Direct Energy Regulated Services Announces Natural Gas Rates for August 2012

(July 31st 2012) - Direct Energy Regulated Services has announced default natural gas rates for August 2012. These rates will apply to customers who have not chosen a competitive supplier within the ATCO Gas North and South service territories. The rates have been verified by the Alberta Utilities Commission.

North Service Territory

The North territory includes customers living in and north of the City of Red Deer.

• For customers in the ATCO Gas North service territory, the August regulated natural gas rate is increasing from the July rate of $2.097 per GJ to $2.310 per GJ.
• This rate reflects a market price for August supplies of approximately $2.289 per GJ as reported by the NGX, and incorporates an adjustment of $0.021 per GJ for July and prior months.
• The typical residential gas bill for August based on an average 2 GJ of consumption would be approximately $47 in the North.

South Service Territory

The South territory includes customers living south of the City of Red Deer.

• For customers in the ATCO Gas South service territory, the August regulated natural gas rate is decreasing from the July rate of $2.210 per GJ to $2.186 per GJ.
• This rate reflects a market price for July supplies of approximately $2.289 per GJ as reported by the NGX, and incorporates an adjustment of ($0.103) per GJ for July and prior months.
• The typical residential gas bill for August based on an average 2 GJ of consumption would be approximately $38 in the South.

Further information on regulated gas supply and a complete list of competitive retailers can be found on the Alberta government's customer choice website at: www.ucahelps.gov.ab.ca.

For further information, please contact:

Emily Richardson
Public Relations
Direct Energy Regulated Services
1-416-758-8979
Emily.Richardson@directenergy.com