How DTE rates rose 39 percent
DTE Electric Company's average residential electricity price has risen from 14.55 cents per kWh in 2015 to 20.25 cents in 2025, an increase of about 39 percent, or roughly 3.4 percent per year. The chart shows DTE's average residential price by year. Hover any point for the exact figure.
Current residential rates
DTE residential rates are shown below, from the utility's published tariffs and the public Utility Rate Database. Rates vary by plan, season, and usage and change over time.
| Plan | Energy charge | Fixed / basic |
|---|---|---|
| Residential Standard Time-of-Day (D1.11), DTE's default residential rate | Off-peak 18.4 cents/kWh year-round; on-peak (weekdays 3 to 7 pm) 20.0 cents October to May and 24.1 cents June to September. Figures combine distribution and power supply. | $8.50/month service charge |
| Residential Time-of-Day 11 am to 7 pm (D1.2) | Off-peak about 15.0 to 15.2 cents/kWh; on-peak (weekdays 11 am to 7 pm) 23.4 cents November to May and 25.9 cents June to October. | $8.50/month service charge |
From DTE's Residential Electric Rate Card, approved by the Michigan Public Service Commission and effective February 6, 2025, excluding surcharges and taxes. DTE has moved residential customers to a default time-of-day rate, so there is no flat all-hours residential rate on the current card, which is why the all-in average of about 20 cents blends the time-of-day periods. Confirm current pricing on DTE's rate pages before making decisions.
How Michigan changed the deal for solar exports
- 2016
A Michigan energy law directed regulators to replace traditional retail-rate net metering.
- 2018
The Michigan Public Service Commission adopted an inflow and outflow billing method for distributed generation.
- 2021
DTE's Distributed Generation tariff took effect for new solar interconnections.
- Now
Grid power you use is billed at the full retail rate, but exported solar is credited only at the power supply portion of the rate, well below retail. Customers on legacy net metering are grandfathered for 10 years.
Michigan's inflow and outflow tariff, explained
Michigan phased out traditional retail rate net metering in 2016 and adopted an inflow and outflow billing mechanism. Under DTE's Distributed Generation program, for new solar interconnections, the customer pays the full retail rate for grid electricity used (inflow) but exported solar (outflow) is credited only at the power supply component of the rate, well below full retail. Customers already on legacy net metering are grandfathered for 10 years from their enrollment date.
What lower export credit means for your system
DTE's rates have risen steadily, about 39 percent since 2015, so each kWh your solar offsets and you use yourself is worth about 20 cents. That part of the case is strong. The export side is where Michigan differs from a net-metering state.
Under DTE's Distributed Generation program, exported solar is credited at the power supply component of the rate, not the full retail rate, so surplus power is worth noticeably less than the power you offset directly. That points toward sizing for your own use and, for many homes, adding a battery. DTE's default residential rate is also a 3 to 7 pm time-of-day plan, which rewards shifting usage. Whether solar pencils out depends on your usage and roof, so get a site-specific quote.
What rising DTE rates could cost you
DTE rates have risen about 3.4% per year. Enter your bill to see what that pace of increase could compound to over time, and what you have likely already absorbed. This is an estimate, not a guarantee.
Estimate only. Projects your current bill forward at DTE's historical average rate increase (3.4% per year, from EIA data); it assumes your usage stays the same except for any add-ons you select. Actual rates depend on your usage, rate plan, and the utility's future filings, and are not guaranteed. This is general information, not financial advice.
DTE service area
DTE serves Southeast Michigan, covering the Detroit metropolitan area and surrounding counties including Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Washtenaw, St. Clair, Lapeer, Livingston, Monroe, and Sanilac, a service territory of roughly 7,600 square miles..
To confirm whether a specific address is served by DTE, check your electricity bill. A ZIP lookup tool is coming to this site.
Full data and sources
Per-utility prices are computed from EIA Form 861 (bundled residential revenue divided by sales), which reconciles to the EIA's published figures. These are public-domain U.S. government data.
| Year | DTE (c/kWh) |
|---|---|
| 2015 | 14.55 |
| 2016 | 15.6 |
| 2017 | 15.52 |
| 2018 | 15.63 |
| 2019 | 16.11 |
| 2020 | 17.32 |
| 2021 | 17.86 |
| 2022 | 18.37 |
| 2023 | 19.7 |
| 2024 | 20.13 |
| 2025 | 20.25 |
Sources: EIA Form 861, Sales to Ultimate Customers (2015 to 2024) · DTE Residential Electric Rate Card, effective February 6, 2025 · Michigan Public Service Commission, Distributed Generation program · DSIRE, Michigan Net Metering and Distributed Generation
FAQ
How much have DTE electricity rates gone up?
DTE's average residential price rose from about 14.6 cents per kWh in 2015 to about 20 cents in 2025, an increase of roughly 39 percent, or about 3.4 percent per year, per EIA Form 861 data.
Does DTE have net metering?
Not the traditional kind. Michigan replaced retail-rate net metering with an inflow and outflow tariff. Under DTE's Distributed Generation program, exported solar is credited only at the power supply portion of the rate, well below full retail. Customers who enrolled under the old net metering are grandfathered for 10 years.
Why is DTE's residential rate a time-of-day plan?
DTE has moved residential customers to a default time-of-day rate, with a 3 to 7 pm on-peak window that costs more, especially in summer. There is no flat all-hours residential rate on the current card, so shifting usage away from the late-afternoon peak lowers bills.
Is solar worth it with DTE?
Rising rates make the power you offset directly worth about 20 cents, which helps. But exported solar earns only the power supply rate, so the economics favor a system sized to your own usage, often paired with a battery. Get a site-specific quote rather than a general estimate.