New resource focuses support on state’s small-business owners
LANSING—A partnership among Consumers Energy, DTE Energy and the Small Business Association of Michigan is helping utilities strengthen their relationships with small-business customers across the state, according to a DTE manager. That can include educating businesses about the value of natural gas, Todd Turfe, Business Account manager at DTE Energy, told American Gas.
“It gives small-business owners a one-stop shop to help them understand where they are and make a strategy to get where they want to be,” Turfe said. “It gives them a go-to resource to answer questions on things like energy efficiency investments, rate options or renewable energy opportunities.”
For example, an energy team helped software company owner Sonja Parker review her DTE bills to make sure she was receiving the lowest rate for gas and electricity based on her usage. Now she is replacing her incandescent lighting with LEDs and making sure her HVAC is set up correctly for her floor plan. “These are two things that are currently outside my skill set,” she said.
Cynthia Kay, owner of Cynthia Kay & Co. Media Production in Grand Rapids, said she has added changes to make her operation more energy efficient after consulting with an energy team. “My time with the SBAM Energy Solutions Team was well spent,” she said.
The new SBAM Energy Solutions program was unveiled at SBAM’s annual meeting and small-business expo in Lansing in June. The program will help small-business owners find opportunities to save money they might not have even known were available, according to a news release.
SBAM has more than 25,000 members and can help the utilities craft programs that mesh with members’ needs. As of July, the program had already reached 100 business owners.
“Connecting small-business owners with a go-to energy expert enables them to make informed decisions and have a deeper understanding of the energy landscape,” Turfe said. “One example is being able to educate the businesses on the value of natural gas and the ongoing infrastructure investment to ensure our system of pipelines, compressors and equipment continues to work efficiently and provide businesses energy when they need it.”