Home › Guides · Checked Nov 15, 2026
Backup power guides
Short answers to the questions Michigan homeowners ask, with every number linked to its source.
DTE’s meter plug
Other ways to connect
Costs and sizing
During an outage
Two rules that save lives
Never run a generator in a garage, porch or near a window. Keep it 20 feet out, exhaust away.
Never backfeed through a dryer outlet. A ‘double-male’ cord can electrocute a lineman down the street. Your plan uses only safe, legal ways to connect.
Not sure which fits your house? A few taps about your home and what has to stay on. Free, and no email needed to see your plan.
Take the quiz: under 2 minutesLights Back On is not affiliated with DTE Energy. Educational content only; not electrical advice.