With almost five million residential and business customers throughout North America, Direct Energy is one of the largest retail providers of electricity, natural gas, and home services. Direct Energy plans are among the most competitive offerings in Texas.
| Plan Name | Term | Rate/kWh |
|---|---|---|
| Direct Energy Live Brighter Lite 12 | 12 | 13.9 ¢ |
| Direct Energy Live Brighter Lite 24 | 24 | 14.9 ¢ |
| Direct Energy Bright Secure 12 | 12 | 15.5 ¢ |
| Direct Energy Apartment Basics 12 | 12 | 15.5 ¢ |
| Direct Energy Live Brighter 1K+ 24 | 24 | 16.2 ¢ |
| Direct Energy Twelve Hour Power 12 | 12 | 23.6 ¢ |
Shop Direct Energy Electricity Rates by Zip
Direct Energy at a Glance
Our Quick Take
Direct Energy is one of the larges retail providers of electricity in Texas. As part of the NRG Company, they have solid corporate backing. They also have a long history of supporting community programs across Texas. Unfortunately, their premium pricing puts them out of consideration for many of our customers.
Key Facts:
- Company Address: 1301 McKinney St Suite 48000, Houston, TX 77010
- Year Founded: 2001
- Renewable Energy Commitment: green energy plan available.
- Plan Types Offered: Fixed rate, free weekends, bill credit
- Ownership: Owned by NRG (same parent company as Reliant Energy)
- Customer Service: 24/7 customer service at 844-879-7711
- Bill Pay Log-in: Direct Energy bill-pay login
Pros and Cons of Direct Energy
Direct Energy is a big, well known company that advertises extensively. That comes with a price.
Pros for Direct Energy
- Large stable provider
- 24/7 customer service
- Weekly usage reports that help you budget
- 90-day satisfaction guarantee to switch to another plan
Cons for Direct Energy
- Premium brand with premium pricing
- Expensive free nights plan
Direct Energy Electricity Plans
Here’s a comparison chart of Direct Energy plans.
| Direct Energy Plans | Plan Type | Plan Details | Who This Plan is For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Direct Energy Bright Secure | Fixed Rate | Basic fixed rate plan with $4.95 monthly base charge | Texas homes that use over 750 kWh |
| Direct Energy Live Brighter Lite | Fixed Rate | Basic fixed rate plan with a $9.95 monthly usage charge if you use more than 1000 kwh | Smaller homes that use less than 1000 kWh/month |
| Direct Energy Live Brighter 1K+ | Fixed Rate | Basic fixed rate plan with a $9.95 monthly usage charge if you use less than 1000 kwh | Larger homes using over 1000 kWh/month |
| Direct Energy Apartment Basics | Tiered Rate | Complex plan with a monthly base charge, low price per kWh under 1000 and a 20% higher rate for all kWh over 1000 | Homes that use under 1000 kWh/month |
| Direct Energy Twelve Hour Power | Time of use | Free energy & delivery 9pm - 9am. Monthly base charge of $9.95/month. Assumes 55% of power used during free time | Homes where someone's away all day; recommend ceiling fans to stay cool 6pm - 9pm to avoid high charges |
Read our Direct Energy plans review to find out which one is for you.
Direct Energy Reviews
Direct Energy is a long-time electricity provider in Texas, with millions of customers. Make sure to consider them when you’re shopping for your next electricity plan.
Overall Customer Satisfaction
Direct Energy has a rating of 4.0/5 on Google. Reviews on another ratings site, Consumer Affairs, tell a different story with a 1/5 rating and 3X the number of reviews. If you value customer reviews, make sure you check out the issues.
What Customers Like
Customers who give positive reviews note the 24/7 customer service and helpful agents. Others like the mobile app and user portal, free nights plan and community involvement.
Common Complaints
Complaints for Direct Energy include poor customer service from unprofessional agents, slow payment processing if you mail a check, and inflexible payment policies. Consumer also note a lot of upsell for other services including Vivant home protection or HVAC maintenance.
Is Direct Energy Right for You?
Direct Energy is a great fit for you if you value:
- Name brand company
- 24/7 customer service
- Highly rated mobile app
- Mid-month usage summaries and high usage alerts for bill planning
- Backing of a large publicly traded company
Direct Energy is not a great fit if you prefer:
- Lower cost electricity options
- Weekly usage reports
- Independent companies
Direct Energy Frequently Asked Questions
Direct Energy is a well-respected company that’s a long-time player in Texas electricity. However, we find that many of their plans are priced above market level.
Yes, you can get same day service with Direct Energy Monday – Saturday when you enroll by 3pm. You can enroll online or call 844-879-7711.
Direct Energy runs a soft credit check when you enroll, and may require a deposit if you don’t meet their minimum credit threshold.
Direct Energy offers a prepaid electricity plan called Power to Go Prepaid, which we don’t feature on our web site. Check out Payless Power as an alternative for prepaid.
Direct Energy offers a 90-day satisfaction guarantee. They will let you switch to any of their other plans in your first 90 days without an early termination fee. This makes it a great way to try a bill credit or free nights plan, then switch to a fixed rate if it’s not for you. It’s also a good option if rates drop.
Yes, Direct Energy has used door to door sales teams extensively in the past. They may or may not be using door to door still for Texas enrollments. If someone comes to your door, we recommend not signing up. You will always find a cheaper rate on ElectricityPlans vs. what’s pitched at your door.
