"Controversial decision: DTE introducing card processing fees on March 2nd"

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DTE to implement credit and debit card processing fees beginning March 2nd

Residential and commercial DTE customers who use debit or credit cards to pay their bills, will have a new card processing fee added beginning March 2.

Starting March 2, 2026, DTE Energy is implementing new third-party processing fees for customers who pay their bills using credit or debit cards. These changes were announced in early January 2026 as part of a move to shift transaction costs directly to the customers who use these payment methods.

New Card Payment Fees

The following fees apply per transaction beginning March 2, 2026:

Residential Customers: $2.99 fee.
Commercial Customers: $9.99 fee.

Additional Changes and Deadlines

Payment Limits: New caps on single-transaction amounts will take effect: $2,000 for residential and $5,000 for commercial accounts.
Kiosk Restrictions: Starting January 26, 2026, DTE bill payment kiosks will no longer accept credit or debit cards, though they will continue to accept cash and checks.
Autopay Unenrollment: Customers currently enrolled in autopay with a credit or debit card will be automatically unenrolled on February 27, 2026. To continue using a card, you must re-enroll after March 2 and accept the new fee.
Payment Blackout: Bill payments will be unavailable from February 27 through March 1, 2026, to facilitate the system transition.

How to Avoid the Fees

To avoid these additional charges, you can use the following "fee-free" payment methods:

Electronic Bank Transfer (e-check/ACH): Setting up direct payments from a checking or savings account.
Personal Check or Money Order: Sent by mail.
Cash or Check in Person: At authorized retail locations (such as Kroger, Meijer, or Walmart) or at DTE self-service kiosks.

Other Recent Increases

These fees come alongside broader rate hike requests:

Electric Rate Request: In 2025, DTE filed for a $574 million electric rate increase.
Gas Rate Request: DTE is seeking a $163 million gas rate hike that could increase average residential gas bills by roughly 8% starting in late 2026.