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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.

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Lights Back On is not affiliated with DTE Energy. Educational content only; not electrical advice.