DTE Electric is an investor-owned utility serving about 2,078,328 homes in Michigan. Here's what its rates and export rules mean for solar: for a typical customer, solar is a close call.
Net billing (reduced export credit) — about 9¢ per exported kWh, instantaneous netting.
Outflow = power supply minus transmission; 2019 value 7.477 cents; current value likely higher after rate cases (not verified). TOU (D1.11) default for residential.
Michigan Distributed Generation tariff (since 2019): inflow billed at full retail; outflow credited at outflow credit (power supply charges excluding transmission component); legacy net metering closed to new customers.
| System | 3 kW (52% of 623 kWh/month) |
|---|---|
| Cost | $11,900 |
| First-year savings | $690 |
| Payback | 15.9 years |
| 25-year net | $9,623 |
Uses the utility's average price; time-of-use plans can change this, so pick your plan in the calculator.
Rates we verified from DTE Electric's tariff documents. Prices are per kWh including the main riders where noted; check your bill for the plan you're on.
Plan for solar customers. Effective 2025-02-06. Fixed charge $8.50/month.
| Period | Price |
|---|---|
| 3pm–7pm (4 months) | 24.1¢ |
| 12am–3pm, 7pm–12am (4 months) | 18.4¢ |
| 3pm–7pm (8 months) | 20.1¢ |
| 12am–3pm, 7pm–12am (8 months) | 18.4¢ |
EIA-861, 2025.
Outflow = power supply minus transmission; 2019 value 7.477 cents; current value likely higher after rate cases (not verified). TOU (D1.11) default for residential. Exported power is credited at about 9¢ per kWh.
Residential customers paid an average of 20.3¢ per kWh in 2025 (EIA), about 21.3¢ adjusted to 2026. The typical home uses 623 kWh a month, a bill of about $133.
For a typical customer, solar is a close call: a 3 kW system costing about $11,900 pays back in about 15.9 years, with $9,623 net over 25 years.
About 11,672 homes had net-metered solar at the end of 2025, roughly 0.6% of residential customers (EIA-861).
Legal name: DTE Electric Company (EIA ID 5109). Data: EIA-861 2025 and monthly data through 2026, state policy research October 2026, utility tariff sheets.