A game of few clear-cut chances was settled in favour of Nigel's Clough's men when Andy Corbett struck in the 29th minute.
The midfielder's second goal of the season was one of the few enthralling moments under the gaze of the Sky Sports cameras.
Exeter dominated for long periods, but had precious little show for their hard work, neat passing and movement.
Burton flattered to deceive in the opening stages, with midfielder Paul Carden shooting narrowly wide and Grecians keeper Paul Jones having to hurry to clear a risky backpass.
But a pattern of persistent if not always menacing Exeter pressure soon emerged, though it was typical of an untidy encounter that the nearest they came to a goal was the result of a Burton mistake in the 21st minute.
Darren Tinson's backpass failed to reach Kevin Poole, but the veteran keeper did just enough to force Adam Stansfield to clip his shot across the face of the unguarded net.
Exeter had started to control the game, but it was Burton who made the breakthrough with one of their few good moves of the night.
Gary Rowett's clearance gave and Corbett the chance to link with Daryl Clare on the right.
Burton's top scorer could have tried a shot from a difficult angle, but unselfishly tried to pick out David Brown and the ball ricocheted off the heel of Grecians' defender Jon Richardson, giving Corbett the chance to drive home a left-foot shot from 15 yards.
But Albion found themselves under renewed pressure as half-time approached, skipper Darren Stride reacted superbly to deny Paul Buckle on the edge of the six-yard box and the defensive wall did its job to keep out a Billy Jones free-kick after a rash challenge by Rowett.
Paul Jones was forced to make a rare save five minutes after the break, sprawling to his left to push a 20-yard shot from Andy Ducros away for a corner.
But Albion continued to look anything but convincing going forward and almost invited the equaliser in the 58th minute.
A series of poor clearances gave Danny Woodards the chance to clip the ball into the area, where it took a combination of Poole and Stride to block Lee Phillips on the edge of the six-yard box and scramble the ball behind for a corner.
City took off skipper Lee Phillips to freshen their attack with Jamie Mackie, but the substitute was off-target from the edge of the area after cutting in to make room for a left foot shot in the 72nd minute.
In a rare sortie forward, Carden might doubled Burton's lead in the 81st minute, only for a deflection to take his firm shot inches wide.
Exeter broke away, but Mackie's foraging went unrewarded when his left-foot effort drifted wide from the edge of the area.
Then substitute Dean Moxey had a shot blocked at the far post after a deep corner by Gill.
The Grecians were virtually camped in Burton territory in the dying minutes, but could do nothing to make the long journey home a happy one for a the hardy bunch of 146 travelling fans.