Philadelphia Families to Benefit From Emergency Utility Assistance Through Donation by Just Energy

PHILADELPHIA, March 1, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- A non-profit social service agency providing emergency utility assistance for thousands of Philadelphia families will benefit from a donation thanks to Just Energy.

A $5,000 donation will be used by the Utility Emergency Services Fund (UESF), a non-profit utility assistance agency which supports more than 5,000 low-income families throughout the city of Philadelphia. Clients turn to UESF as a last resort to avoid termination of utility services.

"UESF welcomes Just Energy into the Philadelphia utility market and is grateful for the company's philanthropic gesture toward our crucial programs and services for low-income families throughout the city. We look forward to ongoing opportunities to partner with Just Energy in the months ahead," said John Rowe, UESF Executive Director.

Last year UESF assisted 4,800 families with $2.4 million in assistance grants and expects this year to serve more than 5,000 with well over $4 million in grants. The average UESF participant is a single female parent living in Philadelphia between the ages of 21 and 60, with between 1 and 3 children and an average annual income of $13,668.

"Supporting our communities by helping those most in need is part of how we do business at Just Energy," said Ken Hartwick, CEO and President of Just Energy. "We are proud to work with the Utility Emergency Services Fund, the only emergency utility assistance non-profit in Philadelphia which helps the most vulnerable with essential needs."

The donation comes with Just Energy's expansion in the Philadelphia market as a competitive energy retailer. Just Energy will market services to consumers under its Commerce Energy brand creating more jobs and further local investment in the state of Pennsylvania.

About the UESF

Since 1983, UESF has provided over $65 million of utility assistance to over 150,000 families throughout the City of Philadelphia. By focusing on the need for utility assistance as part of a larger housing stabilization issue, UESF has recently expanded its scope to assist vulnerable families with rent, mortgage and security deposits. This multi-tiered approach addresses the energy poverty problem in a more complete and holistic manner, allowing families to achieve a fresh start, and begin moving toward self-sufficiency.

About Just Energy

Just Energy is one of North America's leading electricity and natural gas retailers with offices in Canada and the U.S. Through its affiliates under its parent, Just Energy Group Inc, a publicly traded corporation (TSX: JE), Just Energy provides more than 1.6 million residential, commercial and small industrial customers with the peace of mind that comes from knowing that they are protected from energy price volatility. In addition, through National Home Services, Just Energy sells and rents high efficiency and tankless water heaters, and through its subsidiary Terra Grain Fuels, produces and sells wheat-based ethanol. Just Energy is poised to become an industry leader in providing environmentally responsible energy supply solutions to consumers across North America. To learn more about Just Energy please visit www.justenergy.com.

SOURCE Just Energy