The first electric meter wasinstalled as part of DTE Energy's Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) pilot program on Oct. 21, 2008.

AMI is a new technology that will enable Detroit Edison and Michigan Consolidated Gas Co. to "read" meters without meter readers, be notified about power outages without customer input and allow customers to track their energy usage in real time. When the system is fully implemented, customers will receive no more estimated bills and won't have to call Detroit Edison to report power outages.

DTE Energy will begin installation of nearly 10,000 new "smart" meters in Grosse Ile as part of a pilot program to test the new technology. If the Grosse Ile pilot proves successful, another 20,000 meters will be installed in locations yet to be announced. DTE Energy will commence a full $350 million, five year rollout of the program to all of its 2.2 million electric and 1.3 million natural gas customers if the pilot programs yield the desired results. The meters will be installed on a community-by-community basis.