DTE Energy is a regulated monopoly providing an essential service to millions of Michigan residents. Customers do not have the option to choose another electric provider.

Beginning March 2, 2026, DTE will impose processing fees on all credit and debit card payments and will unenroll all AutoPay customers unless they switch to ACH bank draft. Customers who wish to continue using AutoPay with a card must re-enroll and accept the fee.

The Michigan Public Service Commission has stated that it does not have authority to regulate accepted payment methods. This response exposes a regulatory gap that allows utilities to shift operational costs onto customers without meaningful oversight.

Electricity is not optional. Paying an electric bill is not optional. For many residents—particularly low-income households, seniors, and unbanked or underbanked customers—ACH is not a realistic or accessible alternative. In practice, these fees are unavoidable and function as a hidden rate increase.

We call on:

The Michigan Attorney General to investigate whether these policies constitute an unfair or deceptive consumer practice
The Michigan Legislature to hold hearings and close the regulatory loophole that allows utilities to impose unavoidable fees
DTE Energy to fully disclose historic payment processing contracts, prior per-transaction costs, and the justification for shifting these costs to customers
State policymakers to establish reasonable safeguards, including a cap on payment processing fees, to ensure charges remain proportionate, cost-based, and non-regressive for an essential utility service
Utilities should recover costs through transparent, regulated rates—not through fees that penalize customers for how they pay a mandatory bill.

Sign this petition to demand transparency, accountability, and a reasonable cap on utility payment fees for Michigan residents.