Energy Efficiency Program for Business
Savings of more than 5,000 GWh electricity and 13 million Mcf (370,000 m3) natural gas
Customer
DTE Energy
DTE Energy is a Detroit-based diversified energy company involved in the development and management of energy-related businesses. Its operating units include an electric utility serving 2.2 million customers in Southeastern Michigan and a natural gas utility serving 1.2 million customers in Michigan.
Background
In 2009, DTE Energy contracted the services of DNV to implement its commercial and industrial demand-side management program. The need for this program was driven by a 2008 state law that mandated utilities throughout the state of Michigan to decrease their energy consumption year-over-year, to increase energy efficiency, create a favourable environment for renewables and to curb the impending need for increased generation capacity.
Services
DNV has prepared all program materials since the program’s launch, including measure specifications, applications, policies and procedures, and marketing collateral. We manage the content of DTE’s program website (dteenergy.com/savenow) and have developed and manage two separate, stand-alone websites:
- one serving the program’s network of Trade Allies
- one serving the 2016-launched Midstread Food Service Program
We provide all logistical support to the program, including market research, application processing, data gathering, reporting and incentive payment processing. We also provide customer and contractor outreach, site inspections and engineering review.
Achievements
Our office was created to implement DTE’s commercial energy efficiency electric and natural gas incentive programs. These incentives are funded by a surcharge which is applied to all customer bills. Since the program’s launch, this office has supported more than 41,000 energy efficiency projects resulting in a distribution of more than USD 127 million in incentives, saving more than 5,000 GWh electricity and 13 million Mcf natural gas, and saving DTE C&I customers more than USD 400 million in total energy costs (31 December 2016). Since 2009, the Detroit project team has successfully met every annual target for incentive payments and energy savings.
The DNV program team has been recognized on numerous occasions for contributions in commercial and industrial energy efficiency leadership. This includes recognition by the Association of Energy Service Professionals (AESP), the Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (MEEA) and the Engineering Society of Detroit (ESD). In addition, the team has received six awards from DTE Energy in five years in areas of continuous improvement, supplier excellence and education in energy efficiency.