DETROIT, Sept. 19, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- DTE Energy has debuted a new incentive and reward program for its large commercial and industrial (C&I) customers that is designed to increase energy efficiency and save companies money.

In a first-of-its-kind program, DTE Energy will offer 125,000 White Tag energy optimization credits to its electric and natural gas customers to buy over the next two years. White Tag credits represent a unit of energy saved and the environmental benefits of that conservation.

Qualifying large C&I customers who can demonstrate measured energy savings as a result of process improvements or other energy-efficiency projects will receive financial compensation for many megawatt hours of electricity or thousands of cubic feet of natural gas conserved.

"This is a breakthrough, performance-based program that rewards our commercial and industrial customers for their energy efficiency and brings them new revenue that can be reinvested into additional efficiency improvements that provide even more value," said Robert Fegan, principal energy analyst for DTE Energy's energy optimization program.

The pilot program, which is being administered by Atlanta-based energy marketer Sterling Planet, will pay DTE Energy C&I customers over the next two years. A training session with more than 50 DTE Energy customer representatives has already taken place.

The environmental benefits of the program will be significant. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 25,000 White Tags from electric energy and natural gas savings will compare to about a 25,870- pound reduction in carbon dioxide emissions. That is the equivalent of taking 4,600 cars of the roads for a year.

Sterling Planet will measure and validate the energy savings, and then provide the resultant White Tags to DTE Energy. The company will use the credits to help comply with Michigan mandates for improvements in energy efficiency.

"We signed up for Sterling Planet's White Tags® program because we saw it as an innovative, powerful way to give added support to our ongoing customer relationships," Fegan said. "It also helps us achieve the energy efficiency gains that the state of Michigan requires."

DTE Energy (NYSE: [ DTE ]) is a Detroit-based diversified energy company involved in the development and management of energy-related businesses and services nationwide. Its operating units include Detroit Edison, an electric utility serving 2.1 million customers in Southeastern Michigan, MichCon, a natural gas utility serving 1.2 million customers in Michigan and other non-utility, energy businesses focused on gas storage and pipelines, unconventional gas production, power and industrial projects, and energy trading. Information about DTE Energy is available at [ dteenergy.com ], twitter.com/dte_energy and facebook.com/dteenergy.

SOURCE DTE Energy

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DTE Energy Launches Program to Offer Energy Credits to Commercial and Industrial Customers

DTE Energy Launches Program to Offer Energy Credits to Commercial and Industrial Customers