Largest Home Services Provider Starts New Partnership with Television Personality and Skilled Trades Supporter Mike Rowe

Las Vegas, NV (April 10, 2015) - One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning®, Benjamin Franklin Plumbing® and Mister Sparky® electric, part of the Direct Energy family of brands, announced today, at their annual convention in Las Vegas, a first-of-its-kind partnership with Mike Rowe, the creator and executive producer of CNN's "Somebody's Gotta Do It" and Discovery Channel's "Dirty Jobs." The brands, which have committed to donating $100,000 in scholarships to the mikeroweWORKS Foundation over the course of 12 months, will work alongside Rowe to promote the skilled trades industry and empower future and potential trade professionals.

As a part of the partnership, Rowe will appear in several television commercials, radio ads and in printed material alongside real technicians from each of the brands. As a longtime advocate of equipping Americans with technical and critical thinking skills, Rowe will also work with the companies to highlight the benefits of careers in the plumbing, electrical and heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) industries. No other home services provider has embarked on a partnership of this kind to help promote the skilled trades and those who work in it serving customers every day.

"We are pleased to join forces with Mike and appreciate his commitment to the trades," said Mark Baker, president of franchise for the three brands. "The men and women with careers in this field power all three of our brands. We are excited to support them and share the message of how our trusted technicians, plumbers and electricians are like superheroes to our customers, often saving the day when they encounter a problem and helping to protect their homes and families."

Rowe founded the mikeroweWORKS Foundation in 2008 to promote hard work and support the skilled trades.

"The goal of mikeroweWORKS is pretty simple - help close the skills gap by encouraging men and women to get the training they need to pursue good jobs that actually exist," said Rowe. "One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning, Benjamin Franklin Plumbing and Mister Sparky are perfect partners because, collectively, they offer thousands of jobs waiting to be filled. And they know first-hand what a "good job" really is. I'm flattered for the chance to speak on their behalf and grateful for their generous donation to my foundation."

All three brands offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee and an on-time guarantee. It's backed by trusted, highly-skilled, expertly-trained, professionals. For more information about this partnership visit www.benjaminfranklinplumbing.com, www.onehourheatandair.com and www.mistersparky.com.

For further information, please contact:
Monica Yadav
Manager, External Relations, Direct Energy Services
Monica.Yadav@directenergy.com
941-893-6905