Direct Energy a New Choice for Gas Customers in Maryland

Guaranteed price protection for residential customers through winter months

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Jan 12, 2011, 11:39 ET

BALTIMORE, Jan. 12, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- With the excess of the Christmas holidays behind us and a resolution to "tighten our belts" in the new year, now more than ever, consumers are conscious of managing their energy bills through winter and looking for simple ways to ease the pressure on their pocket books.

With this in mind, Direct Energy, one of North America's leading energy companies, is offering a new and competitive guaranteed fixed-price deal, with no early cancellation fee, to natural gas customers in the Baltimore Gas and Electric area beginning today.

The Direct Energy natural gas deal includes:

A 12-month fixed price of $0.699 per therm
Price protection for natural gas customers
No early cancellation fee

"This is an ideal time of year to think about making simple changes to help manage your energy bills," said Steven Murray, president of Direct Energy's residential business.

"We believe customers should have the power to choose a deal that best suits their energy needs. Thousands have already chosen Direct Energy to supply electricity to their homes in Maryland, so we're growing our business and using our energy expertise to offer gas as well as electricity to residents and small commercial businesses."

Direct Energy has supplied electricity to Maryland businesses since 2004 and expanded its service to provide electricity to residential customers in June 2010. The company's expertise also extends to home heating and cooling, electrical and plumbing services through its Chilltrol, One Hour, Mister Sparky and Benjamin Franklin brands across the state.

As well as providing peace-of-mind through fixed-term prices that let customers budget for their energy costs through the colder winter months, Direct Energy offers expert advice to help customers use energy more efficiently.

Here are some tips that can help customers better manage their short- and long-term energy needs.

Quick Fixes

Seal your doors, windows and air ducts with weather-stripping or caulk.
Install a programmable thermostat, which can automatically lower and raise your home's air temperature when you are at work or sleeping.
Turn off heat or close vents in unused rooms and shut the doors.
Change the direction of airflow on your ceiling fan. For those cold winter months, the blades should operate in a clockwise direction, helping to push the warm air from the ceiling down into the room.
Have a professional, trained technician inspect your heating and cooling systems twice a year – in the spring and in the fall. Preventative maintenance can avoid costly breakdowns and repairs and extend the life of your home's systems.
Clean or replace your system's filter every month to keep your heating and cooling system running smoothly and efficiently. A good rule of thumb is to clean or change your filter each time you pay your electricity bill.

Lasting Fixes

Ensure cavity walls are filled with insulation, which could help you save money every year.
Check the attic insulation levels, or ask a professional to come in to check for you. Attic insulation prevents energy waste during both winter and summer months, so make sure your insulation level is adequate.
Don't lose heated air up your chimney! The chimney acts like an open window. Remember to close the chimney flue when the wood-burning fireplace isn't in use.

For more on Direct Energy's energy efficiency tips and information, please visit www.directenergy.com and navigate to the About Us, Committed to Energy Efficiency section.

Customers who are interested in more information about Direct Energy's products and services or who wish to switch to Direct Energy can call, toll-free, 1-888-200-7930 or visit the company's website at: www.directenergy.com.

About Direct Energy

Direct Energy is one of North America's largest energy and energy-related services providers with more than 6 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 U.S. states plus the District of Columbia and 10 provinces in Canada.

SOURCE Direct Energy