Solar for DTE Energy Customers: Net Metering and Export Credits
How your utility credits the solar power you send back to the grid has a big effect on what solar is worth to you. Here's what official sources say for DTE Energy customers. Rules change, so confirm current terms with the utility before you sign.
About DTE Energy
The U.S. Energy Information Administration's Form EIA-861 data for 2024 lists 2,067,779 residential customers for DTE Electric Company (Michigan), ranking #11 among U.S. utilities in our tally of bundled plus delivery-only residential customers. Source: https://www.eia.gov/electricity/data/eia861/ (accessed 2026-10-20)
How DTE Energy credits home solar
- DTE Electric's Rider 18 distributed generation program credits outflow (excess solar sent to the grid) at the power supply rate, including Power Supply Cost Recovery, of the rate schedule Rider 18 is attached to. Source: https://www.dteenergy.com/content/dam/dteenergy/deg/website/common/service-and-request/interconnection-process/PA235LetterRooftopSolar.pdf (accessed 2026-10-20)
A note on the federal tax credit
The federal residential clean energy credit (25D) doesn't apply to expenditures made after December 31, 2025. The IRS treats an expenditure as made when installation is completed. Source: https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/faqs-for-modification-of-sections-25c-25d-25e-30c-30d-45l-45w-and-179d-under-public-law-119-21-139-stat-72-july-4-2025-commonly-known-as-the-one-big-beautiful-bill-obbb (accessed 2026-10-20). This page isn't tax advice.
What this means for your quote
Savings depend on how much of your solar you use on site versus export, your rate plan, and your system size. We can't give a typical savings figure; it varies, and your quote should show the assumptions behind any estimate.
Questions for your installer
- How much outflow versus on-site use does your estimate assume?
- Which DTE rate schedule does your estimate use?
- Will you handle the DTE Energy interconnection application?
Sources
- https://www.dteenergy.com/content/dam/dteenergy/deg/website/common/service-and-request/interconnection-process/PA235LetterRooftopSolar.pdf (accessed Oct 20, 2026)
- U.S. Energy Information Administration, Form EIA-861 (2024 data) — https://www.eia.gov/electricity/data/eia861/ (accessed Oct 20, 2026)
- IRS, "FAQs for modification of sections 25C, 25D, 25E, 30C, 30D, 45L, 45W, and 179D under Public Law 119-21 (OBBB)" — https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/faqs-for-modification-of-sections-25c-25d-25e-30c-30d-45l-45w-and-179d-under-public-law-119-21-139-stat-72-july-4-2025-commonly-known-as-the-one-big-beautiful-bill-obbb (accessed Oct 20, 2026)
SolarMatchup is a free service: you submit one request and we match you with one installer. Their proposal is an estimate, not a guarantee — use this guide to read it carefully and ask questions before you sign. Savings, if any, depend on your usage, utility rates, and local rules.
Last reviewed 2026-10-20.
More for Michigan homeowners: state guide with utility rules, prices and city pages.
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