
DTE Energy's payment policies can be a bit confusing, but one thing is clear: they do charge for credit card payments. According to DTE's fee schedule, a convenience fee of 2.5% of the payment amount is applied to all credit card payments.
If you're not planning to pay with a credit card, you can avoid this fee altogether by using an electronic check or bank transfer. DTE accepts these payment methods without any additional charges.
Payment Options
You can update your payment method online at any time, including changing the expiration date, CVV code, or ZIP code on a non-expired credit or debit card. Just sign in to your account and go to the Manage Payment Methods page.
DTE Energy accepts payments from checking and savings accounts, as well as Visa, Mastercard, or Discover debit or credit cards. You can also pay with cash at their Bill Payment Kiosks.
Each user can store up to five payment methods, and you can give each one a unique nickname with a description of 45 characters or less. This makes it easy to identify your different payment methods.
The maximum payment limit for credit or debit cards is $99,999.99, while the maximum limit for checking or savings accounts is $499,999.99. The minimum payment accepted for both is $1.00.
If you're enrolled in AutoPay, you'll need to unenroll, update your payment method, and then re-enroll to make changes.
DTE Energy Bill Payment Policy
DTE Energy bills on a monthly basis, with bills due 17 days after mailing.
If you're mailing your payment, allow up to 15 days for postal delivery to ensure it arrives before the due date.
A 2 percent late fee will be charged if the balance isn't paid in full by the due date, and your account may be eligible for shutoff action.
Additional programs, like Home Protection Plus, are subject to their own terms and may be discontinued if your bill isn't paid in full or per the existing payment arrangement.
DTE Energy offers various forms of energy assistance, including payment agreements, general assistance, low-income programs, the Shutoff Protection Plan, and the Low Income Self-Sufficiency Plan.
You can modify your saved payment method nicknames by signing in to your account and going to the My Payment Methods page for residential customers or the Manage Payment Methods page for business customers.
Payment Fees
DTE Energy charges a late fee of 2% on balances not paid in full by the due date, which is 17 days after mailing the bill. This fee is a significant consideration when paying your bill.
You can avoid this fee by paying your bill on time, either by mailing a check or making an online payment. If you're mailing your payment, allow up to 15 days for postal delivery to ensure it arrives before the due date.
DTE Energy also offers various payment assistance programs, including payment agreements, general assistance, low-income programs, the Shutoff Protection Plan, and the Low Income Self-Sufficiency Plan. These programs can help you manage your payments and avoid late fees.
If you're enrolled in AutoPay, you'll need to unenroll, update your payment method, and then re-enroll to make changes to your payment information. You can edit and delete payment methods online, and each user can store up to five payment methods.
Consumers Energy, a related company, charges a $2.99 fee for using credit or debit cards to pay bills online, via mobile app, or by phone. This fee is a new processing fee that may be a surprise to some customers.
Sources
- https://www.dteenergy.com/us/en/business/billing-and-payments/billing/ways-to-pay.html
- https://www.dteenergy.com/us/en/residential/billing-and-payments/faq/payments.html
- https://www.freep.com/story/money/personal-finance/susan-tompor/2023/08/16/consumers-energy-credit-debit-cards-auto-pay-fee/70601498007/
- https://empoweringmichigan.com/start-off-the-new-year-with-our-budget-friendly-tools/
- https://www.clickondetroit.com/news/local/2022/04/25/dte-energy-says-customers-have-been-getting-calls-from-scammers-threatening-to-turn-power-off/
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