About Direct Energy

Direct Energy was recently acquired by Houston-based NRG Energy, which serves all 50 states. Meanwhile Direct Energy itself (also of Houston) serves 12 states and the District of Columbia. The company is one of the largest retail electricity providers (REP) in North America, with more than 4 million customers across the U.S. and Canada.

Direct Energy electric rates are available to residents and businesses across the Lone Star State and other states including Connecticut, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio. New customers can switch plans within 30 days, limiting the risk of choosing a new energy rate or long-term plan.

Enter your ZIP code above to see the best Direct Energy plans in your area.

Direct Energy plans

The SaveOnEnergy marketplace has several energy plans available to customers who want to explore getting electricity supplied by Direct Energy. It is important to note that not all plans are available in all areas. To see energy plans near you, enter your ZIP code above.

Live Brighter 36 plan

With this plan, customers will have a fixed rate for the duration of their 36-month contract. This fixed-rate plan will provide customers with protection from price fluctuations in the energy market.

Live Brighter 12 plan

The Live Brighter 12 plan offers the same protected fixed rate as the Live Brighter 36 plan, but with a shorter contract length.

Twelve Hour Power 12 plan

This year-long plan is also fixed-rate. In addition to the safety of a protected rate, this plan has the added benefit of free electricity every night from 9 p.m. to 9 a.m.

Direct Energy reviews

SaveOnEnergy score: 3.8 out of 5

• Customer service: 4.0
• Online accessibility: 5.0
• Business history: 2.5

For this Direct Energy review, we’ve broken down our scoring model into three main categories: customer service, online accessibility, and business history. This Direct Energy review categories contain the following items:

Customer service: 4.0 out of 5

• Power to Choose complaint score
• Satisfaction guarantee

Online accessibility: 5.0 out of 5

• Online bill pay
• Online chat
• Access to usage alerts & trends

Business history: 2.5 out of 5

• Number of years in business
• Accreditation by the Better Business Bureau

Direct Energy has been in business for 35 years and scored a 5 out of 5 for its online accessibility features. That said, Direct Energy is not accredited by the BBB and its P2C complaint score is average. For more information on SaveOnEnergy.com reviews, see the full list here.

(ratings updated 1/27/2021)

Direct Energy main energy services

Direct Energy for residential customers

With various contract lengths and plan options, Direct Energy is known throughout Texas for its residential energy plans. Some plans include free energy during nights or weekends, while others can power your home using green energy. As mentioned above, Direct Energy also offers a 30-day satisfaction guarantee for new customers.

Direct Energy for business customers

Direct Energy offers individualized business energy plans for small and larger companies. With Direct Energy, companies can benefit from a simple enrollment process and dedicated customer service. Direct Energy provides energy plans to more than 180,000 businesses of all sizes.

Green energy options with Direct Energy

Direct Energy offers several green energy plans powered through renewable resources. The company purchases Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) to offset the customer’s electricity-powered usage through green energy sources, including wind, solar, hydro, and geothermal.

Other Direct Energy initiatives

Refer A Friend program

For every new referral you make, Direct Energy will give you a $50 bill credit and a $50 bill credit to the person you referred. Your referral must sign up for a Direct Energy plan to qualify.

Home protection plans

Direct Energy allows customers to protect their household appliances and HVAC systems with several home protection plan options. Plans include plumbing repairs, heating, and cooling maintenance, and appliance rentals.

Direct Energy Community Investment

Charitable partnerships

Direct Energy works with the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, including the Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston, to invest in its local community. Through its involvement with Motion Miracle Challenge, Direct Energy makes a donation for every mile an employee walks, runs, bikes, or swims.

Direct Energy service areas

• AEP Texas North: This service area covers much of northern Texas, including Abilene and San Angelo.
• AEP Texas Central: This service area includes Corpus Christi, Laredo, and McAllen.
• CenterPoint Energy: This service area covers approximately two million residents and businesses in the Houston metropolitan area.
• Texas-New Mexico Power: This service area covers cities such as Houston, Midland, and Dallas–Fort-Worth.
• Oncor Electric Delivery: This service area spans across Texas, including cities such as Dallas, Plano, and many other areas.

Direct Energy FAQs

How can I pay my Direct Energy bill?

The fastest way is to log onto your Direct Energy account. Your account number sits at the top of your bill, whether you get it in the mail or online.

Will Direct Energy require a deposit?

Possibly. Credit checks are a normal part of the energy buying process. Customers with less than perfect credit can be charged a deposit. (This is true of most providers.) If you want to avoid a credit check, a prepaid electricity plan is a good option. Enter your ZIP code above to see prepaid energy plans in your area.

What services does Direct Energy provide?

The company has residential, business, and green energy options for customers. It features fixed-rate and variable-rate plans. And it has other initiatives including a referral program and more.

Is Direct Energy a good company?

See the SaveOnEnergy.com review above for an unbiased view of the company. That’s one thing that sets our marketplace apart from others.

How do I contact Direct Energy?

As mentioned above, you can sign into your Direct Energy account to pay your monthly bill. For customer service, call 1-888-305-3828. Remember, if you have a power outage, you should contact your utility company. It is responsible for repairing power lines and other equipment used to transmit electricity to your house.

Direct Energy electric rates in my area

Why is it important to find “electrical rates near me”? Because Direct Energy rates vary based on where you live. In fact, you might have the same plan in Dallas as your mom has in Odessa and pay a different price per kWh. These variations are largely due to varying utility transmission charges.

Fortunately, when you search for an electricity plan on SaveOnEnergy using your zip code, you see customized rates for your neighborhood. Enter your zip code above to get started now.

Direct Energy for business

Do you have a commercial venture in Texas? SaveOnEnergy.com can still help with your business electricity needs. To get started, call to speak to a business energy wizard. Or fill out this form to connect with an energy expert about building a custom energy plan for your business. We’ll use the information you provide to customize a business electricity plan for you.

Contact Direct Energy

• Headquarters: Houston, Texas
• Bill pay: Log into your Direct Energy account to pay your bill online
• Customer service: Power to Go Prepaid customers can call 1-877-866-6601, and all other customers can call  1-888-305-3828
• Outages: Contact your utility company