DETROIT, April 25, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The Michigan Office of Service to the Aging (OSA) has nominated Janice M. Turner, Specialist, Customer Advocacy - Revenue Management & Protection with DTE Energy (NYSE: DTE) as the company's Gatekeeper of the Month.

The DTE Energy Gatekeeper program helps senior citizens get assistance from various community and human service organizations through confidential referrals. For example, at-risk seniors can receive help with transportation, nutrition, home repairs and health agency referrals, among other things.

Turner, a resident of Detroit, helped an elderly wheel-chair bound woman get home nursing care services and other in-home services. After talking with the senior citizen about the fact that she was struggling on a fixed income and was also trying to care for her ill adult son, Turner submitted a Gatekeeper referral that alerted the Detroit Area Agency on Aging.

"The Gatekeeper Program reaffirms to employees and our customers that DTE Energy is made up of employees who care, supporting the messaging in our commercials that we really are committed to the community we serve," Turner said. When asked what she would like other employees to know about the Gatekeeper Program? She answered, "That's simple. It works!"

All Gatekeeper referrals are investigated by the local Area Agency on Aging. Winners of the DTE Energy Gatekeeper of the Month receive a $50 gift card from DTE Energy, and are eligible to be named "Gatekeeper of the Year."

DTE Energy is a Detroit-based diversified energy company involved in the development and management of energy-related businesses and services nationwide. Its operating units include Detroit Edison, an electric utility serving 2.1 million customers in Southeastern Michigan, MichCon, a natural gas utility serving 1.2 million customers in Michigan, and other non-utility, energy businesses focused on gas storage and pipelines, unconventional gas production, power and industrial projects, and energy trading. Information about DTE Energy is available at www.dteenergy.com.

SOURCE DTE Energy