DTE Electric Solar, Net Metering & Rates

What homeowners should know

• DTE describes electricity sent to the grid as outflow and electricity used from the grid as inflow.
• The Rider 18 Distributed Generation program was created after Michigan phased out the former net-metering framework for new participation.
• Legacy Rider 16 net-metering customers transition to Rider 18 after reaching the applicable 10-year anniversary, according to DTE's current program FAQ.
• A rooftop solar project must complete DTE's private-generation interconnection process before normal parallel operation with the grid.

Important: Utility tariffs change. Confirm the current rate schedule, interconnection agreement and export-compensation rules for your exact account before signing a solar proposal.

Michigan electricity and solar context

The state electricity-rate figure is a statewide EIA benchmark, not the utility tariff on your bill. Utility plans can differ because of time-of-use periods, tiers, fixed charges, riders, supply choice and solar-export treatment.

Official DTE Electric solar sources

Home Solar Atlas summarizes homeowner-facing rules but treats the utility's current tariff and interconnection documents as the controlling source.

Before you compare installer quotes

• Use 12 months of actual electricity consumption rather than only your average bill.
• Ask the installer which utility rate plan and export-compensation schedule the savings model assumes.
• Separate self-consumed solar value from exported-energy value if the utility uses net billing.
• For time-of-use tariffs, compare when the home imports energy with when solar exports occur.
• Model battery economics separately instead of assuming every exported solar kWh has retail value.