Direct Energy and Town of Wethersfield Create Innovative Competitive Electricity Plan for Residents and Small Businesses

Offer is first-in-kind for Connecticut residential electricity market

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Feb 08, 2010, 02:37 ET

WETHERSFIELD, Conn., Feb. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- The Town of Wethersfield and Direct Energy announced Monday they're offering residents and small businesses the opportunity to enroll in the first co-branded residential and commercial electricity offer in the State of Connecticut.

Through a unique program called Direct Choice, the Town of Wethersfield is recommending to its citizens Direct Energy's 12-month, fixed-price electricity plan priced at 9.79 cents per kWh. Senior citizens who enroll in the program will receive a special offer of 8.81 cents per kWh. Residents and businesses are encouraged to sign up before March 1st, to correspond with the Conservation Challenge and to get the new lower rate on the April billing cycle.

"This is the first time an energy supplier and a community have come together to offer valuable energy options to residential customers in Connecticut," said Jeff Bridges, town manager of Wethersfield. "We worked closely with Direct Energy to create an offer that not only included a great price, but also had a value-added benefit such as a senior citizen offer."

Matthew Forrest, Wethersfield Energy Committee member and former Town Councillor addressed the shared vision between the Town and Direct Energy in creating the program. "Both the Energy Committee and Direct Energy were on board with this project from the beginning. This concept was in our Comprehensive plan for Wethersfield's energy future, and when we went out to bid with the idea, Direct Energy understood our mentality and came in with a bid that wasn't only competitive, it was remarkable within the energy community. This plan turns heads. Not to mention Direct Energy makes a contribution back to the Town's Energy Fund for every sign-up, a true corporate citizen."

Residents and small businesses in the community will receive a letter about the program in early February. Officials from the Town of Wethersfield and a representative from Direct Energy will also be available to answer questions about the Direct Choice offer at the upcoming Green Summit III at Wethersfield Town Hall on Thursday, February 11 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

"Direct Energy has similar programs with communities in other states, and has decided to introduce this offer in Connecticut as part of our long-term commitment to helping residents and businesses in Connecticut take control of their energy costs," said Cory Byzewski, vice president and general manager for Direct Energy. "This is just another testament to the value competition brings to the individual customer."

In 2009, Direct Energy saved its residential and small business customers approximately $5.9 million in electric generation costs through its offers in both the United Illuminating and Connecticut Light and Power service territories.

To learn more about Direct Energy's Direct Choice offer, residents can log on to www.directenergy.com or contact Direct Energy's Customer Service Department toll free at: 1-866-803-4618, Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. EST and Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. EST.

About Direct Energy

Direct Energy is one of North America's leading integrated energy companies, with more than 5 million customer relationships in 20 states, the District of Columbia and Canada. It is a subsidiary of Centrica, the sixth-largest utility in the world, which sells natural gas and electricity to more than 30 million customers. Direct Energy has been selling electricity to Connecticut residential customers since 2007 in both the United Illuminating and Connecticut Light & Power service territories. The company also sells natural gas and electricity to large commercial and industrial customers in Connecticut.

Editors' note:

Senior citizen offer is available to individuals 65 years of age and older who own their residence.
2009 savings figure based on an analysis comparing the volume weighted-average rates paid by Direct Energy customers in 2009 against the 2009 published utility rates of United Illuminating and Connecticut Light & Power multiplied by the billed electric usage of Direct Energy customers for 2009.
Below are frequently asked questions on the Direct Choice program, for informational purpose only.

Direct Choice Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is Direct Choice?

Direct Choice is simply an additional option available to citizens to receive electricity services. Under the Direct Choice Program, the Town of Wethersfield has entered into a marketing agreement under which the community has agreed to recommend Direct Energy's electricity services to community residents. If residents want to enroll in the program, they must contact Direct Energy directly. Qualified residents will be enrolled for Direct Energy's electric service on an individual basis. Residents are not required to buy electricity from Direct Energy and are not enrolled through an aggregation pool. Also, if residents are already under contract with another supplier, but wish to enroll with Direct Energy for electricity service, they should review their current contract to determine if they will be charged an early cancellation fee to switch suppliers. Once enrolled, residents become customers of Direct Energy and their service can continue after the marketing agreement with the community expires.

2. Who is sending me my bill/where do I send my payment under the Direct Choice Program?

The local utility will continue to send residents the monthly electricity bill and the residents will continue to send just one payment to the local utility. That payment will cover all of the utility's charges and Direct Energy's charges. Your local utility will also continue to provide service for any emergency and/or maintenance issues.

SOURCE Direct Energy