In short: Almost every home in the Detroit area is on DTE Electric, whose customers lost about 483 minutes of power each in 2024 once major storms are counted, and 159 without them (EIA). Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties rate “very high” for tornadoes, ice storms and strong wind. Backup power comes first here.
This page covers what is specific to metro Detroit: DTE’s outage record and programs, recent storms, permits and public charging. For statewide rules, including how Michigan credits solar exports and the solar property tax rule, see our Michigan energy guide.
Detroit at a glance
- DTE Electric: about 20.1¢ per kWh on average for homes in 2024. Outages: 483 minutes per customer with major events, 159 without; 1.25 interruptions a year (EIA-861, 2024).
- Other utilities: Consumers Energy serves parts of Oakland County (19.1¢; 503 and 155 outage minutes), and the city of Wyandotte has its own municipal utility (EIA-861, 2024).
- Sun: about 3.8 kWh per square meter per day, from 1.2 in December to 6.2 in June (NASA POWER, 2001 to 2020). Our rough estimate: about 1,110 kWh a year per kW of panels.
- Top hazards: Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties are “very high” for cold waves, ice storms, strong wind and tornadoes, and “relatively high” for inland flooding (FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025).
- Public charging: 818 ports at 265 locations in Detroit, plus 130 in Troy, 72 in Livonia, 66 in Novi, 30 in Sterling Heights and 26 in Rochester Hills (AFDC, October 3, 2026).
Your utility and what it means
- DTE Electric, solar: new systems join DTE’s Distributed Generation program. Power you draw from the grid is billed at your rate; power you send back earns an outflow credit based on the power supply part of your rate minus transmission, which you can use against your electric charges. Homes that joined the old net metering program keep it for 10 years from their start date (DTE rate card).
- DTE Electric, rates: the standard home rate is Time of Day, with higher prices on weekdays from 3 to 7 p.m., highest from June to September. The Overnight Savers rate adds a cheaper window from 1 to 7 a.m. DTE’s older EV-only rate is closed to new customers (DTE rate card, February 2025 edition; check current prices).
- DTE Electric, EV chargers: a Home EV Charger Rebate for income-qualified households who buy or lease an EV and install an ENERGY STAR or same-brand Level 2 charger; apply within six months. The amount is on DTE’s program terms.
- Consumers Energy (parts of Oakland County): its own Distributed Generation program, a $500 Level 2 charger rebate (up to $1,000 if income-qualified) with its Nighttime Savers rate, and a planned-shutoff policy for extreme conditions. See our Michigan guide.
Backup power in Detroit
Storms make the difference here. A typical DTE customer lost about 2.7 hours of power on ordinary days in 2024, and about 8 hours once major-event days are counted (EIA). Recent events show why: on March 13, 2026, about 164,000 DTE customers lost power, and after the July 3, 2026 thunderstorms, with gusts of 60 to 70 mph, DTE reported 492,000 customer outages. Some lasted several days in upper-80s heat, and the Michigan Public Service Commission opened an investigation of the response (MPSC, July 2026).
Plan for both seasons. In winter the loads that matter are the furnace blower and the sump pump; in summer, the fridge, fans or a window air conditioner, and medical devices. A portable power station covers a few hours of essentials. A home battery switches over on its own and handles most outages. For multi-day storms, a natural gas standby generator keeps running. Compare them in backup power options, then size yours with the battery backup calculator or the generator sizing tool.
If an outage runs long, the MPSC’s rules give DTE customers an automatic bill credit of $44 a day after 16 hours in normal conditions, 48 hours when 1% to 10% of customers are out, or 96 hours in catastrophic storms (MPSC, September 2026). A credit is not a backup plan, but it helps to know.
Safety first: the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission says generators belong outdoors only, at least 20 feet from the house, with exhaust pointed away from windows, doors and vents, never in a garage or basement. Put battery-backed carbon monoxide alarms on every level. A transfer switch or interlock must be installed by a licensed electrician with a permit; see generator installation.
Solar in Detroit
Panels in Detroit make about 1,110 kWh a year per kW by our rough estimate, more on a south-facing tilted roof and much less in December. Every kWh you use at home saves your full DTE price, about 20¢ on 2024 averages, so one kW used entirely at home would save roughly $220 a year. Exports earn less, so the more of your solar you use during the day, or store, the better it pays. That is an estimate, not a promise. With weekday peak pricing from 3 to 7 p.m., late-afternoon production and stored power are worth the most.
One point surprises new owners: a standard grid-tied system shuts down in a blackout to protect line crews. If you want solar to keep the lights on, you need a battery or a backup-capable inverter. Start with the solar potential tool, compare quotes in the solar savings calculator, and read solar installation and how net metering and net billing work.
Batteries in Detroit
DTE homes pair solar with storage more than most. EIA’s 2024 data show 2,631 batteries alongside 9,937 residential solar systems reported by DTE, about one in four. A battery does two jobs here: it shifts midday solar into the 3 to 7 p.m. peak, and it carries the house through storm outages. We have not confirmed a DTE battery rebate open to all customers. Size for winter, when the sun is weakest and outages can be cold. See home battery installation and home battery cost.
EV charging in Detroit
Metro Detroit has the state’s densest public charging: over 1,100 ports across Detroit and the suburbs listed above (AFDC, October 3, 2026). Most drivers still charge at home. At about 30 kWh per 100 miles and DTE’s 2024 average of 20.1¢, home charging costs roughly $6 per 100 miles, less if you charge overnight on a time-of-day rate (an estimate). A Level 2 charger needs a 240-volt circuit from a licensed electrician and an electrical permit. See EV charger installation and the EV charging cost calculator.
Drive on another fuel? See every alternative fuel station in Detroit: hydrogen, propane, natural gas, E85 ethanol, biodiesel and renewable diesel.
Permits and inspections
- City of Detroit: the Buildings, Safety Engineering and Environmental Department (BSEED) issues building and electrical permits online. The city’s 2021 solar FAQ says rooftop solar needs an electrical permit, that a city permit is still required after DTE approves the plans, and that open blight violations block a solar permit.
- Troy, Novi, Livonia, Canton Township, Sterling Heights, Rochester Hills and other suburbs: your own city or township building department issues the permits.
- Utility approval: DTE (or Consumers) must approve solar and battery interconnection before the system runs; installers usually file it. Get HOA approval in writing where one applies.
Cities we cover
- Detroit
- Troy
- Novi
- Livonia
- Canton Township
- Sterling Heights
- Rochester Hills
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Detroit energy FAQ
How often does DTE lose power?
In 2024 the average DTE customer had 1.25 interruptions and about 483 minutes without power, or 159 minutes leaving out major storm days (EIA). Big storms drive the total: DTE reported 164,000 customer outages on March 13, 2026, and 492,000 after the July 3, 2026 storms (MPSC). These are utility-wide averages; your street may differ.
Does DTE pay me if my power is out for a long time?
Yes, automatically. Under MPSC rules, residential customers get $44 a day once an outage passes 16 hours in normal conditions, 48 hours in wider “gray sky” events, or 96 hours in catastrophic storms, and also after six or more interruptions in 12 months (MPSC, September 2026).
Will my solar panels work during a DTE outage?
Not on their own. Grid-tied systems shut down when the grid goes down, so line workers are safe. To use solar in an outage, you need a battery or a backup-capable inverter with an automatic disconnect, installed by a licensed electrician and approved by DTE.
Do I need a permit for solar in Detroit?
Yes. Inside the city, BSEED issues the electrical permit, and the city’s solar FAQ says you still need it even after DTE approves your interconnection. In the suburbs, your city or township building department issues it. A licensed electrical contractor normally pulls the permit.
When is electricity cheapest on DTE?
On the standard Time of Day rate, outside the weekday 3 to 7 p.m. peak, and especially outside the June to September peak season. The Overnight Savers rate adds a lower price from 1 to 7 a.m., which suits EV charging. Check DTE’s current rate card before you switch.
Sources
Utilities, prices, outages and solar and battery counts: U.S. Energy Information Administration, EIA-861 data for 2024. Storms, outage credits and investigations: Michigan Public Service Commission outage history and releases of June 2025, July 2026 and September 2026. DTE rate card (February 2025 edition) and Home EV Charger Rebate page; City of Detroit BSEED and 2021 solar FAQ. Sun: NASA POWER, 2001 to 2020. Hazards: FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025. Charging: Alternative Fuels Data Center, October 3, 2026. Generator safety: CPSC. All checked October 3, 2026.