Direct Energy announced the launch on October 14 of its Live Brighter Weekends plan, which allows eligible retail electric customers to enjoy free power Friday through Sunday, 54 hours per week.
The offer currently is available in certain Texas competitive electricity markets in which smart meters have been enabled – including Houston, Dallas/Fort Worth, Tyler, Waco, Corpus Christi and McAllen. Under the plan, energy consumption is free to Direct Energy customers beginning 6 p.m. Friday until midnight Sunday. The company claims that this marks the first time an electricity company has offered a true free weekend plan that begins on Friday evening.
Live Brighter Weekends requires a 12- month contract with a $135 cancellation fee. Rates differ depending on the service area. For example in Houston, in the CenterPoint Energy Service Area, under the 12-month indexed plan, Live Bright Weekends is available for an energy charge of 9.8 cents per kilowatt hour (KWh) during non-free hours and 0 cents/KWh during free hours (as well as a base charge of $4.95 per month, and CenterPoint delivery charges of $5.47 per month and 3.949 cents/KWh). All delivery charges will be prorated and the customer will not be billed for any Transmission and Distribution Utility (TDU) delivery charges during the designated free period.
In addition, in Houston only at this time, Live Brighter Weekends also is available under a 24-month indexed plan, with an energy charge of 10.3 cents/KWh during non-free hours and 0 cents/KWh during free hours (as well as a base charge of $4.95 per month, and CenterPoint delivery charges of $5.47 per month and 3.949 cents/KWh). All delivery charges will be prorated and the customer will not be billed for any TDU delivery charges during the designated free period.
Direct Energy notes that the price may change during the 12-month contract term, and that the amount of the price differential would be dictated by any changes in TDU Delivery Charges, TDU Surcharges, changes to the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) or Texas Regional Entity administrative fees charged to loads; or changes resulting from federal, state or local laws or regulatory actions that impose new or modified fees or costs that are outside the retailer’s control.
“At Direct Energy, we empower our customers to choose a plan that best fits their lifestyle,” said David Draper, the company’s general manager in Texas. “We are excited to offer innovative products … that are not available anywhere else in the market.”
