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

HOUSTON, Oct. 10, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- 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, 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 offer a safe, reliable light source for any situation. Luci lights use solar power and can brighten a room for up to 18 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.

About Direct Energy

Direct Energy is one of North America's largest energy and energy-related services providers with nearly five million residential and commercial customers. 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 50 U.S. states plus the District of Columbia and 10 provinces in Canada. To learn more about Direct Energy, please visit www.directenergy.com.

About MPOWERD

MPOWERD is a New York City-based B Corp that works hard every day to make clean energy products that are affordable, easy to use and good for the earth - that's why they created Luci inflatable solar lights. MPOWERD wants to empower the 1.5 billion people in low-income countries still living without electricity by delivering Luci lights at prices they can afford. The more lights sold, the greater the impact, so every purchase makes a difference. www.mpowerd.com.

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SOURCE Direct Energy

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