BudgetWise Billing for free at any point in the year and opt-out at any time.
BudgetWise Billing Benefits
How It Works
Your Initial Monthly Payment
Your BudgetWise Billing payment amount is the monthly average of your energy costs* over the past year. This applies to the first three months of your plan.
What determines your payment amount
- Average energy costs at your current address over the past year
- A weather factor that accounts for Michigan’s unpredictable weather
* Energy costs include energy usage, energy rates, taxes and fees. Energy rates may fluctuate throughout the year, and we take this into account when determining your initial monthly payment.
Quarterly Reviews
Your monthly payment amount is reviewed every three months against your actual home energy costs over the past 12 months.
How quarterly reviews impact your monthly payment
- If your energy costs changed by 5% or more over the 12-month period, your monthly payment amount may increase or decrease.
- Our goal is to keep your monthly bill as consistent as possible. Please remember your total energy costs are based on the energy you actually used.
Nine Month Review
After nine months, in addition to Quarterly Reviews, your total monthly payments are compared to your actual energy costs.
The nine month review might impact your monthly payment
- If your energy costs were more than what you paid, the difference will be distributed equally over the final three months of your plan.
- This distribution helps to minimize your annual settlement amount.
Annual Settlement
After 12 months, we review your account and settle any differences between energy used and the amount paid.
Settlement Month details
- If your energy costs were less than your total payments, the amount you overpaid will be credited on your next bill, or you may request a check.
- If your energy costs were higher than your total payments, you’re required to pay the full amount by your bill due date.
BudgetWise Billing makes your payments more predictable.
Example: how the plan minimizes the impacts of seasonal ups and downs on your bill. Your actual bill may differ.
Am I Eligible?
- You are eligible for BudgetWise Billing if you have active DTE service, you’re not enrolled in another DTE payment plan and your current account balance is in good standing and less than $12.
- BudgetWise Billing is not available if you are enrolled in Electric Choice, SolarCurrent, Dynamic Peak Pricing, Net Metering or Flexible Due Date.
How to Read a BudgetWise Billing Statement
In this example, the customer’s energy costs increased over previous months.
Energy costs for the previous month.
Current monthly payment amount applied.
Remaining balance after last payment.
Energy costs for the current month.
New account balance.
