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About Direct Energy
Direct Energy is an electricity and natural gas provider that services homes and businesses in select states and territories. The company offers online bill pay options and smart home bundles.
Top Direct Energy Reviews
Direct Energy wasn't as high in cost as the other companies at that time, so I didn't have to pay as many. I signed up for two years in the Fort Bend area, west side of Houston. T...
Read full review...We used Reliant prior and I prefer Direct Energy over them. Our bills have been way less than when we were with the other provider and I have no complaints. Also, I haven't had...
Read full reviewWhat is Direct Energy?
Direct Energy is one of North America's top providers of electricity, natural gas and other energy-related products, including water heater rentals and warranties, for both businesses and homes. It offers protection, maintenance and repairs for all its appliances and systems, as well as easy-to-use software that helps track and control energy usage.
Direct Energy is a Texas-based company and serves a large population in Houston and Dallas. Not only does it give you the tools you need to be energy-savvy — it also prioritizes environmental sustainability and donates to various outreach organizations in the community, including Texas Children’s Hospital and the Children’s Miracle Network.
Direct Energy plans
Buying energy can be a confusing process, but Direct Energy can help simplify electricity and natural gas purchases. The company offers contracts ranging from 12 to 36 months. On its website you’ll find available natural gas and electricity-based energy plans, with four electricity options you can customize:
- Fixed-rate plan: This plan creates a consistent bill based on a customized contract and offers protection from changes in energy market prices. Your price will stay the same for the duration of your agreement.
- Variable-rate plan: This plan doesn’t offer a set rate or contract term. Instead, it’s based on a month-to-month basis. You can cancel your service at any time, but your rates will fluctuate with the market.
- Smart home offers: This electricity plan is bundled with smart home devices like the Echo Dot.
- Free electricity plan: This is a time-of-use plan that offers some free electricity depending on your daily and weekly energy usage.
For natural gas, Direct Energy offers only a fixed-rate plan in some locations.
Direct Energy rates
Direct Energy provides competitive electricity and natural gas prices in its service area. Although its rates constantly fluctuate due to the nature of the energy market, its electricity costs seem to settle around $0.109/kWh for the 36-month plan and $0.118/kWh for the lower-tier 12-month plan. All its electric and natural gas plans come with a $4.95 base charge.
Direct Energy FAQ
Does Direct Energy offer month-to-month plans?
Yes, it offers variable rate plans for electricity (but not for natural gas).
Does Direct Energy offer natural gas plans?
Yes, Direct Energy offers fixed-rate natural gas plans in select states.
Where is Direct Energy available?
It’s available in 15 U.S. locations — Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, and Washington, D.C. — as well as three in Canada: Alberta, British Columbia, and Ontario.
Can I pay my Direct Energy bill online?
Yes, you can manage your account online and pay your bill through the easy-to-use website.
Is Direct Energy legit?
Direct Energy is a legitimate energy provider that supplies over 6 million homes in the U.S. and Canada with natural gas and electricity. Its award-winning service is likely to meet your energy needs, and its competitive rates and upfront pricing make it worth considering if you’re looking for a new provider.
Direct Energy Reviews
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This is the worst utility company ever. I don't recommend to sign with it as you can tell most of the clients are not happy with this company and when you look at their rates you will see the rate is 5 stars. Somebody obviously is cheating the reviews system within. They will sign you up for 2 or 3 years but they will bail out after 35 months so they can send a sky high bill. Be careful if you switch the company. They send you a cancellation fees bill and make you double pay the last bill amount and send it to collection dept.
I recently found out from a reputable source, that I may have been scammed into paying too much per month. I was told to get legal counsel, someone to check into this, possible lawsuit. Ask anyone else you know who may have them as their supplier to also do the same. Maybe class action.
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I own a house. **. I do not live in this house. It is a rental house. They put a switch hold on because a tenant did not pay his bill. For 3 weeks we have been trying to get it removed. I have sent everything they've asked. I even received an email stating switch hold removed. Now I have new tenants trying to move in. They went through their provider to transfer service to the address. Cannot turn power on because Direct Energy put the switch hold back on. These people had to cancel their movers and they're about to be homeless because of direct energy. For 3 weeks I have been sending them everything they needed to remove the switch hold prior to renting out the property. I did not want new tenants to have to go through this. It is not right what they're doing. They've blocked my rental house from being rented, They are causing my new tenants to possibly go homeless, They have been sent everything they have asked for over the last 3 weeks.
My deed, my note, they wanted a copy of the previous tenant's lease. They have received everything they need to remove the switch hold. If this is not illegal it should be. The news needs to know about this. The people need to know about this. This is a company that does not care. I have tenants that have nowhere to go because of direct energy. Again direct energy even emailed me and said switch hold was removed after I sent them a copy of my deed to show I own the house and I'm not the one that owed the money. Now they decide to put the switch all back on. They're totally messing up innocent people. That is not right. Today I even tried to find out what my previous tenant owed. I was just going to pay it. Then take them to court to get my money back. They wouldn't even give me that information because I'm not on the account,. So there is no way I can get my new tenants in my house. Wes **
I think this company is absolutely great. But then again I signed up with Direct Energy through UES. As long as you have some form of broker signing you up, you get a great low price that doesn't move with inflation. My price is fixed and nothing about my bill changed. Can't argue with the results. I usually would never write a positive review about an energy company, but I felt it was necessary to write one since I read all these reviews before signing up with them and I have had nothing but positives to say.
I signed up for the 2-month free Electricity Plan. I was going over my billing to try and find my 2 free months. Because I had a credit with them thru the TRR Program. I could not find 1 month with a $0,00 on it. I called and spoke with a supervisor. The actual power is the only thing free, not the services or the delivery of the power! Nothing but the Jules used, Not the kilowatts. This is the same for the free weekends plan and any other so-called free plans. So, Do Not Assume that they are free the more that you use, the delivery of that power is charged per kilowatt and the rental of the service to provide the power to your home is charged and the tax on the free power is also charged on your bill.
My bills are around 225-250 a month and for the 2 free months, I was given a $102.00 credit for the power! That is for both months, not each month. SO FYI: They are using bait advertising without transparency of actual billing. Nowadays I guess false advertising, Trap Contracts, and Bait and switch deals are ethical and accepted. Less on Customer Care and Service and more on The Buyer Beware. JUST SAYIN'!
Julie B
Have been a customer with Direct Energy for years. Never had a problem with them and for the most part reasonable in price. However, I caught an overcharge they have been billing me for the past 2 months, and I called them out on it. At first they were going to refund the amount and I paid my original bill amount. Few days later I receive a text that my electricity is going to be turned off because of a balance I owed. It was the balance they overcharged me for, and are making me pay this amount and then will be credited to my account for the next bill cycle. I should of never been charged to begin with. Now I'm having to pay for their error just so they can credit it back to my account. Makes no sense. They charged me this fee for 2 months without me knowing it. I don't appreciate it. And I will be looking for another electric provider.
I have a condo that I decided to rent out and the tenants are responsible for setting up their own account. I received a bill under my name from Direct Energy. I contacted them and disputed the account set up and charges and had my tenants set up their own account. When I contacted their office to dispute the charges and set up I was told I would be called back. How can an account be set up without the consent of a person. That never happened and I received another bill. Then I contacted them again and provided them with the account number for my tenants to have the amount owing transferred to them. That did not happen so then I received another bill, called again to be told that this would be resolved and that I would not be charged and that my account would be closed.
Fast forward another month and I start getting calls from their collection agency which would hear nothing I would have to say and said my dispute was denied. If I did not pay by a set date that it would show up on my credit score. This has been extremely frustrating and I am out of pocket with no support to the matter. A person should not have accounts set up without their knowledge, concerns should be addressed. Would never recommend this company to anyone.
Had their service for 2 years and was treated well. I was set up for paperless billing and auto pay. But when I switched to a different provider, they locked out my account so I could not see my final bill. Then they kept charging my account saying I had not paid. My attached Account was charged multiple times with the 3 months' previous amounts and they kept adding fees for 4 more months. If you are going to force folks to do Online business DO NOT lock the Account. I will not use this service or recommend to anyone because of this practice.
I received a rejection letter from Direct Energy 11/3/21. They state my Duke Energy account number was wrong. I called 11/4/2021 the phone number provided on the letter to resolve the issue. I was told at that time it could take up to 2 months to switch. I Checked my Duke invoice and my Electric supplier still had not changed. I have spoken to no fewer than 8 people and they are blaming me for not contacting them when I was notified via mail of an account number problem.
I have every name and date of who I have spoken with. I finally got Employee to admit the employee on 11/4/21 who re-entered my account number did not re-enroll my re-entered account number. As we all know rates are higher today and Direct Energy refuses to honor my Enrollment rate in 2021. Follow through is important with Direct Energy if you choose to use them. When our corporate account expires at work I will be switching to another entity. This has soured me towards Direct Energy.
We purchased a house that had a Direct Energy tankless hot water system lease. We asked the real estate agent to make sure the owners cancelled the lease. During the month we took over the property, we contacted Direct Energy to make sure that the lease would be cancelled, the staff member of Direct Energy stated it could be cancelled. We contacted Direct Energy this past week to confirm cancellation, and they denied the request stating we should have saved the information from the previous agent. We are stuck either paying thousands of dollars to cancel or keep the contract, which we never signed, for four years! We are reaching out to any and all organizations, networks, legal, communities to voice our total disagreement of their policies and practices. We have already reached out to the BBB and their complaints department. There will be more to come.
Direct Energy Company Information
- Company Name:
- Direct Energy
- Year Founded:
- 1986
- State/Province:
- TX
- Country:
- United States
- Website:
- www.directenergy.com
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