Direct Energy Empowers Its Customers With New Online Tools to Make More Intelligent Energy Choices

Houston, TX (Nov. 1, 2012) - Direct Energy, one of North America's largest energy and energy-related services providers, has partnered with Opower, the global leader in utility customer engagement software, to help its customers save energy and money. The new interactive, online program will provide all Direct Energy customers with access to a social energy application that allows them to share and compare their energy consumption with neighbors and friends. Direct Energy is the first retail energy provider in Texas to offer this program through Opower.

"Providing customers with information about their energy consumption is only the first step to saving money," said Rob Comstock, senior vice president at Direct Energy and general manager for the company's Texas residential business. "This new tool will show our customers how their energy usage compares to their friends and neighbors and will give personalized energy saving tips to help reduce usage. It's one more way we are using our energy expertise to make a positive difference in people's lives."

To date, Opower has helped utility customers save more than $172 million, said Alex Laskey, president and founder of Opower.

"We are excited to partner with Direct Energy, one of the leading retail energy providers, to help their customers make informed decisions about their energy consumption," Laskey said. "The Opower platform will provide all Direct Energy customers with the insight and information that they need to save energy."

One of the main features of the social energy application (social.opower.com) is a similar home comparison, which shows consumers how their energy usage compares to their neighbors. Customers also can join challenges and compete to save energy.

Select customers are part of a pilot program and will receive Weekly Energy Report emails that provide them with regular updates about their home energy use and smart ways to become more energy efficient.They will also get access to a personalized website that helps customers plan for their next bill with personalized ways to save energy and money along with a similar homes comparison. The website also includes sophisticated energy breakdowns to enable customers to understand where they have the most potential to save money.

Direct Energy is exploring the expansion of the program to other parts of its residential business.

About Direct Energy

Direct Energy [PUCT certificate number:10040] is one of North America's largest energy and energy-related services providers with more than six million residential and commercial customer relationships. 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 46 states plus DC and 10 provinces in Canada.

About Opower

Working with 75 utility partners and serving more than 15 million consumers across six countries, Opower is the world's leading provider of customer engagement solutions for the utility industry. By providing the tools, information and incentives consumers need to make smarter decisions about their energy use, Opower's engagement platform and solution suite enables utilities to involve their customers in programs that support, energy efficiency goals, smart grid and new rate structures, brand loyalty and lowering the cost of service. Proven to drive behavioral change at scale, Opower has helped its utility partners achieve more than 1.5 TWHs of their energy efficiency goals, and drive significant increases in customer program participation and overall customer satisfaction. Founded in 2007 and privately held, Opower is headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, with offices in San Francisco and London. For more information, please visit www.opower.com and follow us on Twitter at @Opower.

For media inquiries, contact:

Alexa Valencia
Direct Energy
1-832-517-9547

Carly Llewellyn
Opower
1-908-578-8303