Thousands of DTE Energy customers affected by severe storms and tornadoes across Metro Detroit may be entitled to automatic bill credits of $42 a day after prolonged power cuts.
The storms on September 2 and 3 brought damaging winds, fallen trees and tornadoes to south-east Michigan. The National Weather Service said nearly 300,000 power outages were reported, while an EF-2 tornado struck the east side of Detroit — the city’s first confirmed tornado since 1997.
Some customers remained without electricity for several days, with the final outages reportedly restored on Labor Day. DTE has warned that spoiled food, hotel costs and other losses linked to storm damage will not normally be reimbursed.
DTE power outage credit: who qualifies?
The credit applies automatically when an outage meets Michigan’s service-quality rules. Customers do not need to submit an application or contact DTE to claim it.
For outages beginning on or after October 1, 2025, the credit is $42 for the initial qualifying period, with a further $42 added for every additional 24 hours without service.
The qualifying thresholds depend on the scale of the wider outage. A customer may become eligible after more than 16 hours during normal conditions, more than 48 hours when between 1% and 10% of DTE customers are affected, or more than 96 hours during catastrophic conditions affecting at least 10% of customers or involving an official state of emergency.
An outage means a full or partial loss of electricity lasting more than five minutes. Customers who experience six qualifying interruptions within a 12-month period may also be entitled to a credit.
Once a frequent-outage credit is applied, the count of interruptions resets. The credit rules are set by the Michigan Public Service Commission, which increased the daily payment to $42 in October 2025 and made eligible credits automatic.
Eligible customers should see the money deducted from their account within one or two billing cycles, although DTE says it can take up to 90 days after the outage. It will appear on the first page of a paper bill under “Summary of Charges” or in the “Bill Summary” section of an electronic bill.
DTE says the credit is separate from claims for property damage. Losses involving spoiled food, accommodation, lost wages, lost business revenue, damaged appliances caused by voltage surges, or tree and debris removal are generally excluded when they result from storms or weather conditions.
Customers who believe DTE directly caused damage to their property may still submit a damage claim, although the utility says claims can be rejected where the loss was caused by severe weather, equipment failure outside its control, a third party or an animal.
