Low-Income Self-Sufficiency Plan (LSP)
To be eligible to participate in the LSP program, a customer must meet the following income and energy usage criteria:
- Income equal to or less than 150% Federal Poverty Level (FPL) Guidelines
- Must have an approved SER or SER with copay from this fiscal year befroe applying for LSP with an agency
Your monthly payment amount is determined by your income and average monthly energy usage.
The past-due balance that you had upon enrollment, up to $3,000, will be gradually forgiven. Up to $600 will be forgiven when you are enrolled in the program. After you complete one year of the program, we will forgive up to an additional $600. Up to $1,800 of your remaining arrears will be forgiven when you successfully complete the program.
- Your monthly bill payment will be determined based on your income and energy usage.
- Your monthly payment does not include any non-energy charges, such as a Home Protection Plan (HPP). Those charges will be added to your bill as additional fees you have to pay.
- Every six months, we review an average of your current energy usage and compare it to the last 12 months to determine your new average energy usage, which may cause your monthly payment to fluctuate. This helps to ensure that you’re paying down your account balance appropriately and makes your end of year settlement as low as possible. If there’s a change to your payment amount, we will contact you and it will show on your next bill.
- During your 12-month review, if you used less energy than we estimated, you will receive a credit on your next bill. If you used more energy than we estimated, you will be encouraged to reduce your energy usage. We will cover the additional energy you used during the first 12 months.
- During your 24-month review, at the end of the program, if you used less energy than we estimated, you will receive a credit on your next bill. If you used more energy than we estimated in the final 12 months of the program, you will be required to pay for that energy to successfully complete the program.
Enrollment in the Low-Income Self-Sufficiency Plan begins each new fiscal year on October 1. Space in the program is limited, so be sure to reach out to an agency to apply as soon as the new fiscal year starts.
In order to keep your monthly payment similar, we encourage customers to monitor and/or reduce their energy usage while on the plan. As a DTE customer, you have access to our free energy usage tools with your online account. These tools can analyze your energy usage by the hour and see which appliances use the most energy in your home. Plus, the tools will give you tips on how to reduce your energy to save money on your bill. Simply create or log into your online account to get started.
Yes. Customers enrolled in the LSP are still eligible to file a Home Heating Credit with the state. Customers must have an active heating account at the time of filing.
Yes. You are still eligible to apply for other agency assistance if you experience a hardship while enrolled in the LSP. Typically, an agency payment is applied directly to past-due payment amounts.
LSP is transferrable to your new address as long as your monthly installments are current. The plan will transfer within 30 days. If you don’t see LSP on the statement for your new address, call the Energy Advocacy Group at (800) 317-9073 during business hours Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Missed payments may result in termination from the LSP program for the remainder of the program year.
Yes. Each month you would be required to pay the HPP monthly plan amount in addition to the LSP amount.
If you are removed from the LSP, you may not be eligible for MDHHS assistance during the current fiscal year.
LSP is a 24 month program
No. LSP enrollment only applies to your primary residence.
Yes, all customers enrolled in the LSP must have an active account in their name.
DTE Energy partners with various human service agencies to validate and complete the application process. If interested in applying, please contact the following agencies to request an application:
Agency Name | Website |
| Superior Watershed (UP Customers Only) (906) 273-2742 | superiorwatersheds.org/energy-conservation |
| Salvation Army (616) 929-1645 | salarmy.us/energy |
| United Way SEM (Southeastern MI) (844) 211-4994 | unitedwaysem.org/get-help/community-resources/utility-assistance/ |
| True North (231) 355-5880 | Tnempower.org |
| THAW (800) 866-8429 | thawfund.org/programs |
| Michigan Community Action (MCA) | Agency Directory |
| St. Vincent de Paul (313) 393-2930 | svdpdetroit.org/How-We-Help/Energy-Rent-Assistance/help-with-my-bill |
| United Way of Jackson County Michigan (517) 741-0202 | https://unitedforscmi.org/ |