Great Service and Rewards from Direct Energy

Direct Energy is one of the largest electricity retailer in North America, operating in the United States and Canada, with more than six million customers. “Direct Energy was founded in Toronto in 1986, as a competitive energy retailer. In 2000, the company was acquired by Centrica, the UK-based parent of British energy retailer British Gas. From 2000 onwards, Direct Energy grew rapidly through acquisition. These acquisitions included Energy America (2000), Enbridge Home Services (2002), AEP’s Texas retail operations (Central Power and Light and West Texas Utility), the regulated retail operations of ATCO Gas and ATCO Electric in Alberta, Entergy Solutions Ltd.’s Electric Reliability Council of Texas customer base and Strategic Energy (2008).”[1]

In Texas, Direct Energy has been licensed to provide retail electricity across the state since December 2001, even before the retail electricity market was deregulated in the state. Being one of the oldest REPs in Texas, Direct Energy offers a wide variety of price and payment options for its customers, along with a wide range of customer rewards programs.

In the Houston area, for instance, Direct Energy offers fixed-rate, variable-rate and month to month plans. They also have time-of-use, prepaid and renewable energy plans. Price average for 1000kWh usage range from 8.6 to 11 cents per kWh. For contract plans, cancellation fee is either $295 for the 24 and 36 month plans, or $135 for the shorter term contracts. For the Power To Go Variable prepaid plan, there is no contract and no deposits required, either. For this plan, the base charge is $10 per month, the energy charge is 4 cents per kWh, plus the TDU pass-through charges of $5.47 per month and 4.132¢ per kWh.

Direct Energy also offers a create-your-own-plan option. Other plan options include free weekends, free Saturdays, free Sundays, with Nest Learning Thermostat, with Scout Alarm, and with Plenti. For the latter, you have the opportunity to sign up for Plenti Rewards, and you also get a sign up bonus of 5000 points.

Recently, changes to its corporate structure has landed Direct Energy in the news. The company has “has combined its residential and home services divisions to create a single division, called Direct Energy Home™. The new division will focus on serving customers’ entire home, including providing energy and services, energy efficiency solutions, connected home options, and maintenance and protection plans… Direct Energy has thousands of customers who currently take advantage of the company’s bundled residential and service offers that are in market today, such as its Nest and protection plan bundles. Direct Energy customers can choose a plan to protect their appliances and use one of the company’s franchised brands to service their HVAC, plumbing, or electrical system needs.”[2]