DETROIT — DTE Energy has introduced a new smartphone app called DTE Insight that allows its electric customers to better understand how they use energy — and how to manage that usage more effectively.
DTE Insight links customers’ iPhones and Android phones to advanced electric meters to inform them about their energy usage in real time.
More than 1.3 million advanced meters have been installed in DTE Energy’s Southeast Michigan electric service area.
DTE vice chairman and chief administrative officer said the Detroit-based utility is the first in the nation “to offer this type of technology to our customers. DTE Insight is another way we help educate our customers about energy efficiency and give them a practical tool to use. People want to save money on their bill, but they need to know how they use energy before they can save.”
DTE Insight offers:
* A personalized energy-savings coach. DTE Insight makes it easy to track electric usage, set goals and compare with others in the Insight community.
* A view of the daily, weekly, monthly and annual electric usage of customers’ homes and the energy consumption patterns of their families
* Energy-saving tips that suggest and encourage do-it-yourself home improvement projects
* Weekly challenges designed to engage and provide rewards for saving energy
* The PowerScan Tool for iPhone users to scan electrical appliances’ power cords to instantly see its energy consumption and an estimate of their monthly operating costs.
* A dashboard view that provides tips, alerts and other information to help customers quickly find the best ways to increase their energy savings.
* The DTE Energy Bridge, a device that gives customers a real-time view of how much and when their homes are using energy. There is a limited quantity of Bridges at this time and interested customers will participate in a pilot program.
Meador added that the new service allowed DTE to expand its Pure Michigan Business Connect Initiative by working with three Michigan companies: “It’s important to grow the state’s economy and we’re committed to doing that.”
The app and Energy Bridge device were developed by Royal Oak-based Vectorform, who partnered with Saline Lectronics and M.A.K.S of Troy to prototype and assemble the Energy Bridge hardware.
Added Kevin Foreman, director of product vision at Vectorform: “With a unique blend of coaching, gamification, and social elements, DTE Insight is able to engage users with their personal energy consumption and ultimately reduce their energy use, with increased efficacy over traditional energy-reduction methods.”
Customers with iPhones and Android phones that also have their home equipped with an advanced meter can go to the App Store or Google Play to download the app today. For more information, visit http://dteenergy.com/dteInsight.
DTE Energy (NYSE: DTE) is comprised of an electric utility serving 2.1 million customers in Southeastern Michigan, a natural gas utility serving 1.2 million customers in Michigan, as well as non-utility energy businesses focused on power and industrial projects, energy services and energy trading.