State of Delaware Welcomes Direct Energy as an Innovative Power Supplier

DOVER, Del., June 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- In an official ceremony on the steps of Legislative Hall, the State of Delaware today formally named Direct Energy as the "Electric Retail Supplier Exclusively Contracted by the State of Delaware" for its 315,000 residents and businesses in the Delmarva territory and for Delaware Electric Cooperative's 84,000 customers. This is the first such program and designation made in the United States.

The new status was conferred on Direct Energy following a months-long competitive process and a vote last month by the Delaware Electricity Affordability Committee, chaired by Secretary of State Jeffrey Bullock, and with representation from the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Office of the Controller General, Office of Management and Budget, Office of the Public Advocate, and the Public Service Commission.  Direct Energy was one of six suppliers vying for the designation. Proposals were evaluated based on the potential benefits derived from a combination of multi-year fixed price per kilowatt-hour offers; value added products and services to help customers better manage their overall electricity bills; other potential consumer benefits; and the fiscal and technical experience of the supplier.

It is estimated that residential customers may save on average $15 per month with Direct Energy's low fixed electricity prices, set at 10 to 18 percent below Delmarva's current price to compare.  Other benefits are available and both residential and small business customers can potentially save a further 10 to 12 percent on their heating bills and about 15 percent on their cooling bills by receiving at no cost a Nest Learning Thermostat.¹ Small businesses can save 5 percent off of Delmarva's current price to compare.² 

"In Delaware, the generation, supply and sale of energy was deregulated more than 16 years ago, but many of our residents have not yet taken advantage of the available energy choices and shopped around for the products and services that fit their family's needs," said Secretary of State Jeff Bullock. "We undertook this process to increase our residents' awareness about the options they have related to their electricity, allowing them to take more control over their energy usage. We are happy to offer this designation to Direct Energy and hope residents take advantage of this opportunity to save money on their electricity bills."

"It is great to kick off our presence in Delaware, and we are honored to receive this important designation from the state," said Cullen Hay, General Manager, U.S. Energy --Direct Energy.  "Direct Energy is proud to be a company that becomes an energy partner with our customers because we have a unique approach:  We want them to buy less of what we sell. Our offers, products and services are meant to make a difference in the way our customers use energy, and we are thrilled to be bringing that to Delaware."

Direct Energy is one of North America's largest competitive retail energy and energy services providers, offering a suite of innovative products and competitive offers that can help residential and business customers save on their energy bills. Starting July 1, special discounts, products and services will be offered to those in the Delmarva territory.

Residential customers who enroll to the program can choose a plan to receive any or all of the following products and services:

• a Nest Learning Thermostat at no cost (a $249 retail value), which has been proven by third-party researchers to save people, on average, about 10 to 12 percent on their heating bills and about 15 percent on their cooling bills.
• a free heating and cooling equipment protection plan ($100 retail value) for six months that includes no charge for service visits, no deductibles, and 24/7 emergency service. Terms and conditions may apply. One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning, one of Direct Energy's family of brands, provides HVAC services in the state of Delaware. 

Additionally, Direct Energy is part of Plenti, the first U.S. coalition loyalty program comprised of widely known companies such as American Express, AT&T, Exxon, Macy's, Mobil, Nationwide, Rite Aid, Enterprise Rent-A-Car and Hulu. Plenti offers consumers greater choice and savings potential through a multi-category rewards platform. Delaware residents that choose a Direct Energy plan will automatically receive 1,000 Plenti points.

For Delaware residential customers interested in solar power, Direct Energy is offering rooftop systems designed to target savings of up to 20 percent over their current retail price, plus all solar customers will receive 12 months of free electricity for the balance of their energy consumption not supplied by solar.

Delaware businesses can also take advantage of Direct Energy's exclusive offers that include a special low fixed electricity price set at 5 percent below Delmarva's current price to compare for 24 months with no enrollment or exit fees and with an option for a free Nest Learning Thermostat.

"Our goal was to make this as easy and risk free as possible," said Cullen Hay, General Manager, U.S. Energy at Direct Energy. "Starting July 1, to sign-up customers can go to directenergy.com. In addition, there is no early cancellation or "switching fee" for commodity products, so customers are free to switch back to the utility they came from, or shop for another competitive supplier offer without any risk. No matter the electricity supplier, Delmarva Power will still be your electricity deliverer – meaning that if there is a service emergency or a power outage, you still call them for service and they will respond."

"I want to thank the Governor Jack Markell, Secretary Jeffrey W. Bullock, PSC Executive Director Robert Howatt, Senator Colin R. Bonini (R-DE), and State Representative Mike P. Mulrooney (D-DE) for their leadership and assistance. We are thrilled to be the 'Electric Retail Supplier Exclusively Contracted by the State of Delaware' and look forward to a long and lasting relationship with the state's 315,000 residents and small businesses," said Stephen Girard, Head of Small Business at Direct Energy Business.

For more information about Direct Energy, go to www.directenergy.com.

About Direct Energy
Direct Energy is one of North America's largest energy and energy-related services providers with nearly five million residential and commercial customers. Direct Energy provides customers with choice and support in managing their energy costs through a portfolio of innovative products and services. A subsidiary of Centrica plc (LSE: CNA), one of the world's leading integrated energy companies, Direct Energy operates in 50 U.S. states plus the District of Columbia and 10 provinces in Canada. To learn more about Direct Energy, please visit www.directenergy.com.

¹ The average savings statement is based on a comparison of the utility's current price to compare and Direct Energy's current offers. Usage utilized in the dollar savings calculation is based on forecasted consumption data for a typical residential class customer in Delmarva Power's Delaware territory.
² 5% savings based off of Delmarva's current Small General Service (SGS) price to compare of $0.0806/kwh.

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