May 22, 2000
Members of the Michigan Retailers Association (MRA) can save on their electric bills by participating in MRA's new Electric Choice Program.
The program, established through DTE Energy Marketing, Inc. in Ann Arbor, offers current Consumers Energy and Detroit Edison customers a guaranteed minimum discount of eight percent on electricity costs.
"For several years, MRA has been looking for a group electrical program that would provide discounts for our members," said James P. Hallan, MRA's president and chief operating officer. "This plan provides a good value for the membership."
DTE Energy estimates that a typical small retailer using 15,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity per month would save about $120 per month, or $1,440 per year, under the Electric Choice Program.
With two percent of Michigan's electricity market open to competition, alternative energy suppliers like DTE Energy are able to present competitive bids for providing power to a limited number of businesses and consumers. The Electric Choice Program is guaranteed to run until December 31, 2001, when full electric industry competition is expected to begin.
To be eligible, MRA members must be located in a municipality where DTE Energy has a franchise to operate as an alternative energy supplier. Franchises have been approved or are pending in the state's 150 largest cities.
Members who wish to participate should contact John VanTilburg, of DTE Energy, at 734.887.2014 or vantilburgj@dteenergy.com.
The Michigan Retailers Association is the unified voice of retailing in Michigan and the nation's largest state trade association of general merchandise retailers. MRA's more than 5,000 retail business members operate more than 12,000 stores across the state.