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                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.1

                                                                  CONFORMED COPY





                     SECURITIZATION PROPERTY SALE AGREEMENT


                                     between


                  THE DETROIT EDISON SECURITIZATION FUNDING LLC
                                     Issuer


                                       and


                           THE DETROIT EDISON COMPANY
                                     Seller



                            Dated as of March 9, 2001


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                                Table of Contents
                                                                            Page
                                                                            ----

                                    ARTICLE I
                                   Definitions

Section 1.01   Definitions.....................................................1
Section 1.02   Other Definitional Provisions...................................1

                                   ARTICLE II
                      Conveyance of Securitization Property

Section 2.01   Conveyance of Initial Securitization Property...................2
Section 2.02   Conditions to Conveyance of Securitization Property.............3

                                   ARTICLE III
                    Representations and Warranties of Seller

Section 3.01   Organization and Good Standing..................................5
Section 3.02   Due Qualification...............................................5
Section 3.03   Power and Authority.............................................5
Section 3.04   Binding Obligation..............................................5
Section 3.05   No Violation....................................................5
Section 3.06   No Proceedings..................................................6
Section 3.07   Approvals.......................................................6
Section 3.08   The Securitization Property.....................................6
Section 3.09   Solvency........................................................8

                                   ARTICLE IV
                             Covenants of the Seller

Section 4.01   Seller's Existence..............................................9
Section 4.02   No Liens or Conveyances.........................................9
Section 4.03   Use of Proceeds.................................................9
Section 4.04   Delivery of Collections.........................................9
Section 4.05   Notice of Liens.................................................9
Section 4.06   Compliance with Law.............................................9
Section 4.07   Covenants Related to Securitization Property...................10
Section 4.08   Protection of Title............................................10
Section 4.09   Taxes..........................................................11
Section 4.10   Alternative Electric Suppliers.................................11
Section 4.11   Filings Pursuant to Financing Order............................12

                                    ARTICLE V
                      Additional Undertakings of the Seller

Section 5.01   Liability of the Seller; Indemnities...........................12


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Section 5.02   Merger or Consolidation of, or Assumption of the Obligations
               of, the Seller.................................................13
Section 5.03   Limitation on Liability of the Seller and Others...............14

                                   ARTICLE VI
                            Miscellaneous Provisions

Section 6.01   Amendment......................................................15
Section 6.02   Notices........................................................15
Section 6.03   Assignment by Seller...........................................16
Section 6.04   Assignment to Trustee..........................................16
Section 6.05   Limitations on Rights of Others................................16
Section 6.06   Severability...................................................16
Section 6.07   Separate Counterparts..........................................16
Section 6.08   Headings.......................................................16
Section 6.09   Governing Law..................................................16
Section 6.10   Nonpetition Covenant...........................................16


EXHIBIT A - Bill of Sale.....................................................A-1
EXHIBIT B - Opinion of Counsel...............................................B-1
EXHIBIT C - Opinion of Counsel...............................................C-1

APPENDIX A - Master Definitions



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                  SECURITIZATION PROPERTY SALE AGREEMENT, dated as of March 9,
2001, by and between THE DETROIT EDISON SECURITIZATION FUNDING LLC, a Michigan
limited liability company, as issuer (the "Issuer"), and THE DETROIT EDISON
COMPANY, a Michigan corporation, as seller hereunder (in such capacity, the
"Seller").

                              W I T N E S S E T H:

                  WHEREAS the Issuer desires to purchase from time to time
Securitization Property created pursuant to the Statute and the Financing Order;

                  WHEREAS the Seller is willing to sell Securitization Property
to the Issuer;

                  WHEREAS the Issuer, in order to finance the purchase of the
Securitization Property, will from time to time issue Securitization Bonds under
the Indenture; and

                  WHEREAS the Issuer, to secure its obligations under the
Securitization Bonds and the Indenture, will pledge its right, title and
interest and grant a security interest in, to and under the Securitization
Property to the Trustee for the benefit of the Securitization Bondholders.

                  NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the
mutual covenants herein contained and other good and valuable consideration, the
receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, and intending to be
legally bound hereby, the parties hereto agree as follows:

                                   ARTICLE I

                                   Definitions

                  SECTION 1.01 DEFINITIONS. Capitalized terms used herein and
not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in Appendix A
hereto.

                  SECTION 1.02 OTHER DEFINITIONAL PROVISIONS.

                  (a) "Agreement" means this Securitization Property Sale
Agreement, as the same may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from
time to time.

                  (b) Non-capitalized terms used herein which are defined in the
Statute, as the context requires, have the meanings assigned to such terms in
the Statute, but without giving effect to amendments to the Statute after the
date hereof which have a material adverse effect on the Issuer or the
Securitization Bondholders.

                  (c) All terms defined in this Agreement have the defined
meanings when used in any certificate or other document made or delivered
pursuant hereto unless otherwise defined therein.

                  (d) The words "hereof", "herein", "hereunder" and words of
similar import when used in this Agreement refer to this Agreement as a whole
and not to any particular provision of this Agreement; Section, Schedule and
Exhibit references contained in this



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Agreement are references to Sections, Schedules and Exhibits in or to this
Agreement unless otherwise specified; and the term "including" means "including
without limitation".

                  (e) The definitions contained in this Agreement are applicable
to the singular as well as the plural forms of such terms.

                                   ARTICLE II

                      CONVEYANCE OF SECURITIZATION PROPERTY

                  SECTION 2.01 CONVEYANCE OF INITIAL SECURITIZATION PROPERTY.

                  (a) In consideration of the Issuer's payment to or upon the
order of the Seller of $1,740,713,272.93 (the "Initial Purchase Price") by wire
transfer of funds immediately available on the date hereof, subject to the
conditions specified in Section 2.02, the Seller does hereby irrevocably sell,
transfer, assign and otherwise convey to the Issuer, without recourse (subject
to the obligations of the Seller herein), all right, title and interest of the
Seller in, to and under the Initial Securitization Property identified in the
Bill of Sale delivered pursuant to Section 2.02(a) on or prior to the Initial
Transfer Date (such sale, transfer, assignment and conveyance of the Initial
Securitization Property to include, to the fullest extent permitted by the
Statute and the Michigan UCC, the assignment of all revenues, collections,
claims, rights, payments, money or proceeds of or arising from the SB Charges
related to the Initial Securitization Property, as the same may be adjusted from
time to time). Such sale, transfer, assignment and conveyance of the Initial
Securitization Property is hereby expressly stated to be a sale or other
absolute transfer and, pursuant to Section 10l of the Statute and the Financing
Order, shall constitute a true sale of all of the Seller's right, title and
interest, in, to and under, and not a borrowing secured by, the Initial
Securitization Property. The preceding sentence is the statement referred to in
Section 10l of the Statute. The Seller agrees and confirms that upon payment of
the Initial Purchase Price and the execution and delivery of this Agreement and
the related Bill of Sale, the Seller shall have no right, title or interest in,
to or under the Initial Securitization Property.

                  (b) Subject to the conditions specified in Section 2.02, the
Issuer does hereby purchase the Initial Securitization Property from the Seller
for the consideration set forth in paragraph (a) above.

                  (c) The Seller and the Issuer each acknowledge and agree that
the purchase price for the Initial Securitization Property sold pursuant to this
Agreement is equal to its fair market value at the time of sale.

                  (d) The Seller and the Issuer further agree that from time to
time the Seller may offer to sell, and the Issuer may purchase, Subsequent
Securitization Property as of Subsequent Transfer Dates, subject to the
conditions specified in Section 2.02, in exchange for consideration to be agreed
upon (in each case, the "Subsequent Purchase Price"). The Seller and the Issuer
hereby agree that each such sale, transfer, assignment and conveyance of any
Subsequent Securitization Property shall include, to the fullest extent
permitted by the Statute and the Michigan UCC, the assignment of all revenues,
collections, claims, rights, payments,



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money or proceeds of or arising from the SB Charges related to the Subsequent
Securitization Property, as the same may be adjusted from time to time. Such
sale, transfer, assignment and conveyance of the Subsequent Securitization
Property is hereby expressly stated to be a sale or other absolute transfer and,
pursuant to Section 10l of the Statute and the Financing Order, shall constitute
a true sale of all of the Seller's right, title and interest, in, to and under,
and not a borrowing secured by, the Subsequent Securitization Property. The
preceding sentence is the statement referred to in Section 10l of the Statute.
The Seller agrees and confirms that after giving effect to any sale contemplated
by this paragraph (d) and the execution and delivery of the related Bill of
Sale, it shall have no right, title or interest in, to or under the Subsequent
Securitization Property.

                  (e)      Notwithstanding the foregoing, if but only if,
contrary to the agreement and intent of the parties and the Financing Order, any
sale, transfer, assignment and conveyance of any Securitization Property is
determined by a court not to be a true sale as contemplated by the parties
hereto and by the Statute, then

                           (i)  (A) the Seller hereby appoints the Issuer as the
         agent of the Seller ("Seller's Agent") for purposes of this clause
         (e)(i), (B) the Issuer shall be deemed to have issued and sold the
         Securitization Bonds for and on behalf of the Seller as Seller's Agent
         pursuant to the Statute, the Financing Order, the Indenture and the
         Underwriting Agreement, and (C) the Issuer shall be deemed to have
         granted and does hereby grant, as of the date hereof, for and on behalf
         of the Seller as Seller's Agent, a valid and enforceable lien and
         security interest in the Securitization Property to the Trustee for the
         benefit of the Securitization Bondholders, pursuant to the Statute, the
         Financing Order and the Indenture in connection with the issuance of
         the Securitization Bonds; provided, however, that if a court of
         competent jurisdiction determines that the provision in this clause
         (e)(i) does not create a valid and enforceable lien then,

                           (ii) such sale, transfer, assignment and conveyance
         shall be treated as a pledge of such Securitization Property and the
         Seller shall be deemed to have granted, and does hereby grant, as of
         the date hereof a security interest to the Issuer in such
         Securitization Property to secure a payment obligation incurred by the
         Seller in the amount paid by the Issuer for the Securitization
         Property.

                  SECTION 2.02 CONDITIONS TO CONVEYANCE OF SECURITIZATION
PROPERTY. The obligation of the Seller to sell, and the obligation of the
Issuer, to purchase Securitization Property upon any Transfer Date shall be
subject to and conditioned upon the satisfaction or waiver of each of the
following conditions:

                  (a)      on or prior to the Transfer Date, the Seller shall
deliver to the Issuer a duly executed Bill of Sale identifying the
Securitization Property to be conveyed as of that date, substantially in the
form of Exhibit A hereto;

                  (b)      as of the Transfer Date, no breach by the Seller of
its representations, warranties or covenants in this Agreement shall exist and
the Seller shall have delivered to the Issuer and the Trustee an Officer's
Certificate to such effect and no Servicer Default shall have occurred and be
continuing;


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                  (c)      as of the Transfer Date:

                           (i)  the Issuer shall have sufficient funds available
         to pay the purchase price for the Securitization Property to be
         conveyed on such date, and

                           (ii) all conditions set forth in the Indenture to the
         issuance of one or more Series of Securitization Bonds intended to
         provide such funds shall have been satisfied or waived;

                  (d)      on or prior to the Transfer Date, the Seller shall
have taken all actions required under the Statute, the Financing Order and the
Michigan UCC, including, without limitation, filings under the Michigan UCC to
transfer to the Issuer ownership of the Securitization Property to be conveyed
on such date, free and clear of all Liens other than Liens created by the Issuer
pursuant to the Indenture, and the Issuer shall have taken any action required
for the Issuer to grant to the Trustee a first priority perfected security
interest in the Collateral and maintain such security interest as of such date;

                  (e)      in the case of any sale of Subsequent Securitization
Property only, the Seller shall have provided the Issuer and each Rating Agency
with a notice specifying the Subsequent Transfer Date for the Subsequent
Securitization Property not later than 10 days prior to the Subsequent Transfer
Date;

                  (f)      the Seller shall have delivered to each Rating Agency
and to the Issuer:

                           (i)  an Opinion of Counsel to the Seller with respect
         to the transfer of the Securitization Property then being conveyed to
         the Issuer substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto, and

                           (ii) an Opinion of Counsel to the Seller,
         substantially in the form of Exhibit C hereto;

                  (g)      the Seller shall have delivered to the Trustee and
the Issuer an Officer's Certificate confirming the satisfaction of each
condition precedent specified in this Section 2.02;

                  (h)      with respect to any Subsequent Sale, the Seller shall
have obtained written notice from each Rating Agency that such action will not
result in a reduction or withdrawal of the then current rating by such Rating
Agency of any Outstanding Series or Class of Securitization Bonds; and

                  (i)      the Seller shall have received the Initial Purchase
Price or the Subsequent Purchase Price, as applicable, in funds immediately
available on the applicable Transfer Date.

                                  ARTICLE III

                    REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF SELLER

                  As of the Transfer Date, the Seller makes the following
representations and warranties on which the Issuer has relied and will rely in
acquiring Securitization Property. The


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following representations and warranties are made under existing law as in
effect as of the Transfer Date. The Seller shall not be in breach of any
representation or warranty herein as a result of a change in law occurring after
the Transfer Date. The representations and warranties shall survive the sale of
Securitization Property to the Issuer and the pledge thereof to the Trustee
pursuant to the Indenture.

                  SECTION 3.01 ORGANIZATION AND GOOD STANDING. The Seller is a
corporation duly organized and in good standing under the laws of the State of
Michigan, with corporate power and authority to own its properties and conduct
its business as currently owned or conducted.

                  SECTION 3.02 DUE QUALIFICATION. The Seller is duly qualified
to do business as a foreign corporation in good standing, and has obtained all
necessary licenses and approvals, in all jurisdictions, other than Michigan, in
which the ownership or lease of property or the conduct of its business requires
such qualifications, licenses or approvals (except where the failure to so
qualify and to obtain such licenses and approvals would not be reasonably likely
to have a material adverse effect on the Seller's business, operations, assets,
revenues, properties or prospects).

                  SECTION 3.03 POWER AND AUTHORITY. The Seller has the corporate
power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to carry out its
terms; the Seller has full corporate power and authority to own the
Securitization Property and sell and assign the Securitization Property to the
Issuer, and the Seller has duly authorized such sale and assignment to the
Issuer by all necessary corporate action; and the execution, delivery and
performance of this Agreement has been duly authorized by the Seller by all
necessary corporate action.

                  SECTION 3.04 BINDING OBLIGATION. This Agreement constitutes a
legal, valid and binding obligation of the Seller enforceable against the Seller
in accordance with its terms subject to bankruptcy, receivership, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium or other laws affecting creditors' rights generally
from time to time in effect and to general principles of equity (regardless of
whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).

                  SECTION 3.05 NO VIOLATION. The consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the fulfillment of the terms
hereof do not conflict with, result in any breach of any of the terms and
provisions of, or constitute (with or without notice or lapse of time) a default
under, the Mortgage and Deed of Trust, dated October 1, 1924 (as amended and
supplemented), of The Detroit Edison Company to First Chicago Trust Company of
New York, as successor trustee (the "Mortgage and Deed of Trust"), the articles
of incorporation or by-laws of the Seller, or any indenture, agreement or other
instrument to which the Seller is a party or by which it is bound; nor result in
the creation or imposition of any Lien upon any of its properties pursuant to
the terms of any such indenture, agreement or other instrument (except as
contemplated in the Indenture and as set forth in Section 2.01(e) hereof); nor
violate any law or any order, rule or regulation applicable to the Seller of any
court or of any federal or state regulatory body, administrative agency or other
governmental instrumentality having jurisdiction over the Seller or its
properties. The Securitization Property is not subject to any Lien thereon,
including under the Mortgage and Deed of Trust, other than the Liens created
pursuant to the Indenture and the Statute.


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                  SECTION 3.06 NO PROCEEDINGS. Except as disclosed in writing by
the Seller to the Issuer, there are no proceedings or investigations pending or,
to the Seller's best knowledge, threatened, before any court, federal or state
regulatory body, administrative agency or other governmental instrumentality
having jurisdiction over the Seller or its properties:

                  (a) asserting the invalidity of any of the Basic Documents,
the Securitization Bonds, the Statute or the Financing Order;

                  (b) seeking to prevent the issuance of the Securitization
Bonds or the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by the Basic
Documents or the Securitization Bonds;

                  (c) challenging the Seller's treatment of the Securitization
Bonds as debt of the Seller for federal and state tax purposes; or

                  (d) seeking any determination or ruling that could reasonably
be expected to materially and adversely affect the performance by the Seller of
its obligations under, or the validity or enforceability of, the Basic Documents
or the Securitization Bonds.

                  SECTION 3.07 APPROVALS. Except for the filing of financing
statements and continuation statements under the Michigan UCC, no approval,
authorization, consent, order or other action of, or filing with, any court,
federal or state regulatory body, administrative agency or other governmental
instrumentality is required in connection with the execution and delivery by the
Seller of this Agreement, the performance by the Seller of the transactions
contemplated hereby or the fulfillment by the Seller of the terms hereof, except
those that have been obtained or made and those that the Seller, in its capacity
as Servicer under the Servicing Agreement, is required to make in the future
pursuant to the Servicing Agreement and post closing filings required in
connection therewith.

                  SECTION 3.08 THE SECURITIZATION PROPERTY.

                  (a) Information. All information provided by the Seller to the
Issuer with respect to the Securitization Property is correct in all material
respects.

                  (b) Effect of Transfer. Each sale, transfer, assignment and
conveyance herein contemplated constitutes a sale or other absolute transfer, of
all right, title and interest of the Seller in, to and under the Securitization
Property from the Seller to the Issuer; upon execution and delivery of this
Agreement and the related Bill of Sale, the Seller will have no right, title or
interest in, to or under the Securitization Property; and the Securitization
Property would not be part of the estate of the Seller as debtor in the event of
the filing of a bankruptcy petition by or against the Seller under any
bankruptcy law.

                  (c) Transfer Filings. The Seller is the sole owner of the
Securitization Property sold to the Issuer on the Transfer Date; and the
Securitization Property will have been validly sold, assigned, transferred and
conveyed to the Issuer free and clear of all Liens other than Liens created by
the Issuer pursuant to the Indenture. All actions or filings, including filings
with the Michigan Secretary of State under the Michigan UCC, necessary in any
jurisdiction to give the Issuer a valid first priority perfected ownership
interest in the


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Securitization Property and to grant to the Trustee a first priority perfected
security interest in the Securitization Property, free and clear of all Liens of
the Seller or anyone else have been taken or made.

                  (d)      Financing Order Irrevocable; Process Valid; No
Litigation; etc.

                           (i)   The Financing Order has been issued by the MPSC
         in accordance with the Statute, and such order and the process by which
         it was issued comply with all applicable laws, rules and regulations.
         The Financing Order has become effective pursuant to the Statute and
         is, and as of the date of issuance of any Securitization Bonds will be,
         in full force and effect and final and non-appealable.

                           (ii)  As of the Series Issuance Date, the
         Securitization Bonds of the related Series will be entitled to the
         protections provided by the Statute and, in accordance with the
         Statute, the Financing Order and the SB Charge authorized therein,
         subject to the Periodic Adjustments to the SB Charge provided for in
         the Financing Order, have become irrevocable.

                           (iii) (A) Under the Statute, the State of Michigan
         may not take or permit any action that would impair the value of
         Securitization Property, reduce or alter, except for Periodic
         Adjustments, or impair the SB Charges to be imposed, collected, and
         remitted to the Issuer, until the principal, interest and premium, and
         any other charges incurred and contracts to be performed in connection
         with the Securitization Bonds have been paid and performed in full
         (subject to the 15 year limitation upon the imposition of SB Charges
         pursuant to the Statute and the Financing Order); and

                                 (B) under the contract clauses of the State of
                  Michigan and the United States constitutions, the State of
                  Michigan, including the MPSC, could not take any action that
                  substantially impairs the rights of the Securitization
                  Bondholders unless such action is a reasonable exercise of the
                  State of Michigan's sovereign powers and of a character
                  reasonable and appropriate to further a legitimate public
                  purpose, and, under the takings clauses of the State of
                  Michigan and the United States constitutions, the State of
                  Michigan could not repeal or amend the Statute or take any
                  other action in contravention of its pledge in Section 10n(2)
                  of the Statute if such action constitutes a permanent
                  appropriation of the property interest of Securitization
                  Bondholders in the Securitization Property and deprives the
                  Securitization Bondholders of their reasonable expectations
                  arising from their investments in Securitization Bonds, unless
                  just compensation, as determined by a court of competent
                  jurisdiction, is provided to Securitization Bondholders.

                           (iv)  There is no order by any court providing for
         the revocation, alteration, limitation or other impairment of the
         Statute, the Financing Order, the Securitization Property or the SB
         Charge, or any rights arising under any of them, or that seeks to
         enjoin the performance of any obligations under the Financing Order
         which in any way is adverse to the position of the Securitization
         Bondholders.


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                           (v)   No other approval, authorization, consent,
         order or other action of, or filing with, any court, federal or state
         regulatory body, administrative agency or other governmental
         instrumentality is required in connection with the creation or transfer
         of the Securitization Property, except those that have been obtained or
         made and those that the Seller, in its capacity as Servicer under the
         Servicing Agreement, is required to make in the future pursuant to the
         Servicing Agreement and post closing filings required in connection
         therewith.

                           (vi)  Except as disclosed in current reports of the
         Seller filed with the Commission, (a) there are no proceedings or
         investigations pending, or to the best of the Seller's knowledge,
         threatened before any court, federal or state regulatory body,
         administrative agency or other governmental instrumentality having
         jurisdiction over the Seller or the Issuer or their respective
         properties challenging the Statute or the Financing Order and (b) there
         is no voter referendum or initiative that has been filed with the
         Michigan Secretary of State or that, to the best of the Seller's
         knowledge, is being circulated among voters which attempts to amend,
         repeal or revoke the Statute in a manner that would impair the security
         of the Securitization Bondholders.

                  (e)      Assumptions. The assumptions used in calculating the
initial SB Charge pursuant to the Financing Order are reasonable and made in
good faith.

                  (f)      Creation of Securitization Property.

                           (i)   For purposes of the Statute and the Michigan
         UCC, the Securitization Property constitutes a present property right;

                           (ii)  the Securitization Property consists of (A) the
         irrevocable right of the Seller to impose, collect and receive SB
         Charges in the amount necessary to provide for full recovery of
         principal of and interest on the Securitization Bonds, together with
         Ongoing Other Qualified Costs; (B) the right under the Financing Order
         to obtain Periodic Adjustments of the SB Charges; and (C) all revenues,
         collections, payments, money and proceeds arising out of the rights and
         interests described in (A) and (B); and

                           (iii) the Financing Order, including the right to
         collect the SB Charge, has become irrevocable and not subject to
         reduction, impairment or adjustment by further action of the MPSC,
         except for Periodic Adjustments.

                  (g)      Prospectus. As of the date hereof, the information
describing the Seller under the caption "The Seller and Servicer of the
Securitization Property" in the prospectus dated March 2, 2001 relating to the
Securitization Bonds is correct in all material respects.

                  SECTION 3.09 SOLVENCY. After giving effect to the sale of any
Securitization Property hereunder, the Seller:

                  (a)      is solvent and expects to remain solvent;

                  (b)      is adequately capitalized to conduct its business and
affairs considering its size and the nature of its business and intended
purposes;


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                  (c) is not engaged and does not expect to engage in a business
for which its remaining property represents an unreasonably small portion of its
capital;

                  (d) reasonably believes that it will be able to pay its debts
as they become due; and

                  (e) is able to pay its debts as they mature and does not
intend to incur, or believes that it will incur, indebtedness that it will not
be able to repay at its maturity.

                                   ARTICLE IV

                             COVENANTS OF THE SELLER

                  SECTION 4.01 SELLER'S EXISTENCE. So long as any of the
Securitization Bonds are outstanding, the Seller shall keep in full force and
effect its existence as a corporation and remain in good standing under the laws
of the jurisdiction of its organization, and shall obtain and preserve its
qualification to do business in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is
or will be necessary to protect the validity and enforceability of this
Agreement and each other instrument or agreement to which the Seller is a party
necessary to the proper administration of this Agreement and the transactions
contemplated hereby.

                  SECTION 4.02 NO LIENS OR CONVEYANCES. Except for the
conveyances hereunder, the Seller shall not sell, pledge, assign or transfer to
any other Person, or grant, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien
on, any of the Securitization Property, whether now existing or hereafter
created, or any interest therein. The Seller shall not at any time assert any
Lien against or with respect to any Securitization Property, and shall defend
the right, title and interest of the Issuer and the Trustee, as assignee of the
Issuer, in, to and under the Securitization Property, whether now existing or
hereafter created, against all claims of third parties claiming through or under
the Seller.

                  SECTION 4.03 USE OF PROCEEDS. The Seller shall use proceeds
from the sale of the Securitization Property in accordance with the Financing
Order.

                  SECTION 4.04 DELIVERY OF COLLECTIONS. If the Seller receives
collections of the SB Charge with respect to the Securitization Property or the
proceeds thereof, the Seller shall pay the Servicer all payments received by the
Seller in respect thereof as soon as practicable after receipt thereof by the
Seller, but in no event later than two Business Days after such receipt.

                  SECTION 4.05 NOTICE OF LIENS. The Seller shall notify the
Issuer and the Trustee promptly after becoming aware of any Lien on any
Securitization Property other than the conveyances hereunder or under the
Indenture.

                  SECTION 4.06 COMPLIANCE WITH LAW. The Seller shall comply with
its organizational or governing documents and all laws, treaties, rules,
regulations and determinations of any governmental instrumentality applicable to
the Seller, except to the extent that failure to so comply would not adversely
affect the Issuer's or the Trustee's interests in the Securitization Property or
under any of the Basic Documents or the Seller's performance of its obligations
hereunder.


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                  SECTION 4.07 COVENANTS RELATED TO SECURITIZATION PROPERTY. So
long as any of the Securitization Bonds are outstanding, the Seller shall:

                           (i)   treat the Securitization Bonds as debt of the
         Issuer and not the Seller, except for financial accounting or tax
         reporting purposes;

                           (ii)  disclose in its financial statements that it is
         not the owner of the Securitization Property and that the assets of the
         Issuer are not available to pay creditors of the Seller or any of its
         Affiliates (other than the Issuer);

                           (iii) disclose the effects of all transactions
         between the Seller and the Issuer in accordance with generally accepted
         accounting principles; and

                           (iv)  not own or purchase any Securitization Bonds.

                  (b)      The Seller agrees that upon the sale by the Seller of
the Securitization Property to the Issuer pursuant to this Agreement:

                           (i)   to the fullest extent permitted by law,
         including the Statute and applicable MPSC Regulations, the Issuer shall
         have all of the rights originally held by the Seller with respect to
         the Securitization Property, including the right to collect any amounts
         payable by any Customer in respect of such Securitization Property,
         notwithstanding any objection or direction to the contrary by the
         Seller; and

                           (ii)  any payment by any Customer to the Issuer shall
         discharge such Customer's obligations in respect of such Securitization
         Property to the extent of such payment, notwithstanding any objection
         or direction to the contrary by the Seller.

                  (c)      So long as any of the Securitization Bonds are
Outstanding,

                           (i)   in all proceedings relating directly or
         indirectly to the Securitization Property the Seller shall: (A)
         affirmatively certify and confirm that it has sold the Securitization
         Property to the Issuer (other than for financial accounting or tax
         reporting purposes), and (B) not make any statement or reference in
         respect of the Securitization Property that is inconsistent with the
         ownership thereof by the Issuer (other than as required for financial
         accounting or tax reporting purposes); and

                           (ii)  the Seller shall not take any action in respect
         of the Securitization Property except as contemplated by the Basic
         Documents.

                           (iii) the Seller shall not sell Securitization
         Property under a separate financing order in connection with the
         issuance of additional securitization bonds unless it shall have
         obtained written notice from each Rating Agency that such action will
         not result in a reduction or withdrawal of the then current rating by
         such Rating Agency of any Outstanding Series or Class of Securitization
         Bonds.

                  SECTION 4.08 PROTECTION OF TITLE. The Seller shall execute and
file such filings, and cause to be executed and filed such filings, and take all
such actions, all in such


                                       10
<PAGE>   14

manner and in such places as may be required by law fully to preserve, maintain,
and protect the interests of the Issuer and the Trustee in the Securitization
Property, including all filings required under the Michigan UCC relating to the
transfer of the ownership of the Securitization Property by the Seller to the
Issuer and the pledge of the Securitization Property by the Issuer to the
Trustee. The Seller shall deliver (or cause to be delivered) to the Issuer and
the Trustee file-stamped copies of, or filing receipts for, any document filed
as provided above, as soon as available following such filing. The Seller shall
institute any action or proceeding necessary to compel the performance by the
MPSC or the State of Michigan of any of their obligations or duties under the
Statute or the Financing Order, and the Seller agrees to take such legal or
administrative actions, including defending against or instituting and pursuing
legal actions and appearing or testifying at hearings or similar proceedings, as
may be reasonably necessary:

         (a)      to protect the Issuer and the Securitization Bondholders from
                  claims, state actions or other actions or proceedings of third
                  parties which, if successfully pursued, would result in a
                  breach of any representation set forth in Article III; or

         (b)      to block or overturn any attempts to cause a repeal of,
                  modification of or supplement to the Statute, the Financing
                  Order, or the rights of Securitization Bondholders by
                  legislative enactment or constitutional amendment that would
                  be adverse to the Issuer, the Trustee or the Securitization
                  Bondholders.

The costs of any such actions or proceedings shall be reimbursed by the Issuer
to the Seller from amounts on deposit in the Collection Account as an Operating
Expense. The Seller's obligations pursuant to this Section 4.08 shall survive
and continue notwithstanding that the payment of Operating Expenses pursuant to
the Indenture may be delayed (it being understood and agreed that the Seller may
be required to temporarily advance its own funds to satisfy its obligations
hereunder). The Seller designates the Issuer as its agent and attorney-in-fact
to execute any filings of financing statements, continuation statements or other
instruments required of the Issuer pursuant to this Section, it being understood
that the Issuer shall have no obligation to execute any such instruments.

                  SECTION 4.09 TAXES. So long as any of the Securitization Bonds
are outstanding, the Seller shall, and shall cause each of its subsidiaries to,
pay all material taxes, assessments and governmental charges imposed upon it or
any of its properties or assets or with respect to any of its franchises,
business, income or property before any penalty accrues thereon if the failure
to pay any such taxes, assessments and governmental charges would, after any
applicable grace periods, notices or other similar requirements, result in a
Lien on the Securitization Property; provided that no such tax need be paid if
the Seller or one of its Affiliates is contesting the same in good faith by
appropriate proceedings promptly instituted and diligently conducted and if the
Seller or such Affiliate has established appropriate reserves as shall be
required in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.

                  SECTION 4.10 ALTERNATIVE ELECTRIC SUPPLIERS. So long as any of
the Securitization Bonds are outstanding, the Seller shall not permit any AES to
bill or collect SB Charges on behalf of the Issuer unless required by applicable
law or regulation and, to the extent permitted by applicable law or regulation,
the Rating Agency Condition is satisfied.


                                       11
<PAGE>   15

                  SECTION 4.11 FILINGS PURSUANT TO FINANCING ORDER. The Seller
shall comply with all filing requirements, including any making post closing
filings, in accordance with the Financing Order.


                                   ARTICLE V

                      ADDITIONAL UNDERTAKINGS OF THE SELLER

                  The Seller hereby undertakes the obligations contained in this
Article V and agrees that the Issuer shall have the right to assign its rights
with respect to such obligations to the Trustee for the benefit of the
Securitization Bondholders.

                  SECTION 5.01 LIABILITY OF THE SELLER; INDEMNITIES.

                  (a) The Seller shall be liable in accordance herewith only to
the extent of the obligations specifically undertaken by the Seller under this
Agreement.

                  (b) The Seller shall indemnify the Issuer and the Trustee, for
itself and on behalf of the Securitization Bondholders, and each of the Issuer's
and the Trustee's respective officers, directors, managers, employees and agents
for, and defend and hold harmless each such Person from and against, any and all
taxes (other than any taxes imposed on Securitization Bondholders solely as a
result of their ownership of Securitization Bonds) that may at any time be
imposed on or asserted against any such Person under existing law as of any
Transfer Date as a result of the sale and assignment of the Securitization
Property by the Seller to the Issuer, the acquisition or holding of the
Securitization Property by the Issuer or the issuance and sale by the Issuer of
the Securitization Bonds, including any sales, gross receipts, general
corporation, single business, personal property, privilege, franchise or license
taxes, but excluding any taxes imposed as a result of a failure of such person
to properly withhold or remit taxes imposed with respect to payments on any
Securitization Bond, it being understood that the Securitization Bondholders
shall be entitled to enforce their rights against the Seller under this Section
5.01(b) solely through a cause of action brought for their benefit by the
Trustee.

                  (c) The Seller shall indemnify the Issuer and the Trustee, for
itself and on behalf of the Securitization Bondholders, and each of the Issuer's
and the Trustee's respective officers, directors, managers, employees and agents
for, and defend and hold harmless each such Person from and against, (i) any and
all amounts of principal of and interest on the Securitization Bonds not paid
when due or when scheduled to be paid in accordance with their terms and the
amount of any deposits to the Issuer required to have been made in accordance
with the terms of the Basic Documents which are not made when so required, in
each case as a result of the Seller's breach of any of its representations,
warranties or covenants contained in this Agreement, and (ii) any and all
liabilities, obligations, claims, actions, suits or payments of any kind
whatsoever that may be imposed on or asserted against any such Person, other
than any liabilities, obligations or claims for or payments of principal of or
interest on the Securitization Bonds, together with any reasonable costs and
expenses incurred by such Person, as a result of the Seller's breach of any of
its representations, warranties or covenants contained in this Agreement.


                                       12
<PAGE>   16

                  (d) The Seller shall pay any and all taxes levied or assessed
upon all or any part of the Issuer's property or assets based on existing law as
of the Transfer Date.

                  (e) Notwithstanding Section 5.01(b) and (c) above, the Seller
shall not be liable for any consequential damages, including any loss of market
value of the Securitization Bonds, resulting from any downgrade of the ratings
of the Securitization Bonds.

                  (f) Indemnification under this Section 5.01 shall survive the
resignation or removal of the Trustee and the termination of this Agreement and
shall include reasonable fees and expenses of investigation and litigation
(including reasonable attorneys' fees and expenses). The Seller shall not
indemnify any party under this Section 5.01 for any changes in law after the
Transfer Date.

                  (g) The indemnification obligation of the Seller under this
Section 5.01 shall be pari passu with all other general unsecured obligations of
the Seller.

                  SECTION 5.02 MERGER OR CONSOLIDATION OF, OR ASSUMPTION OF THE
OBLIGATIONS OF, THE SELLER. Any Person:

         (a)      into which the Seller may be merged or consolidated and which
succeeds to all or the major part of the electric distribution business of the
Seller,

         (b)      which results from the division of the Seller into two or more
Persons and which succeeds to all or the major part of the electric distribution
business of the Seller,

         (c)      which may result from any merger or consolidation to which the
Seller shall be a party and which succeeds to all or the major part of the
electric distribution business of the Seller,

         (d)      which may succeed to the properties and assets of the Seller
substantially as a whole and which succeeds to all or the major part of the
electric distribution business of the Seller, or

         (e)      which may otherwise succeed to all or the major part of the
electric distribution business of the Seller,

which Person in any of the foregoing cases executes an agreement of assumption
to perform every obligation of the Seller under this Agreement, shall be the
successor to the Seller hereunder without the execution or filing of any
document or any further act by any of the parties to this Agreement; provided,
however, that

         (i)      immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no
                  representation or warranty made pursuant to Article III shall
                  have been breached and no Servicer Default, and no event that,
                  after notice or lapse of time, or both, would become a
                  Servicer Default, shall have occurred and be continuing,

         (ii)     the Seller shall have delivered to the Issuer and the Trustee
                  an Officer's Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel each
                  stating that such consolidation,


                                       13
<PAGE>   17


                  merger or succession and such agreement of assumption comply
                  with this Section 5.02 and that all conditions precedent, if
                  any, provided for in this Agreement relating to such
                  transaction have been complied with,

         (iii)    the Seller shall have delivered to the Issuer and the Trustee
                  an Opinion of Counsel either

                           (A) stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all
                  filings to be made by the Seller, including Michigan UCC
                  filings, that are necessary fully to preserve and protect
                  fully the respective interests of the Issuer and the Trustee
                  in the Securitization Property have been executed and filed,
                  and reciting the details of such filings, or

                           (B) stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, no
                  such action is necessary to preserve and protect such
                  interests,

         (iv)     the Rating Agencies shall have received prior written notice
                  of such transaction; and

         (v)      the Seller shall have delivered to the Issuer and the Trustee
                  an opinion of independent tax counsel (as selected by, and in
                  form and substance reasonably satisfactory to, the Seller, and
                  which may be based on a ruling from the Internal Revenue
                  Service) to the effect that, for federal income tax purposes,
                  such consolidation or merger will not result in a material
                  adverse federal income tax consequence to the Seller, the
                  Issuer, the Trustee or the holders of the Outstanding
                  Securitization Bonds.

The Seller shall not consummate any transaction referred to in clauses (a), (b),
(c), (d) or (e) above except upon execution of the above described agreement of
assumption and compliance with clauses (i), (ii), (iii), (iv) and (v) above.
When any Person acquires the properties and assets of the Seller substantially
as a whole and becomes the successor to the Seller in accordance with the terms
of this Section 5.02, then upon the satisfaction of all of the other conditions
of this Section 5.02, the Seller shall automatically and without further notice
be released from its obligations hereunder.

                  SECTION 5.03 LIMITATION ON LIABILITY OF THE SELLER AND OTHERS.
The Seller and any director, officer, employee or agent of the Seller may rely
in good faith on the advice of counsel or on any document of any kind, prima
facie properly executed and submitted by any Person, respecting any matters
arising hereunder. Subject to Section 4.08, the Seller shall not be under any
obligation to appear in, prosecute or defend any legal action that is not
incidental to its obligations under this Agreement, and that in its opinion may
involve it in any expense or liability.



                                       14
<PAGE>   18

                                   ARTICLE VI

                            MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

                  SECTION 6.01 AMENDMENT.

                  (a) This Agreement may be amended by the Seller and the
Issuer, with the consent of the Trustee and the satisfaction of the Rating
Agency Condition. Promptly after the execution of any such amendment or consent,
the Issuer shall furnish written notification of the substance of such amendment
or consent to each of the Rating Agencies.

                  (b) Prior to the execution of any amendment to this Agreement,
the Issuer and the Trustee shall be entitled to receive and rely upon an Opinion
of Counsel stating that the execution of such amendment is authorized or
permitted by this Agreement. The Issuer and the Trustee may, but shall not be
obligated to, enter into any such amendment which affects their own rights,
duties or immunities under this Agreement or otherwise.

                  SECTION 6.02 NOTICES. Unless otherwise specifically provided
herein, all notices, directions, consents and waivers required under the terms
and provisions of this Agreement shall be in English and in writing, and any
such notice, direction, consent or waiver may be given by United States
first-class mail, reputable overnight courier service, facsimile transmission or
electronic mail (confirmed by telephone, United States first-class mail or
reputable overnight courier service in the case of notice by facsimile
transmission or electronic mail) or any other customary means of communication,
and any such notice, direction, consent or waiver shall be effective when
delivered or transmitted, or if mailed, five days after deposit in the United
States first-class mail with proper postage for first-class mail prepaid:

                  (a) in the case of the Seller, at The Detroit Edison Company,
2000 2nd Avenue, Detroit, Michigan 48226-1279, Attention: Corporate Secretary,

                  (b) in the case of the Issuer, at The Detroit Edison
Securitization Funding LLC, 2000 2nd Avenue, 937 WCB, Detroit, Michigan
48226-1279, Attention: Secretary,

                  (c) in the case of Moody's, at Moody's Investors Service,
Inc., ABS Monitoring Department, 99 Church Street, New York, New York 10007,

                  (d) in the case of Standard & Poor's, at Standard & Poor's
Ratings Services, 55 Water Street, New York, New York 10041, Attention: Asset
Backed Surveillance Department,

                  (e) in the case of Fitch, at Fitch, Inc., 1 State Street
Plaza, New York, New York 10004, Attention: ABS Surveillance, and

                  (f) in the case of the Trustee, at the address provided for
notices or communications to the Trustee in the Indenture;

or, as to each of the foregoing, at such other address as shall be designated by
written notice to the other parties.


                                       15
<PAGE>   19

                  SECTION 6.03 ASSIGNMENT BY SELLER. Subject to Section 5.02,
this Agreement may not be assigned by the Seller.

                  SECTION 6.04 ASSIGNMENT TO TRUSTEE. The Seller hereby
acknowledges and consents to any pledge, assignment and grant of a security
interest by the Issuer to the Trustee pursuant to the Indenture for the benefit
of the Securitization Bondholders of all right, title and interest of the Issuer
in, to and under the Securitization Property and the proceeds thereof and the
assignment of any or all of the Issuer's rights hereunder to the Trustee.

                  SECTION 6.05 LIMITATIONS ON RIGHTS OF OTHERS. The provisions
of this Agreement are solely for the benefit of the Seller, the Issuer and the
Trustee, on behalf of itself and the Securitization Bondholders, and nothing in
this Agreement, whether express or implied, shall be construed to give to any
other Person any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim in the Collateral or
under or in respect of this Agreement or any covenants, conditions or provisions
contained herein.

                  SECTION 6.06 SEVERABILITY. Any provision of this Agreement
that is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such
jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or
unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof, and any
such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or
render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.

                  SECTION 6.07 SEPARATE COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be
executed by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so
executed and delivered shall be an original, but all such counterparts shall
together constitute but one and the same instrument.

                  SECTION 6.08 HEADINGS. The headings of the various Articles
and Sections herein are for convenience of reference only and shall not define
or limit any of the terms or provisions hereof.

                  SECTION 6.09 GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE CONSTRUED
IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN, WITHOUT REFERENCE TO ITS
CONFLICT OF LAWS PROVISIONS, AND THE OBLIGATIONS, RIGHTS AND REMEDIES OF THE
PARTIES HEREUNDER SHALL BE DETERMINED IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUCH LAWS.

                  SECTION 6.10 NONPETITION COVENANT. Notwithstanding any prior
termination of this Agreement or the Indenture, the Seller hereby covenants and
agrees that it shall not, prior to the date which is one year and one day after
the termination of the Indenture and the payment in full of the Securitization
Bonds, any other amounts owed under the Indenture, including, without
limitation, any amounts owed to third-party credit enhancers, and any amounts
owed under any Hedge Agreement or Interest Rate Swap Agreement, acquiesce,
petition or otherwise invoke or cause the Issuer to invoke the process of any
court or government authority for the purpose of commencing or, sustaining a
case against, the Issuer under any federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency or
similar law or appointing a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, custodian,
sequestrator or other similar official of the Issuer or any substantial


                                       16
<PAGE>   20

part of the property of the Issuer, or ordering the winding up or liquidation of
the affairs of the Issuer.













                                       17
<PAGE>   21
                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this
Agreement to be duly executed and delivered by their respective duly authorized
officers as of the date and year first above written.

                                        THE DETROIT EDISON
                                        SECURITIZATION FUNDING LLC,
                                            as Issuer


                                        By: /s/ Kathleen Hier
                                           -------------------------------------
                                           Name:  Kathleen Hier
                                           Title: Treasurer


                                        THE DETROIT EDISON COMPANY,
                                            as Seller


                                        By: /s/ N.A. Khouri
                                           -------------------------------------
                                           Name:  N.A. Khouri
                                           Title: Vice President and Treasurer

<PAGE>   22

                                    EXHIBIT A

                                  BILL OF SALE


         For good and valuable consideration the receipt of which is hereby
acknowledged, THE DETROIT EDISON COMPANY, a Michigan corporation (the "Seller"),
does hereby sell, assign, transfer and convey to THE DETROIT EDISON
SECURITIZATION FUNDING LLC, a Michigan limited liability company (the "Issuer"),
without recourse except as provided in the Sale Agreement referred to below, all
of the Seller's right, title and interest in, to and under the Securitization
Property, which sale, assignment, transfer and conveyance of the Securitization
Property shall include, as provided in the Statute, the sale, assignment,
transfer and conveyance of all of the Seller's right, title and interest in, to
and under all revenues, collections, payments, money or proceeds arising under
or with respect to the SB Charge related to the Securitization Property, as such
SB Charge may be adjusted from time to time in accordance with the Statute and
the Financing Order, to have and to hold the same unto the Issuer and to the
successors and assigns of the Issuer, forever.


         The foregoing sale, transfer, assignment and conveyance of the
Securitization Property is hereby expressly stated to be a sale or other
absolute transfer and, pursuant to Section 10l of the Statute and Financing
Order, shall constitute a true sale of all of the Seller's right, title and
interest in, to and under, and not a borrowing secured by, the Securitization
Property. The preceding sentence is the statement referred to in Section 10l of
the Statute and in the Financing Order.

         Capitalized terms used herein and not defined shall have the meanings
set forth in the Securitization Property Sale Agreement dated as of
[           ], 2001 (the "Sale Agreement") between the Issuer and the Seller.

         This Bill of Sale is governed by the laws of the State of Michigan.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Seller has duly executed and delivered this
Bill of Sale this [  ]th day of [            ], [                ].

                                           THE DETROIT EDISON COMPANY,
                                               as Seller


                                           By:
                                              ----------------------------------
                                              Name:
                                              Title:


Accepted this [  ]th day of [                ], [               ].

THE DETROIT EDISON SECURITIZATION FUNDING LLC


By:
   -------------------------------------
   Name:
   Title:



                                      A-1
<PAGE>   23


                                   APPENDIX A

                               MASTER DEFINITIONS

             To be used in connection with the Servicing Agreement,
      the Sale Agreement, the Administration Agreement and the Indenture.

The definitions contained in this Appendix A are applicable to the singular as
well as the plural forms of such terms.

         Act has the meaning specified in Section 11.03 of the Indenture.

         Actual Charge-Off Percent means the Servicer's actual system-wide
         charge-off percentage.

         Adjustment Request means any filing made with the MPSC by the Servicer
         on behalf of the Issuer for a Periodic Adjustment.

         Administration Agreement means the Administration Agreement dated as of
         March 9, 2001, between the Administrator and the Issuer, as the same
         may be amended or supplemented from time to time.

         Administrator means Detroit Edison, as administrator under the
         Administration Agreement, and each successor to Detroit Edison, in the
         same capacity, pursuant to Section 14 of the Administration Agreement.

         AES means an alternative energy supplier pursuant to the Statute.

         Affiliate means, with respect to any specified Person, any other Person
         controlling or controlled by or under common control with such
         specified Person. For the purposes of this definition, control when
         used with respect to any specified Person means the power to direct the
         management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether
         through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise;
         and the terms controlling and controlled have meanings correlative to
         the foregoing.

         Annual Accountant's Report has the meaning set forth in Section 3.04 of
         the Servicing Agreement.

         Annual Reconciliation Report has the meaning set forth in Section
         4.03(b) of the Servicing Agreement.

         Authorized Denominations means, with respect to any Series or Class of
         Securitization Bonds, $1,000 and integral multiples of $1.00 above that
         amount, provided, however, that one bond of each Class may have a
         denomination of less than $1,000, or such other denominations as may be
         specified in the Series Supplement therefor.

         Authorized Newspaper means the Luxemburger Wort or any other newspaper
         published in Luxembourg on a daily basis.


<PAGE>   24

         Authorized Officer means,

             (a)   with respect to the Issuer, (i) any Manager and (ii) any
                   person authorized by the Managers pursuant to the Issuer LLC
                   Agreement;

             (b)   with respect to the Servicer, the chief executive officer,
                   the president, the vice chairman of the board, any vice
                   president, the treasurer, any assistant treasurer, the
                   secretary, any assistant secretary, the controller or any
                   assistant controller of the Servicer;

             (c)   with respect to the Trustee, any officer assigned to the
                   Corporate Trust Division (or any successor thereto),
                   including any vice president, assistant vice president, trust
                   officer, secretary, assistant secretary or any other officer
                   of the Trustee customarily performing functions similar to
                   those performed by any of the above designated officers, in
                   each case having direct responsibility for the administration
                   of this Indenture; and

             (d)   with respect to any other corporation, the chief executive
                   officer, chief operating officer, chief financial officer,
                   chief information officer, president, executive vice
                   president, any vice president, the secretary or the treasurer
                   of such corporation; and with respect to any limited
                   liability company, any manager thereof.

         Basic Documents means the Formation Documents, the Sale Agreement, any
         Bills of Sale, the Servicing Agreement, the Administration Agreement,
         the Indenture, the Underwriting Agreement and any Interest Rate Swap
         Agreement, as each may be amended or supplemented from time to time.

         Bill of Sale means any bill of sale issued by the Seller to the Issuer
         pursuant to the Sale Agreement evidencing the sale of Securitization
         Property by the Seller to the Issuer.

         Billed SB Charges means the dollar amounts billed to Customers in
         respect of the SB Charge.

         Bills means each of the regular monthly bills, summary bills and other
         bills issued to Customers by Detroit Edison on its own behalf and in
         its capacity as Servicer.

         Book-Entry Securitization Bonds means beneficial interests in the
         Securitization Bonds, ownership and transfers of which shall be made
         through book entries by a Clearing Agency as described in Section 2.11
         of the Indenture.

         Business Day means any day other than a Saturday or Sunday or a day on
         which banking institutions in Detroit, Michigan, or in New York, New
         York or, with respect to any Securitization Bonds listed on the
         Luxembourg Stock Exchange, in Luxembourg, are required or authorized by
         law or executive order to remain closed.

         Capital Subaccount has the meaning specified in Section 8.02(a) of the
         Indenture.

                                       A-2
<PAGE>   25

         Certificate of Compliance has the meaning set forth in Section 3.03 of
         the Servicing Agreement.

         Class means, with respect to any Series, any one of the classes of
         Securitization Bonds of that Series, as specified in the Series
         Supplement for that Series.

         Class Final Maturity Date means the Final Maturity Date of a Class, as
         specified in the Series Supplement for the related Series.

         Class Subaccount has the meaning specified in Section 8.02(a) of the
         Indenture.

         Clearing Agency means an organization registered as a "clearing agency"
         pursuant to Section 17A of the Exchange Act.

         Clearing Agency Participant means a broker, dealer, bank, other
         financial institution or other Person for whom from time to time a
         Clearing Agency effects book-entry transfers and pledges of securities
         deposited with the Clearing Agency.

         Code means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to
         time, and Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder.

         Collateral has the meaning specified in the Granting Clause of the
         Indenture.

         Collection Account has the meaning specified in Section 8.02(a) of the
         Indenture.

         Commission means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, and any
         successor thereof.

         Corporate Trust Office means the designated office of the Trustee at
         which at any particular time its corporate trust business shall be
         administered, which office at the date of the execution of this
         Indenture is located at 101 Barclay Street, Floor 12 East, New York,
         New York 10286, Attention: ABS Unit, or at such other address as the
         Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Securitization
         Bondholders and the Issuer, or the principal corporate trust office of
         any successor Trustee (the address of which the successor Trustee will
         notify the Securitization Bondholders and the Issuer in writing).

         Covenant Defeasance Option has the meaning specified in Section 4.01(b)
         of the Indenture.

         Customer means a person that is an electric customer taking delivery of
         electricity from Detroit Edison or from its successor on its
         MPSC-approved rate schedules or under special contracts.

         Deemed SB Charge Payments means the amount, calculated by the Servicer
         on or before January 15 of each year, equal to the product of the
         Billed SB Charges for such Remittance Period multiplied by the result
         of one hundred percent (100%) less the Actual Charge-Off Percent.


                                      A-3
<PAGE>   26

         Default means any occurrence that is, or with notice or the lapse of
         time or both would become, an Event of Default.

         Defeasance Subaccount has the meaning specified in Section 8.02(a) of
         the Indenture.

         Definitive Securitization Bonds has the meaning specified in Section
         2.11 of the Indenture.

         Detroit Edison means The Detroit Edison Company, a Michigan
         corporation, or its successor.

         DTC Agreement means the agreement between the Issuer, the Trustee and
         The Depository Trust Company, as the initial Clearing Agency, dated on
         or about March 9, 2001, relating to the Securitization Bonds, as the
         same may be amended or supplemented from time to time.

         Eligible Guarantor Institution means a firm or other entity identified
         in Rule 17Ad-15 under the Exchange Act as "an eligible guarantor
         institution," including (as such terms are defined therein):

             (a)   a bank;

             (b)   a broker, dealer, municipal securities broker or dealer or
                   government securities broker or dealer;

             (c)   a credit union;

             (d)   a national securities exchange, registered securities
                   association or clearing agency; or

             (e)   a savings association that is a participant in a securities
                   transfer association.

         Eligible Institution means:

             (a)   the corporate trust department of the Trustee, so long as any
                   of the securities of the Trustee have a credit rating from
                   each Rating Agency in one of its generic rating categories
                   which signifies investment grade, or

             (b)   a depositary institution organized under the laws of the
                   United States of America or any state (or any domestic branch
                   of a foreign bank), which

                   (i)  has either

                        (A)   with respect to any Eligible Investment having a
                              maturity of greater than one month, a long-term
                              unsecured debt rating of "AAA" by Standard &
                              Poor's and Fitch and "Aaa" by Moody's, or


                                      A-4
<PAGE>   27

                        (B)   with respect to any Eligible Investment having a
                              maturity of one month or less, a short-term or
                              certificate of deposit rating of "A-1+" by
                              Standard & Poor's and "P-1" by Moody's, or any
                              other long-term, short-term or certificate of
                              deposit rating acceptable to the Rating Agencies,
                              and

                   (ii) whose deposits are insured by the FDIC.

         Eligible Investments mean book-entry securities, negotiable instruments
         or securities represented by instruments in bearer or registered form
         which evidence:

             (a)   direct obligations of, and obligations fully and
                   unconditionally guaranteed as to timely payment by, the
                   United States of America;

             (b)   demand deposits, time deposits or certificates of deposit of
                   any depository institution or trust company (any depositary
                   institution or trust company being referred to in this
                   definition as a "financial institution") incorporated under
                   the laws of the United States of America or any state thereof
                   (or any domestic branch of a foreign bank) and subject to
                   supervision and examination by federal or state banking or
                   depositary institution authorities; provided, however, that
                   at the time of the investment or contractual commitment to
                   invest therein, the commercial paper or other short-term
                   unsecured debt obligations (other than such obligations the
                   rating of which is based on the credit of a Person other than
                   such depositary institution or trust company) thereof shall
                   have a credit rating from each of the Rating Agencies in the
                   highest investment category granted thereby;

             (c)   commercial paper or other short-term obligations of any
                   corporation organized under the laws of the United States of
                   America (other than Detroit Edison) whose ratings, at the
                   time of the investment or contractual commitment to invest
                   therein, from each of the Rating Agencies are in the highest
                   investment category granted thereby;

             (d)   investments in money market funds having a rating from each
                   of the Rating Agencies in the highest investment category
                   granted thereby (including funds for which the Trustee or any
                   of its Affiliates act as investment manager or advisor);

             (e)   bankers' acceptances issued by any depositary institution or
                   trust company referred to in clause (b) above;

             (f)   repurchase obligations with respect to any security that is a
                   direct obligation of, or fully guaranteed by, the United
                   States of America or any agency or instrumentality thereof
                   the obligations of which are backed by the full faith and
                   credit of the United States of America, in either case
                   entered into with a depositary institution or trust company
                   (acting as principal) described in clause (b) above;


                                      A-5
<PAGE>   28

             (g)   repurchase obligations with respect to any security or whole
                   loan entered into with

                   (i)    a financial institution (acting as principal)
                          described in clause (b) above,

                   (ii)   a broker/dealer (acting as principal) registered as a
                          broker or dealer under Section 15 of the Exchange Act
                          (any broker/dealer being referred to in this
                          definition as a "broker/dealer"), the unsecured
                          short-term debt obligations of which are rated P-1 by
                          Moody's and A-1+ by Standard & Poor's at the time of
                          entering into the repurchase obligation, or

                   (iii)  an unrated broker/dealer, acting as principal, that is
                          a wholly-owned subsidiary of a non-bank or bank
                          holding company the unsecured short-term debt
                          obligations of which are rated P-1 by Moody's and A-1+
                          by Standard & Poor's at the time of purchase; or

             (h)   any other investment permitted by each Rating Agency;

         provided, however, that, with respect to Moody's only, the obligor
         related to clauses (b), (c), (d), (f), (g) and (h) above must have both
         a long term rating of at least Aa3 and a short term rating of at least
         P1, and provided further, that, unless otherwise permitted by each
         Rating Agency, upon the failure of any Eligible Institution to maintain
         any applicable rating set forth in this definition or the definition of
         Eligible Institution, the related investments at such institution shall
         be reinvested in Eligible Investments at a successor Eligible
         Institution within 10 days, and provided further, that any Eligible
         Investment must not:

             (a)   be sold, liquidated or otherwise disposed of at a loss, prior
                   to the maturity thereof, or

             (b)   mature later than (i) the date on which the proceeds of such
                   Eligible Investment will be required to be on deposit in the
                   Collection Account in order for the Trustee to make all
                   required and scheduled payments and deposits into Subaccounts
                   under the Indenture, if such Eligible Investment is held by
                   an Affiliate of the Trustee, or (ii) the Business Day prior
                   to the date on which the proceeds of such Eligible Investment
                   will be required to be on deposit in the Collection Account
                   in order for the Trustee to make all required and scheduled
                   payments and deposits into Subaccounts under the Indenture,
                   if such Eligible Investment is not held by an Affiliate of
                   the Trustee.

         Eligible Securities Account means either:


                                      A-6
<PAGE>   29

             (a)   a segregated trust account with an Eligible Institution or

             (b)   a segregated trust account with the corporate trust
                   department of a depositary institution organized under the
                   laws of the United States of America or any state (or any
                   domestic branch of a foreign bank), having corporate trust
                   powers and acting as trustee for funds deposited in such
                   account, so long as any of the securities of such depositary
                   institution shall have a credit rating from each Rating
                   Agency in one of its generic rating categories which
                   signifies investment grade.

         Estimated Charge-Off Percent means the Servicer's good faith estimate
         of the Actual Charge-Off Percent.

         Estimated SB Charge Payments means an amount equal to the product of
         the Billed SB Charges for a particular billing date multiplied by the
         result of one hundred percent (100%) less the Estimated Charge-Off
         Percent.

         Event of Default has the meaning specified in Section 5.01 of the
         Indenture.

         Event of Investment Ineligibility has the meaning specified in the
         Trade Receivables Purchase and Sale Agreement dated as of February 28,
         1989, as later amended and restated, among The Detroit Edison Company,
         Corporate Asset Funding Company, Inc., Citibank, N.A., and Citicorp
         North America, Inc., individually and as agent.

         Event of Termination has the meaning specified in the Trade Receivables
         Purchase and Sale Agreement dated as of February 28, 1989, as later
         amended and restated, among The Detroit Edison Company, Citibank, N.A.,
         and Citicorp North America, Inc., individually and as agent.

         Exchange Act means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

         Expected Amortization Schedule means, with respect to each Series or,
         if applicable, each Class of Securitization Bonds, the expected
         amortization schedule for principal thereof, as specified in the Series
         Supplement therefor.

         Expected Final Payment Date means, with respect to each Series or, if
         applicable, each Class of Securitization Bonds, the date when all
         interest and principal is scheduled to be paid with respect to that
         Series or Class in accordance with the Expected Amortization Schedule,
         as specified in the Series Supplement therefor.

         FDIC means the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or its successor.

         Final Maturity Date means, for each Series or, if applicable, each
         Class of Securitization Bonds, the date by which all principal of and
         interest on such Series or Class of Securitization Bonds is required to
         be paid, as specified in the Series Supplement therefor.


                                      A-7
<PAGE>   30

         Financing Issuance means an issuance of a new Series of Securitization
         Bonds under the Indenture to provide funds to finance the purchase by
         the Issuer of Securitization Property.

         Financing Order means, collectively, the order of the MPSC, Case No.
         U-12478, issued on November 2, 2000, as clarified by the opinion and
         order of the MPSC issued on January 4, 2001.

         Fitch means Fitch, Inc., or its successor.

         Formation Documents means, collectively, the Issuer LLC Agreement and
         the Issuer Articles of Organization, as each may be amended or
         supplemented from time to time.

         General Subaccount has the meaning specified in Section 8.02(a) of the
         Indenture.

         Grant means mortgage, pledge, bargain, sell, warrant, alienate, remise,
         release, convey, assign, transfer, create, and grant a lien upon and a
         security interest in and right of set-off against, deposit, set over
         and confirm. Grant, used as a noun, and Granting, used as an adjective,
         have correlative meanings consistent with preceding sentence. A Grant
         of the Collateral or of any other agreement or instrument shall include
         all rights, powers and options (but none of the obligations) of the
         Granting party thereunder, including the immediate and continuing right
         to claim for, collect, receive and give receipt for principal, interest
         and other payments in respect of the Collateral or such other agreement
         or instrument and all other moneys payable thereunder, to give and
         receive notices and other communications, to make waivers or other
         agreements, to exercise all rights and options, to bring Proceedings in
         the name of the Granting party or otherwise and generally to do and
         receive anything that the Granting party is or may be entitled to do or
         receive thereunder or with respect thereto.

         Holder or Securitization Bondholder means the Person in whose name a
         Securitization Bond of any Series or Class is registered in the
         Securitization Bond Register.

         Indemnification Event means an event which triggers Detroit Edison's
         obligation to indemnify the Issuer and the Trustee, for itself and on
         behalf of the Securitization Bondholders, and each of their respective
         managers, officers, directors and agents, pursuant to Section 5.01 of
         the Sale Agreement.

         Indemnity Amount means the amount of any indemnification obligation
         payable under the Basic Documents.

         Indenture means the Indenture dated as of March 9, 2001, between the
         Issuer and the Trustee, as the same may be amended and supplemented
         from time to time by one or more Supplemental Indentures, and shall
         include each Series Supplement and the forms and terms of the
         Securitization Bonds established thereunder.

         Independent means, when used with respect to any specified Person, that
         the Person


                                      A-8
<PAGE>   31

             (a)   is in fact independent of the Issuer, any other obligor on
                   the Securitization Bonds, Detroit Edison and any Affiliate of
                   any of the foregoing Persons,

             (b)   does not have any direct financial interest or any material
                   indirect financial interest in the Issuer, any such other
                   obligor, Detroit Edison or any Affiliate of any of the
                   foregoing Persons, and

             (c)   is not connected with the Issuer, any such other obligor,
                   Detroit Edison or any Affiliate of any of the foregoing
                   Persons as an officer, employee, promoter, underwriter,
                   trustee, partner, director or person performing similar
                   functions.

         Independent Certificate means a certificate or opinion to be delivered
         to the Trustee under the circumstances described in, and otherwise
         complying with, the applicable requirements of Section 11.01 of the
         Indenture, made by an Independent appraiser or other expert appointed
         by an Issuer Order and approved by the Trustee in the exercise of
         reasonable care, and such certificate or opinion shall state that the
         signer has read the definition of "Independent" in this Appendix A and
         that the signer is Independent within the meaning thereof.

         Independent Manager has the meaning set forth in the Issuer LLC
         Agreement.

         Initial Securitization Property means the Securitization Property sold
         by the Seller to the Issuer as of the Initial Transfer Date pursuant to
         the Sale Agreement and the Bill of Sale delivered on or prior to the
         Initial Transfer Date as identified in such Bill of Sale.

         Initial Transfer Date means the Series Issuance Date for the first
         Series of Securitization Bonds.

         Insolvency Event means, with respect to a specified Person,

             (a)   the filing of a decree or order for relief by a court having
                   jurisdiction in the premises in respect of such Person or any
                   substantial part of its property in an involuntary case under
                   any applicable federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency or
                   other similar law now or hereafter in effect, or appointing a
                   receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee,
                   sequestrator or similar official for such Person or for any
                   substantial part of its property, or ordering the winding-up
                   or liquidation of such Person's affairs, and such decree or
                   order shall remain unstayed and in effect for a period of 90
                   consecutive days or

             (b)   the commencement by such Person of a voluntary case under any
                   applicable federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency or other
                   similar law now or hereafter in effect, or the consent by
                   such Person to the entry of an order for relief in an
                   involuntary case under any such law, or the consent by such
                   Person to the appointment of a receiver, liquidator,
                   assignee, custodian, trustee, sequestrator or similar
                   official for such Person or for any substantial part of its
                   property, or the making by such Person of any


                                      A-9
<PAGE>   32

                   general assignment for the benefit of creditors, or the
                   failure by such Person generally to pay its debts as such
                   debts become due, or the taking of action by such Person in
                   furtherance of any of the foregoing.

         Interest means, for any Payment Date for any Series or Class of
         Securitization Bonds, the sum, without duplication, of:

             (a)   an amount equal to the amount of interest accrued at the
                   applicable Interest Rate from the prior Payment Date with
                   respect to that Series or Class;

             (b)   any unpaid interest, to the extent permitted by applicable
                   law, plus any interest accrued on such unpaid interest at the
                   applicable Interest Rate, to the extent permitted by
                   applicable law;

             (c)   if the Securitization Bonds have been declared due and
                   payable, all accrued and unpaid interest thereon; and

             (d)   with respect to a Series or Class to be redeemed prior to the
                   next Payment Date, the amount of interest that will be
                   payable as interest on such Series or Class upon such
                   redemption.

         Interest Rate means, with respect to each Series or Class of
         Securitization Bonds, the rate at which interest accrues on the
         principal balance of Securitization Bonds of such Series or Class, as
         specified in the Series Supplement therefor.

         Interest Rate Swap Agreement means any ISDA Master Agreement, together
         with the related Schedule and Confirmation, between the Issuer and a
         Swap Counterparty, as same may be amended or supplemented from time to
         time.

         Issuer means The Detroit Edison Securitization Funding LLC, a Michigan
         limited liability company, or its successor under the Indenture or the
         party named as such in the Indenture until a successor replaces it and,
         thereafter, means the successor.

         Issuer Articles of Organization means the Articles of Organization of
         the Issuer which were filed with the Bureau of Commercial Services,
         Corporation Division, of the Michigan Department of Consumer and
         Industry Services (the "Department") on November 20, 2000, as amended
         by the Restated Articles of Organization of the Issuer, which were
         filed with the Department on March 8, 2001.

         Issuer LLC Agreement means the Limited Liability Company Agreement
         between the Issuer, Detroit Edison, as sole Member, and the Managers
         dated as of November 20, 2000, as the same may be amended or
         supplemented from time to time.

         Issuer Officer's Certificate means a certificate signed by any
         Authorized Officer of the Issuer, under the circumstances described in,
         and otherwise complying with, the applicable requirements of Section
         11.01 of the Indenture, and delivered to the Trustee.


                                      A-10
<PAGE>   33

         Unless otherwise specified, any reference in the Indenture to an
         Officer's Certificate shall be to an Issuer Officer's Certificate.

         Issuer Opinion of Counsel means one or more written opinions of counsel
         who may, except as otherwise expressly provided in the Indenture, be an
         employee of or counsel to the Issuer or the Seller and who shall be
         reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, and which opinion or opinions
         shall be addressed to the Trustee, and shall be in a form reasonably
         satisfactory to the Trustee.

         Issuer Order or Issuer Request means a written order or request,
         respectively, signed in the name of the Issuer by any one of its
         Authorized Officers and delivered to the Trustee.

         Legal Defeasance Option has the meaning specified in Section 4.01(b) of
         the Indenture.

         Lien means a security interest, lien, charge, pledge or encumbrance of
         any kind.

         Losses means, collectively, any and all liabilities, obligations,
         losses, damages, payments, costs or expenses of any kind whatsoever.

         Manager has the meaning set forth in the Issuer LLC Agreement.

         Member means Detroit Edison, as the sole member of the Issuer, in its
         capacity as such member under the Issuer LLC Agreement.

         Michigan UCC means the Uniform Commercial Code, as in effect in the
         State of Michigan, as amended from time to time.

         Monthly Servicer Certificate has the meaning assigned to that term in
         Section 4.01(d)(ii) of the Servicing Agreement.

         Moody's means Moody's Investors Service, Inc., or its successor.

         MPSC means the Michigan Public Service Commission and any successor
         thereto.

         MPSC Regulations means any applicable regulations, orders or rules
         promulgated, issued or adopted by the MPSC, as in effect from time to
         time.

         Non-Routine True-Up Adjustment has the meaning set forth in Section
         4.01(c)(i) of the Servicing Agreement.

         Non-Routine True-Up Adjustment Request means an Adjustment Request
         filed with the MPSC in accordance with the Financing Order with respect
         to any Non-Routine True-Up Adjustment, pursuant to which the related
         Non-Routine True-Up Adjustment will become effective upon the review
         and approval of the MPSC.

         Officer's Certificate means a certificate of the Servicer signed by an
         Authorized Officer.

         Ongoing Other Qualified Costs has the meaning assigned to that term in
         the Financing Order.



                                      A-11
<PAGE>   34

         Operating Expenses means, with respect to the Issuer, all fees, costs,
         expenses and indemnity payments owed by the Issuer, including, without
         limitation, all amounts owed by the Issuer to the Trustee, the
         Servicing Fee, the fees and expenses payable by the Issuer to the
         Administrator under the Administration Agreement, the fees and expenses
         payable by the Issuer to the Independent Managers and Special Members
         of the Issuer, fees of the Rating Agencies, legal fees and expenses of
         the Servicer pursuant to Section 5.02(d) of the Servicing Agreement,
         legal and accounting fees, costs and expenses of the Issuer, and legal,
         accounting or other fees, costs and expenses of the Seller (including,
         without limitation, any costs and expenses incurred by the Seller
         pursuant to Section 4.08 of the Sale Agreement) under or in connection
         with the Basic Documents or the Financing Order.

         Opinion of Counsel means one or more written opinions of counsel who
         may be an employee of or counsel to Detroit Edison, the Issuer or any
         other Person (as the context may require), which counsel shall be
         reasonably acceptable to the Trustee, the Issuer or the Rating
         Agencies, as applicable, and which shall be in form reasonably
         satisfactory to the Trustee, if applicable, according to context.

         Outstanding with respect to Securitization Bonds means, as of the date
         of determination, all Securitization Bonds theretofore authenticated
         and delivered under the Indenture except:

             (a)   Securitization Bonds theretofore canceled by the
                   Securitization Bond Registrar or delivered to the
                   Securitization Bond Registrar for cancellation;

             (b)   Securitization Bonds or portions thereof for the payment of
                   which money in the necessary amount has been theretofore
                   deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent in trust for
                   the Holders of such Securitization Bonds; provided, however,
                   that if such Securitization Bonds are to be redeemed, notice
                   of such redemption has been duly given pursuant to the
                   Indenture or provision therefor, satisfactory to the Trustee,
                   made; and

             (c)   Securitization Bonds in exchange for or in lieu of other
                   Securitization Bonds which have been authenticated and
                   delivered pursuant to the Indenture unless proof satisfactory
                   to the Trustee is presented that any such Securitization
                   Bonds are held by a protected purchaser;

         provided that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite
         Outstanding Amount of the Securitization Bonds or any Series or Class
         thereof have given any request, demand, authorization, direction,
         notice, consent or waiver under any Basic Document, Securitization
         Bonds owned by the Issuer, any other obligor upon the Securitization
         Bonds, Detroit Edison or any Affiliate of any of the foregoing Persons
         shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding, except that, in
         determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying upon any
         such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or
         waiver, only Securitization Bonds that the Trustee knows to be so owned
         shall be so disregarded. Securitization Bonds so owned that have been


                                      A-12
<PAGE>   35

         pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding if the pledgee
         establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee's right so
         to act with respect to such Securitization Bonds and that the pledgee
         is not the Issuer, any other obligor upon the Securitization Bonds,
         Detroit Edison or any Affiliate of any of the foregoing Persons.

         Outstanding Amount means the aggregate principal amount of all
         Outstanding Securitization Bonds or, if the context requires, all
         Securitization Bonds of a Series or Class Outstanding at the date of
         determination.

         Overcollateralization means, with respect to any Payment Date, an
         amount that, if deposited to the Overcollateralization Subaccount,
         would cause the balance in such subaccount to equal the Scheduled
         Overcollateralization Level for such Payment Date.

         Overcollateralization Amount means, with respect to any Series of
         Securitization Bonds, the amount specified as such in the Series
         Supplement therefor.

         Overcollateralization Subaccount has the meaning specified in Section
         8.02(a) of the Indenture.

         Paying Agent means the Trustee or any other Person, including any
         Person appointed pursuant to Section 3.02(b) of the Indenture, that
         meets the eligibility standards for the Trustee specified in Section
         6.11 of the Indenture and is authorized by the Issuer to make the
         payments of principal of or premium, if any, or interest on the
         Securitization Bonds on behalf of the Issuer.

         Payment Date means, with respect to each Series or Class of
         Securitization Bonds, each date or dates respectively specified as
         Payment Dates for such Series or Class in the Series Supplement
         therefor.

         Periodic Adjustment means each Routine True-Up Adjustment and
         Non-Routine True-Up Adjustment made pursuant to the terms of the
         Financing Order and in accordance with Section 4.01 of the Servicing
         Agreement.

         Person means any individual, corporation, estate, partnership, joint
         venture, association, joint stock company, trust (including any
         beneficiary thereof), business trust, limited liability company,
         unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political
         subdivision thereof.

         Predecessor Securitization Bond means, with respect to any particular
         Securitization Bond, every previous Securitization Bond evidencing all
         or a portion of the same debt as that evidenced by such particular
         Securitization Bond; and, for the purpose of this definition, any
         Securitization Bond authenticated and delivered under Section 2.06 of
         the Indenture in lieu of a mutilated, lost, destroyed or stolen
         Securitization Bond shall be deemed to evidence the same debt as the
         mutilated, lost, destroyed or stolen Securitization Bond.

         Principal means, with respect to any Payment Date and each Series or
         Class of Securitization Bonds:


                                      A-13
<PAGE>   36

             (a)   the amount of principal scheduled to be paid on such Payment
                   Date in accordance with the Expected Amortization Schedule;

             (b)   the amount of principal due on the Final Maturity Date of
                   such Series or Class if such Payment Date is the Final
                   Maturity Date;

             (c)   the amount of principal due as a result of the occurrence and
                   continuance of an Event of Default and acceleration of the
                   Securitization Bonds;

             (d)   the amount of principal and premium, if any, due as a result
                   of a redemption of Securitization Bonds on such Payment Date;
                   and

             (e)   any overdue payments of principal.

         Principal Balance means, as of any Payment Date, the Outstanding Amount
         of the Securitization Bonds.

         Proceeding means any suit in equity, action at law or other judicial or
         administrative proceeding.

         Projected Principal Balance means, as of any Payment Date, the
         projected Outstanding Amount for such Payment Date set forth in the
         Expected Amortization Schedule.

         Qualified Costs means those qualified costs approved for recovery in
         the Financing Order.

         Rating Agency means, as of any date, any rating agency rating the
         Securitization Bonds of any Class or Series at the time of original
         issuance thereof at the request of the Issuer, or any successor to such
         rating agency. If such organization or successor is no longer in
         existence, in lieu thereof "Rating Agency" means a nationally
         recognized statistical rating organization or other comparable Person
         designated by the Issuer, notice of which designation shall be given to
         the Trustee, the Member and the Servicer.

         Rating Agency Condition means, with respect to any action, the
         notification to each Rating Agency and the Trustee of such action, and
         the notification from each of Fitch and S&P to the Trustee and the
         Issuer that such action will not result in a reduction or withdrawal of
         the then current rating by such Rating Agency of any Outstanding Series
         or Class of Securitization Bonds.

         Reconciliation Period means the twelve-month period commencing on
         January 1 of each year and ending on December 31 of each year;
         provided, however, that the initial Reconciliation Period shall
         commence on the first Series Issuance Date and end on December 31,
         2001.

         Record Date has the meaning set forth in each Supplemental Indenture.


                                      A-14
<PAGE>   37

         Redemption Date means, with respect to each Series or Class of
         Securitization Bonds, the date for the redemption of the Securitization
         Bonds of such Series or Class pursuant to Sections 10.01 or 10.02 of
         the Indenture or the Series Supplement for such Series or Class, which
         in each case shall be a Payment Date.

         Redemption Price has the meaning set forth in Section 10.01 or Section
         10.02 of the Indenture, as applicable.

         Refunding Issuance means an issuance of a new Series of Securitization
         Bonds under the Indenture to pay the cost of refunding, through
         redemption or payment on the Expected Final Payment Date for a Series
         or Class of Securitization Bonds, all or part of the Securitization
         Bonds of such Series or Class to the extent permitted by the terms
         thereof.

         Registered Holder means, as of any date, the Person in whose name a
         Securitization Bond is registered in the Securitization Bond Register
         on such date.

         Released Parties has the meaning specified in Section 6.02(f) of the
         Servicing Agreement.

         Remittance means each remittance under the Servicing Agreement of
         Estimated SB Charge Payments by the Servicer to the Trustee.

         Remittance Date means each Servicer Business Day on which a Remittance
         is to be made by the Servicer pursuant to Section 4.03 of the Servicing
         Agreement.

         Remittance Excess means the amount, if any, calculated for a particular
         Reconciliation Period, by which all Estimated SB Charge Payments during
         such Reconciliation Period exceed Deemed SB Charge Payments during such
         Reconciliation Period.

         Remittance Period means the twelve-month period commencing on January 1
         of each year and ending on December 31 of each year; provided, however,
         that the initial Remittance Period shall commence on the first Series
         Issuance Date and end on December 31, 2001.

         Remittance Shortfall means, the amount, if any, calculated for a
         particular Reconciliation Period, by which Deemed SB Charge Payments
         during such Reconciliation Period exceed Estimated SB Charge Payments
         during such Reconciliation Period.

         Required Capital Amount means, with respect to any Series, the amount
         required to be deposited in the Capital Subaccount on the Series
         Issuance Date of such Series, as specified in the related Series
         Supplement.

         Required Debt Service means, for any Remittance Period, the total
         dollar amount calculated by the Servicer in accordance with Section
         4.01(b)(i) of the Servicing Agreement as necessary to be remitted to
         the Collection Account during such Remittance Period (after giving
         effect to (a) the allocation and distribution of amounts on deposit in
         the Reserve Subaccount at the time of calculation and which are
         available for payments on the Securitization Bonds, (b) any shortfalls
         in Required Debt Service for any prior


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<PAGE>   38

         Remittance Period, (c) the required payment or credit of any Remittance
         Excess or Remittance Shortfall during such Remittance Period and (d)
         any Remittances based upon the SB Charge in effect in the prior
         Remittance Period that are expected to be realized in such Remittance
         Period) in order to ensure that, as of the Payment Date immediately
         following the end of such period, (i) all accrued and unpaid interest
         on the Securitization Bonds then due shall have been paid in full, (ii)
         the Principal Balance of the Securitization Bonds is equal to the
         Projected Principal Balance of the Securitization Bonds for that
         Payment Date, (iii) the balance on deposit in the Capital Subaccount
         equals the aggregate Required Capital Amount, (iv) the balance on
         deposit in the Overcollateralization Subaccount equals the aggregate
         Scheduled Overcollateralization Level and (v) all other fees, expenses
         and indemnities due and owing and required or allowed to be paid under
         Section 8.02 of the Indenture as of such date shall have been paid in
         full; provided, however, that, with respect to any Periodic Adjustment
         occurring after the last Expected Final Payment Date for any
         Securitization Bonds, the Required Debt Service shall be calculated to
         ensure that sufficient amounts will be collected to retire such
         Securitization Bonds in full as of the earlier of (x) the next Payment
         Date and (y) the Final Maturity Date for such Securitization Bonds.

         Reserve Subaccount has the meaning specified in Section 8.02(a) of the
         Indenture.

         Retirement of the Securitization Bonds means the day on which the final
         payment is made to the Trustee in respect of the last outstanding
         Securitization Bond.

         Retiring Trustee means a Trustee that resigns or vacates the office of
         Trustee for any reason.

         Routine True-Up Adjustment has the meaning set forth in Section
         4.01(b)(iii) of the Servicing Agreement.

         Routine True-Up Adjustment Request means an Adjustment Request filed
         with the MPSC in respect of a Routine True-Up Adjustment, substantially
         in the form of Exhibit B to the Servicing Agreement. Pursuant to the
         Financing Order, the Routine True-Up Adjustment Request will become
         effective within 45 days after the filing of such Routine True-Up
         Adjustment Request.

         Sale Agreement means the Securitization Property Sale Agreement dated
         as of March 9, 2001, between the Seller and the Issuer, as the same may
         be amended and supplemented from time to time.

         SB Charge means the securitization charge designated and approved
         pursuant to the Financing Order as constituting part of the
         Securitization Property, as the same may be adjusted from time to time
         as provided in the Servicing Agreement and in accordance the Financing
         Order.

         Scheduled Overcollateralization Level means, with respect to each
         Series and any Payment Date, the amount with respect to such Series set
         forth as such in Schedule I of the Indenture, as such Schedule has been
         adjusted in accordance with Section 3.19 of the


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         Indenture to reflect redemptions or defeasances of Securitization Bonds
         and issuances of additional Series of Securitization Bonds.

         Securities Account Control Agreement means the securities account
         control agreement among The Detroit Edison Securitization Funding LLC,
         as debtor, the Trustee, as Secured Party, and The Bank of New York, in
         its capacity as securities intermediary thereunder.

         Securitization Bond means any of the securitization bonds (as approved
         in the Financing Order) issued by the Issuer pursuant to the Indenture.

         Securitization Bond Balance means, as of any date, the aggregate
         Outstanding Amount of all Series of Securitization Bonds on such date.

         Securitization Bond Owner means, with respect to a Book-Entry
         Securitization Bond, the Person who is the beneficial owner of such
         Book-Entry Securitization Bond, as reflected on the books of the
         Clearing Agency, or on the books of a Person maintaining an account
         with such Clearing Agency (directly as a Clearing Agency Participant or
         as an indirect participant, in each case in accordance with the rules
         of such Clearing Agency).

         Securitization Bond Register has the meaning specified in Section
         2.05(a) of the Indenture.

         Securitization Bond Registrar has the meaning specified in Section
         2.05(a) of the Indenture.

         Securitization Charge means the Securitization Charge authorized by the
         MPSC to be imposed on all Customers by Detroit Edison to recover
         Qualified Costs pursuant to the Financing Order.

         Securitization Property means the Securitization Property that exists
         under the Financing Order and is sold by the Seller to the Issuer under
         the Sale Agreement.

         Securitization Property Records has the meaning assigned to that term
         in Section 5.01 of the Servicing Agreement.

         Seller means Detroit Edison, in its capacity as seller of the
         Securitization Property to the Issuer pursuant to the Sale Agreement.

         Semiannual Servicer Certificate has the meaning assigned to that term
         in Section 4.01(d)(iii) of the Servicing Agreement.

         Series means any series of Securitization Bonds issued by the Issuer
         and authenticated by the Trustee pursuant to the Indenture and the
         Financing Order, as specified in the Series Supplement therefor.

         Series Capital Subaccount has the meaning set forth in Section 8.02(a)
         of the Indenture.


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         Series Final Maturity Date means the Final Maturity Date for a Series.

         Series Issuance Date means, with respect to the first Series of
         Securitization Bonds, March 9, 2001, and with respect to any other
         Series, the date on which the Securitization Bonds of such Series are
         to be issued in accordance with Section 2.10 of the Indenture and the
         Series Supplement for such Series.

         Series Overcollateralization Subaccount has the meaning specified in
         Section 8.02(a) of the Indenture.

         Series Subaccount has the meaning specified in Section 8.02(a) of the
         Indenture.

         Series Supplement means an indenture supplemental to the Indenture that
         authorizes a particular Series of Securitization Bonds, as the same may
         be amended or supplemented from time to time.

         Servicer means Detroit Edison, as the servicer of the Securitization
         Property, and each successor to Detroit Edison (in the same capacity)
         pursuant to Section 6.03 or 7.04 of the Servicing Agreement.

         Servicer Business Day means any Business Day on which the Servicer's
         offices in the State of Michigan are open for business.

         Servicer Default means an event specified in Section 7.01 of the
         Servicing Agreement.

         Servicer Policies and Practices means, with respect to the Servicer's
         duties under Annex I to the Servicing Agreement, the policies and
         practices of the Servicer applicable to such duties that the Servicer
         follows with respect to comparable assets that it services for itself
         or others, as in effect from time to time and in accordance with MPSC
         Regulations. The Servicer shall provide ten days' prior written notice
         to the Rating Agencies of any amendment to the Servicer Policies and
         Practices that would adversely affect in any material respect the
         Securitization Bondholders.

         Servicing Agreement means the Servicing Agreement dated as of March 9,
         2001, between the Issuer and the Servicer, as the same may be amended
         and supplemented from time to time.

         Servicing Fee means the fee payable to the Servicer for services
         rendered, in accordance with Section 6.07 of the Servicing Agreement.

         Special Member has the meaning set forth in the Issuer LLC Agreement.

         Standard & Poor's, or S&P, means Standard & Poor's Ratings Services, a
         division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, or its successor.

         Statute means, collectively, Enrolled Senate Bill No. 937, 2000 PA 141
         and Enrolled Senate Bill No. 1253, 2000 PA 142, both of which became
         effective June 5, 2000.



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<PAGE>   41

         Subaccount means any of the subaccounts of the Collection Account
         specified in Section 8.02 of the Indenture.

         Subsequent Sale means the sale of additional Securitization Property by
         the Seller to the Issuer after the Initial Transfer Date, subject to
         the satisfaction of the applicable conditions specified in the Sale
         Agreement and the Indenture.

         Subsequent Securitization Property means Securitization Property sold
         by the Seller to the Issuer as of a Subsequent Transfer Date pursuant
         to the Sale Agreement and the Bill of Sale delivered on or prior to the
         Subsequent Transfer Date, as identified in such Bill of Sale.

         Subsequent Transfer Date means the date that a sale of Subsequent
         Securitization Property will be effective, as specified in a written
         notice provided by the Seller to the Issuer pursuant to the Sale
         Agreement.

         Successor Servicer means a successor Servicer appointed by the Trustee
         pursuant to Section 7.04 of the Servicing Agreement which succeeds to
         all the rights and duties of the Servicer under the Servicing
         Agreement.

         Supplemental Indenture means a supplemental indenture entered into by
         the Issuer and the Trustee pursuant to Article IX of the Indenture.

         Swap Counterparty means, with respect to any Interest Rate Swap
         Agreement, the swap counterparty under that Interest Rate Swap
         Agreement.

         Termination Notice has the meaning assigned to that term in Section
         7.01 of the Servicing Agreement.

         Transfer Date means the Initial Transfer Date or any Subsequent
         Transfer Date, as applicable.

         Trust Indenture Act or TIA means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as in
         force on the date hereof, unless otherwise specifically provided.

         Trustee means The Bank of New York, a New York banking corporation or
         its successor, as trustee under the Indenture, or any successor Trustee
         under the Indenture.

         Underwriting Agreement means the Underwriting Agreement dated as of
         March 2, 2001, among the Seller, the Issuer and Salomon Smith Barney,
         Inc., on behalf of itself and as the representative of the several
         underwriters named therein.

         U.S. Government Obligations means direct obligations (or certificates
         representing an ownership interest in such obligations) of the United
         States of America (including any agency or instrumentality thereof) for
         the timely payment of which the full faith and credit of the United
         States of America is pledged and which are not callable at the issuer's
         option.


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<PAGE>   42

         Weighted Average Days Outstanding means the weighted average number of
         days Detroit Edison's monthly retail customer bills remain outstanding
         during the calendar year immediately preceding the calculation thereof
         pursuant to Section 4.01(b)(i) of the Servicing Agreement. The
         calculation of Weighted Average Days Outstanding pursuant to Section
         4.01(b)(i) of the Servicing Agreement shall become effective on March 1
         of each year. The initial Weighted Average Days Outstanding shall be 45
         days until updated pursuant to Section 4.01(b)(i) of the Servicing
         Agreement.



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