Standard&Poor's Ratings Services bases its ratings on DTE Energy Co. on its consolidated credit profile, which includes a "strong" business risk profile and "significant" financial risk profile under our criteria. The outlook is stable. The strong business risk profile assessment reflects DTE's strategy as a mostly monopolistic and lower-risk rate-regulated electric and natural gas distribution business that provides an essential service partially offset by the company's energy trading business. The significantly higher risks inherent within an energy trading business coupled with its lack of long-term predictable and stable cash flows, weakens the consolidated entity's business risk profile. We consider the financial risk profile for DTE significant, reflecting financial measures that are in line with the rating. In addition,
