US retail energy supplier

Direct Energy US

Headquartered in Houston, Texas and owned by NRG Energy (NYSE: NRG) since 2021, Direct Energy is one of the largest North American retail energy suppliers, serving more than 3 million homes and businesses across the deregulated Northeast, Midwest and Texas with electricity, natural gas and home-services bundles.

See Direct plans Call 1-888-305-3828

Founded 1986 ~3 million Houston, TX 12 states served

Founded

1986

Years in the US market

Customers

~3 million

Households served

About

Who is Direct Energy?

Registered as Direct Energy, LP, Direct Energy uses this legal name for state public-utility-commission filings and customer contracts. The trading name on bills is the shorter, more recognisable form.

The company is headquartered in Houston, TX, where it runs senior management, customer operations and regulatory liaison with state commissions.

Direct Energy was established in 1986. A longer track record means more years operating under state-commission rules and a wider history of customer feedback, billing and regulatory interactions.

Direct Energy is part of the NRG Energy group, which provides shared governance, financial backing and a broader pool of expertise in wholesale-market trading, hedging and regulatory work.

Service area

Where Direct Energy operates

Electricity

10 states

Natural gas

8 states

Service availability varies by zip code within each state. Eligibility depends on your local utility's deregulation status — check on Direct Energy's website with your zip code before enrolling.

Plan structure

What plan types does Direct Energy offer?

Fixed-rate

Lock in a unit rate for 6, 12, 24 or 36 months. The most popular Direct Energy product — strong choice for households that want predictable bills.

Variable / month-to-month

Wholesale-indexed rate that changes each billing cycle. No commitment, no early-termination fee — but rate can swing during peak season.

Free Power Weekends / Nights

Texas-specific time-of-use plans where weekend or overnight electricity is free. Higher daytime rate compensates — math only works if your usage genuinely shifts.

Green / 100% renewable

Same fixed-rate structure matched with Green-e certified RECs. Small per-kWh premium over the standard plan.

Home services

HVAC, plumbing, electrical and appliance protection plans bundled with the energy contract.

Renewable content: Direct Energy's 100% Green plans are matched with Green-e certified Renewable Energy Certificates sourced primarily from US wind farms. Parent NRG also operates a growing portfolio of wind and solar assets.

See current Direct plans & rates

Timeline

Direct Energy — key moments

1986

Direct Energy is founded in Toronto, Canada as a retail natural-gas marketer.
2000

UK-based Centrica plc acquires Direct Energy, expanding the brand across deregulated North American markets.
2002

Direct Energy enters Texas as a retail electric provider during the state's deregulation rollout.
2011

Acquires Gateway Energy Services and First Choice Power, scaling the US footprint.
2021

NRG Energy completes the $3.6 billion acquisition of Direct Energy from Centrica, instantly becoming the largest retail energy provider in North America.

Contact

Reach Direct Energy customer service

Direct Energy's customer service handles enrollment questions, billing, switching and complaints. Have your account number from a recent bill ready to speed up the call.

Have your Direct Energy account number from a recent bill ready to speed up the call.
For service outages or downed wires, call your local utility — not Direct. The retail supplier never handles the physical grid.
Texas customers use a different phone number (1-855-461-1926 for new orders) and a separate customer portal (oam.directenergy.com).
Online chat available during business hours for billing and account questions.

Customer service

1-888-305-3828

Mon-Fri 7 a.m. - 8 p.m., Sat 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. CT

Direct Energy online account

Frequently asked

Direct Energy — answers to common questions

Direct Energy is regulated by the public utility commission in each state where it operates. Reliability is best judged against your own usage profile: read recent reviews, confirm the customer-service hours match when you actually need to call, and compare the unit rate against the utility's price-to-compare for your zip code.

Plans can typically be enrolled directly on Direct Energy's website or by calling 1-888-305-3828. Before signing up, always compare the unit rate (¢/kWh for electricity, $/therm for gas) against your utility's price-to-compare for your zip code.

You can switch your retail supplier at any time, though early termination fees (typically $50-$200) may apply if you are on a fixed-rate plan and within the contract term. Check your enrollment letter or Terms of Service for the exact figure. Switching back to your default utility supply is always free.