U.S. can help provide light to mllions with new Give Brighter Plan

We profiled Direct Energy two years ago at Greenfest/Boston.  This is a good follow up and, clearly, an innovative program.  

Profiling smart, creative utility companies is clearly part of our mission in helping you find the new, expanding energy foundation that will help you smartly power your future:

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 companybehind 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'spartners. 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.