In this paper, we have proposed a new SEP protocol called as Deterministic-SEP (D-SEP), for electing cluster heads in a distributed fashion in two-, three-, and multi-level hierarchical wireless sensor networks. The significant improvement has been shown using D-SEP in comparison with SEP in terms of network lifetime, energy consumption and data transmission to BS. Our expectations are demonstrated by simulation results. We have introduced the superior characteristic of our protocol and discussed the cluster head selection algorithm by describing the threshold and probability equations. In order to reach the constructive conclusion, two cases of two-level and four cases of three-level heterogeneity have been reported and compared. The results reveal that there is 323% & 207% improvement in the overall lifetime of the network by using D-SEP after comparing two-level (m=0.3, a=1.5) & three-level (m=0.5, m0=0.4, a=1.5, b=3) respectively. The investigations ascertain the stable region and maximized lifetime of the network by using D-SEP over SEP. The development of 17.8 fold in the lifetime of the network is reported by using D-SEP. Moreover the energy depletion slope per round is lower in case of D-SEP over SEP.