Direct Energy is North America's energy and energy services retailer. The company was founded in 1986. The company has more than six million customers in Canada and the United States, making it the largest energy retailer in North America. Direct Energy is a subsidiary of the Centrica utility company based in the UK.
Video Direct Energy
History
Direct Energy was established in Toronto in 1986, as a competitive energy retailer. In 2000, the company was acquired by Centrica, the UK-based British Gas energy manufacturing company.
In 2010, Direct Energy acquired Clockwork Home Services which makes Direct Energy the largest energy and home-based retailer in North America. Clockwork has three brands: One Hour Air Conditioning & amp; Heating, Benjamin Franklin Plumbing and Mister Sparky, specializing in plumbing, electricity and air conditioning and heating and service, all of which have earned Diamond Certified Award for excellent service.
Direct Energy acquired a number of upstream assets, including gas reserves and power generation facilities. These include: Quintana Mineral Resources, Bastrop Energy Center, Frontera Energy Center, Paris Energy Center, and Rockyview Energy Inc. Direct Energy has signed a long-term power purchase agreement for 813 MW of electricity from five wind farms in Texas.
Direct Energy owns and operates approximately 4,600 natural gas wells in Alberta, the latter acquiring natural gas assets from Suncor Energy and Shell Canada.
The company's new strategy demands increased investment in North America, particularly to increase upstream assets up to 35-40%; it also plans to grow its downstream business in the core markets of Texas, US, Northeast and Canada. Chris Weston became President & amp; CEO of Direct Energy on July 1, 2009 after retiring from Deryk King.
Direct Energy announced in January 2012 that it will move its corporate headquarters from Toronto to Houston in the next 12 to 18 months. The headquarters will be at the Greenway Plaza location where upstream energy and upstream business firms are now based.
In 2012, Iberdrola USA sold its energy services company, Energetix and NYSEG Solutions, to Direct Energy.
In early 2014, Direct Energy partnered with Nest Labs to create a plan that would include a smart thermostat. Nest smart thermostats will enhance the ability of homeowners and renters to monitor their home temperatures to improve energy efficiency. In August 2014, Direct Energy increased their ability to provide services that improve the efficiency of American and Canadian homes when announcing its partnership with SmartThings. SmartThing hubs allow users to connect with smart devices, secure homes with sensors, and control certain electrical devices.
In November 2015, the company acquired Panoramic Power startup Israel, a manufacturer of wireless circuit level sensors that collect energy information, for $ 60 million.
Maps Direct Energy
Products and services
US Energy's immediate operating period covers 46 states and the District of Columbia including: Texas, Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, Pennsylvania, California, Connecticut, Maryland, Delaware, Massachusetts, Florida, North Carolina , Kentucky, Indiana, Alabama, Oklahoma, and Virginia. Although it does not provide services to customers and residential businesses in Oklahoma, Direct Energy has set up an Operations Center in Tulsa. In Canada, Direct Energy operates in Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, and Newfoundland and Labrador.
For residential and small business customers, Direct Energy offers fixed-price electricity and gas plans, as an alternative to local utilities or in competition with local competitive energy providers. In Texas, Direct Energy offers a pre-paid electricity plan, Power-To-Go . In Ontario, Direct Energy leases water heaters to about 600,000 residential homeowners. Through its services division, Direct Energy installs and serves heating, ventilation and air conditioning equipment. It can also conduct energy retrofits and other energy management projects at larger facilities. The Home and Business Services Division of Direct Energy employs over 1,400 technicians who provide residential customers with heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC), plumbing, home improvements, water heaters and electrical appliance services.
Direct Energy is a provider of gas and electricity set up in Alberta, operating under the Direct Regulated Service brand. It also offers deregulation services in the Province, operating as Direct Energy.
In South Texas, Direct Energy operates as CPL Retail Energy and CPL Business.
In West Texas, Direct Energy operates as WTU's Retail Energy and WTU Businesses.
Community investment
Direct Energy encourages volunteerism within their organizations through company internal policies, rewards programs, and grants. Direct Energy encourages their employees to take their first step into community engagement by offering one-day volunteers paid each year. Interested employees can choose a charity or organization to lend their expertise.
- Citizen Volunteers of the Year
This year's Voluntary Citizenship Program allows citizens to nominate individuals or organizations who have been through volunteer work to make their communities better. The winner can choose a charity to receive $ 5000. Last year, the award was given to Paul Garrett for his efforts to clean up his community and encourage sustainable practices. Garret chose to contribute to the Environmental Center and Environmental Center at the Mechanicsburg Area School District.
- Reduce Your Use For Good
Your Reduction Program For Good Grant Programs are created to help organizations improve the energy efficiency of their programs or products. In the past, grants have enabled organizations to improve efficiency. In the past, grants were granted to the Pittsburgh community food bank, the Creative Housing of Medina, and the Allegheny Valley Animal Protector.
Deregulation of position
Former CEO Chris Weston has given several speeches stating the need to deregulate the energy market and the consumer's need to pay the actual price for energy than what he considers his current low artificial position. Weston speaks at the 21st KEMA Executive Forum on the benefits of the competitive energy market and the value it has for consumers. He also writes opinions on this issue.
Controversy
- Employee sales awareness
May 2004 - Direct Energy fined C $ 157,500 in 2003 after investigators found 25 sales agents they were forging contracts to trap Ontario and US citizens into long-term energy contracts. After counterfeiting by sales employees was found, Direct Energy president Paul Massara reported that "action [is taken to] address this issue and we have moved away since then."
May 2009 - Some Direct Energy Sales staff fail to explain to customers that they are signing up for unregulated energy tariffs. To prevent this problem from continuing, Direct Energy works with Alberta Services to train staff and implement practices that will prevent sales staff from deliberately or unintentionally misleading residents about energy plans. The company was fined more than $ 5,000 in fines for damages caused by negligence. The Government of Ontario has passed a bill that will require energy retailers to follow up on every contract sold to ensure customers have been willing to make purchases that should allow energy companies to ensure that customers are unaffected by unethical sales.
- Water Heater Rental Contract
March 2012 - Direct Energy, Reliance Comfort, and other water heater customers allegedly created water heater contracts with high exit costs, long-term contracts, and high purchase costs to make it difficult for today's customers to switch suppliers. In November 2012, the federal Competition Bureau began to find out whether water heating companies are currently involved in anti-competitive practices.
- Final Penalty
March 2014 - An Alberta judge has certified a class action lawsuit against Direct Energy accusing the company of violating the Criminal Code and the Canadian Interests Act. The lawsuit alleges a late payment term from Direct Energy effectively charges customers 91 percent interest rates on late payments. Class action is still in progress.
See also
- Deregulation of the Texas electric market
- Texas Electricity Reliability Board (ERCOT)
- Ontario electrical policy
- Universal Energy Corporation
References
External links
- Official website
- Direct Sales Calgary Herald Special Report on Direct Energy
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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