Direct Energy Now Offering Customer Discounts for Lower Use During High Peak Energy Events

Houston, TX (November 6, 2014) - Direct Energy, one of the largest retail providers of electricity, natural gas, and home services in North America, today announces the launch of Direct Energy Reduce Your Use Rewards, a program for Texas customers in the Oncor and CenterPoint service areas (Dallas and Houston) to receive incentives for reducing their energy consumption during high-peak energy usage events. Current and future customers are able to sign up for this incentive program for free.

Bounce Energy customers can enroll in the same program, named Bounce Back Energy Savings. This program was formerly named Bounce Peak Rewards.

During a peak event – when a region's electricity grid is experiencing high volumes and customers are using power at an above average rate – customers enrolled in the Direct Energy Reduce Your Use Rewards program will be asked via email and text to voluntarily lower their energy consumption. If customers reduce their energy consumption by the specific level requested on the day of the event, Direct Energy will award the customer a 5% discount on their next billing cycle. Enrolled customers who did not reduce their energy usage will have an opportunity to complete an online survey to receive a $5 discount off their next bill.

On the day of an event, peak hours for use reduction will be from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. during winter days; and from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. during summer days.

"Our new Reduce Your Use Rewards (or Bounce Back Energy Savings) program is mutually beneficial for our customers and for the health of the grid, especially on days when energy conservation can be a factor in determining whether there are rolling blackouts," said Manu Asthana, president of Direct Energy Residential. "This program empowers our customers to reduce their use during peak load periods when we call on them to do so and to be rewarded for their actions."

Eligible customers who have smart meters installed in their home are now able to enroll in the Direct Energy Reduce Your Use Rewards or Bounce Back Energy Savings program through MyAccount, Direct Energy's online customer portal. New customers are able to opt in during their digital enrollment process. Customers must consent to receiving notifications via email, text and MyAccount messaging when opting into the program. The bill credit of 5% will be taken from energy and transmission and distribution service provider (TDSP) charges, and customers must login to MyAccount to accept. All customers will be notified about 1-2 weeks after a called event with the results and must accept their bill credits in MyAccount within 45 days. Customers must be enrolled in the Demand Response program and agree to the Terms and Conditions to receive any rewards.

For further information, please contact:
Jessica Michan
Direct Energy
jessica.michan@directenergy.com
713-904-7488