Direct Energy Customers Across the U.S. Can Help Provide Light to Millions with New Give Brighter Plan

Houston, TX - Direct Energy®, now offers new Give Brighter electricity and natural gas plans to customers in its United States markets. The fixed plans leverage a partnership with MPOWERD's, the company behind Luci® light, a solar inflatable light. Each time a customer signs up for a new energy plan, they will receive an inflatable, solar Luci light, and one will be donated on their behalf to someone who lives without electricity.

The Give Brighter plan has been available to Texas electricity customers since June. Within the first three months of the product launch, more than 2,000 lights have been sent to MPOWERD's partners. These lights will go to school children in Malawi, families in South America, and women entrepreneurs in South Sudan.

"This program has been so well-received by the Texas market, we wanted to extend the opportunity to all our customers in the United States to give back," said Cullen Hay, General Manager - U.S. Energy, Direct Energy. "We hope that this program not only helps the 1.5 billion people living without electricity, but also helps to bring an added value to our customers."

Created by MPOWERD, Luci lights were developed with the goal of making an affordable clean energy product that people could use in any situation. Using only solar power, Luci lights can brighten a room for up to 12 hours after charging in the sun for 8 hours. MPOWERD works with non-profit community partners to distribute the lights to people in need in countries including Kenya, Haiti, Nepal and the Philippines. The lights enable people to continue their day past sunset, so children can study, entrepreneurs can keep working, and health clinics can stay open.

"Not only has Direct Energy's ongoing contribution to our Give Luci program been heartwarming, but it has bolstered our global efforts in distributing light to those who don't have access to clean energy. They've led the way and set the moral standard around the imperative for corporations to materially participate in solving global issues," said John Salzinger, Co-Founder and Chief Business Development Officer, MPOWERD.

The Give Brighter plan is available to residents in New York, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, Ohio, Illinois, Michigan, Indiana and Washington, D.C. To learn more about this program, please visit www.directenergy.com/givebrighter.