Direct Energy Reaches Out to Those Most Vulnerable

Long Beach, NY (Nov. 16, 2012) - It's been almost three weeks since Hurricane Sandy impacted the eastern coast and the aftermath will forever be engraved in the memories of thousands of devastated residents.

The community of Long Beach, New York is one of many that continues to recover with victims picking up the remains of their homes, piece by piece. Members of the retail electricity provider Direct Energy have partnered with Achiezer Community Resource Center to provide assistance and support to the victims and donated $10,000 in food and emergency funds.

"During times like these, communities gain strength by helping one another," said Direct Energy manager of information systems Ethan Kagan. "It's part of our mission to help make a difference in the lives of our customers and the community. This is a key moment to further fulfill that mission and help those that are most vulnerable," said Kagan. As of early morning through the evening of Monday, Nov. 12, the team distributed 500 sandwiches to residents and volunteers, while assisting others with removal of damaged appliances and furniture from basements. "Together, we helped remove a 1,000 lb. water logged futon," said Chaim Rutenberg, Direct Energy quality assurance analyst and volunteer.

Madeline Nieves, manager of telesales for Direct Energy and volunteer reflects, "We ran into people who just wanted to talk about their experience and have someone with a listening ear. While the storm has created much devastation, it has also given us the opportunity to teach our children the importance of giving back to the community, something I hope they will continue to carry with them as they grow into young adults."

About Direct Energy

Direct Energy 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.

For further information, please contact:

Alexa Valencia
Direct Energy
1-713-904-7121
Alexa.Valencia@directenergy.com