Direct Energy

[jaybird]

I'm in Alberta and we already get out gas from Direct Energy. They've come around to see if we'd like to get our electricity from them as well. They'll lock us in at at below the current market price. I double checked and we can cancel without penalty whenever we want (with a 30 day notice to them), if the current market price falls below what they lock us in at we can call them and they will lower our locked in price to that lower price (the onus is on us to call them though). I'm sure there is other things I should consider and I'm hoping others will know if I've missed something. Please let me know what experiences you've had with Direct Energy and if I missed any important questions for them. Thanks!!

[KrazE]

I haven't read anything good about them as far as anything beyond hot water tank supply, and my first feeling would be to run in the other direction quickly.

[matchstix]

I slam the door on direct energy employees when they come to my door. How will they make money if they promise you below market price? My friend made the mistake of signing with them and was getting $500 bills and was locked into a contract for a few years.

If something is too good to be true, it usually is

[SarahS83]

I don't know how it works in Alberta do you have the global adjustment? The global adjustment can be a credit or a debit (though is nearly always a debit you have to pay) and can be charge any amount. So lets say you pay 5C/KW with
Direct Energy, on top of that you may end up paying an additional 5C/KW for global adjustment meaning you pay 10C / KW all the time.

Most energy suppliers will future predict the global adjustment and include it in their rate.

That is how it works in ON anyway and why retailers end up costing you so much more on your electricity bill.

[lecale]

.

[PurpleBunny89]

Wheres the catch?

Sounds too good to be true.

[Lily's mommy]

Don't do it! Just google them and you will see websites dedicated to slamming them!!

[kerrylj]

Somehow I had gotten signed up with them back when the hydro was being deregulated. The one thing that was in that paperwork was that any rebate you may be due to get from the government goes to them instead. It ends up costing you more money in the long run as well somehow. They would not be in business if they were not making a profit on these things.

I would put my name in the RUN category as well. I managed to get out of mine because somehow they never signed the account up properly with the utility. Otherwise I would have had to pay hundreds to cancel it.

[blueeyetea]

Friends of mine got locked in, and the rate the electricity sold to them always remained good. What didn't stay stable were the delivery charges, which could go up as Direct Energy wanted. In the end, she saved less than if she had stayed with the Ontario Hydro and suffered the ups and down.

[SarahS83]

Delivery charges are not controlled by retailers and go up and down as your usage goes up and down.(in ON) The only portion the retailer controls is the electricity price . This item (in ON anyway) is open to being sold by anyone at any price. Just be aware that global adjustment will go up and down with a retailer and is not built into the rates.

[jaybird]

Eek! I think this is one of those times it's good to be Albertan. We don't have global adjustment, delivery charges are not controlled by retailers and other than having to give 30 days notice to cancel we've signed no contract. I put this same question to a local buy n sell group for our area on facebook and it's been largely positive feedback. Sorry to all those who've had crappy experiences out there!!

[SarahS83]

Ah that does sound better, The main problem with retailers in ON is they could do whatever they wnted for a long time with no rules. Finally the OEB is laying down the law and protecting people more. Forcing the retailer to declare a lot more and not gloss over the facts. Looks like Alberta has a lot more regulations/competition in place

[salady]

You've had a fair good bit of advice here in this thread. Also stay away from Just Energy, Summit Energy, etc....basically ANY energy or solicitor that comes to your door.

[chevygirl_z28]

My fiance used to work for a company that was an "authorized representative" of DE... so basically the same company.

ANYWAY, we just moved into our home and some guy shows up at the door with a DE clipboard and asks to see our water tank. Even though Steve used to WORK for DE (installing/maintaining/servicing water tanks, furnaces & a/cs) he NEARLY let this guy in - told me later "but he had a CLIPBOARD - I thought we worked for DE!"

Saving grace? Steve noticed he didn't have the right uniform on and realized DE doesn't DO move-in inspections of water tanks.

The scam? They try to get let into the basement to see the water tank/furnace and convince you that you need a new one. AND in most older homes, building code isn't what it is now. So if there's anything wrong, they can take you and pretty much try and force you into a new unit.

In short I wouldn't use DE for anything - Steve doesn't even want to continue renting our water tank from them (why bother, he's a gas tech haha)

The scams that they've run on people are horrible!

[crazycoupongirl]

STAY AWAY FROM THEM, I moved into my new house which I bought 5 years ago, well new to me used home ...
I called about upgrading my water tank, they automatically told me I had a rental of theirs.. which I was 25 had no clue just said o ok no one told me that, they said well last people who owned the house .. paid fee's i'm like well what do i do now, they said nothing they charge me through enbridge .. now .. 5 years later I decided to take out this tank to replace with one a newer one since I was getting zero hot water since the first call, but they refused to change the tank then saying I'd have to pay 1000$ for a chimney liner, I was like no way I just moved in my home I wasn't spending more $.
needless to say the tank I paid for , for 5 years after all that wasn't their tank, it was owned by the previous people and now they owe me $ and YES won't pay me I have been trying to get it for 3 months ridiculous!