HOUSTON, Oct. 10, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Direct
Energy® now offers new Give Brighter electricity and natural gas plans to customers in its United
States' markets. The fixed plans leverage a partnership with MPOWERD, the company behind Luci® light, a solar inflatable
light. Each time a customer signs up for a new energy plan, they will receive an inflatable, solar Luci light, and one will be
donated on their behalf to someone who lives without electricity.
The Give Brighter plan has been available to Texas electricity customers since June. Within
the first three months of the product launch, more than 2,000 lights have been sent to MPOWERD's partners. These lights will go
to school children in Malawi, families in South America, and
women entrepreneurs in South Sudan.
"This program has been so well-received by the Texas market, we wanted to extend the
opportunity to all our customers in the United States to give back," said Cullen Hay, General Manager - U.S. Energy, Direct Energy. "We hope that this program not only helps the 1.5
billion people living without electricity, but also helps to bring an added value to our customers."
Created by MPOWERD, Luci lights offer a safe, reliable light source for any situation. Luci lights use solar power and can
brighten a room for up to 18 hours after charging in the sun for 8 hours. MPOWERD works with non-profit community partners to distribute the lights to people in need in
countries including Kenya, Haiti, Nepal and the Philippines. The lights enable people to continue their day
past sunset, so children can study, entrepreneurs can keep working, and health clinics can stay open.
"Not only has Direct Energy's ongoing contribution to our Give Luci program been heartwarming, but it has bolstered our global
efforts in distributing light to those who don't have access to clean energy. They've led the way and set the moral standard
around the imperative for corporations to materially participate in solving global issues," said John
Salzinger, Co-Founder and Chief Business Development Officer, MPOWERD.
The Give Brighter plan is available to residents in New York, New
Jersey, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Pennsylvania,
Maryland, Delaware, Ohio,
Illinois, Michigan, Indiana
and Washington, D.C. To learn more about this program, please visit www.directenergy.com/givebrighter.
About Direct Energy
Direct Energy is one of North America's largest energy and energy-related services providers
with nearly five million residential and commercial customers. Direct Energy provides customers with choice and support in
managing their energy costs through a portfolio of innovative products and services. A subsidiary of Centrica plc (LSE: CNA), one
of the world's leading integrated energy companies, Direct Energy operates in 50 U.S. states plus the District of Columbia and 10 provinces in Canada. To learn more about Direct
Energy, please visit www.directenergy.com.
About MPOWERD
MPOWERD is a New York City-based B Corp that works hard every day to make clean energy
products that are affordable, easy to use and good for the earth - that's why they created Luci inflatable solar lights. MPOWERD
wants to empower the 1.5 billion people in low-income countries still living without electricity by delivering Luci lights at
prices they can afford. The more lights sold, the greater the impact, so every purchase makes a difference. www.mpowerd.com.
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SOURCE Direct Energy