Dive Summary:

• DTE Energy Co. said that the utility is waiting on a decision by the Michigan Public Service Commission before it can charge customers who want to opt out of its new electronic wireless meter program.
• DTE first submitted its opt out plan to regulators in July of 2012; the plan would charge customers an initial $87 fee and then extra monthly charges of $15.
• The commission is expected to make a decision on the opt out program sometime this spring.

From the article:

Under the proposed program, Sitkauskas said, customers would receive letters some 90 days before installation, telling them to contact the DTE call center if they do not wish to have a smart meter installed.

Some 154 people have declined to have the meters installed, out of 1,200 that were not installed for various other reasons, including lack of access to property, Sitkauskas said. The refusals were made by the customers at the time of installation, he said. ...