ElectricRates

Direct Energy Rates & Plans

Direct Only

Big name, BBB D- rating, aggressive door-to-door sales

Founded 1985
9 States
10.5¢ - 12.5¢
State Certified
41+ Years
Current Rates
Updated 2024-12-24

Overview

10.5¢ - 12.5¢
Rates
12-36 mo.
Terms
$0-295 (varies by plan)
Cancel Fee
None on most plans
Monthly Fee
Plan Types: Fixed Variable Green Rewards

Before You Sign

Strengths

5
  • 41 years in business—one of the oldest retail energy suppliers
  • Wide variety of plan options (fixed, variable, green, rewards)
  • Free nights and weekends plans available in some markets
  • Online account management and smart home integrations
  • Price lock guarantee on fixed-rate plans

Watch Out For

7
  • BBB rating: D- (NOT accredited)
  • 136 BBB complaints in past 3 years, 30 in past 12 months
  • BBB customer reviews: 1.02/5 stars (84 reviews)
  • Cancellation fees up to $295 depending on plan
  • Door-to-door sales complaints: customers signed up without consent
  • Reports of accounts changed without proper authorization
  • Pattern of complaints about rate increases and unexpected charges

About Direct Energy

Direct Energy is one of the oldest and largest retail energy suppliers, founded in 1985 (41 years in business). NRG Energy acquired them in 2012, making them part of one of the biggest integrated power companies in the US. They serve millions of customers across 9+ states. Here's what their BBB profile reveals: D- rating, NOT accredited, with 136 complaints in the past 3 years and 1.02 out of 5 stars from 84 customer reviews. That's one of the lowest customer satisfaction scores we've seen. The complaint pattern is concerning: door-to-door sales representatives signing customers up without their knowledge, accounts being changed without proper authorization, and cancellation fees up to $295 making it expensive to leave. Multiple complaints describe being switched to Direct Energy without consent and then facing obstacles to return to their original provider. You can't sign up through our platform. If you're considering Direct Energy, proceed with extreme caution—especially with any door-to-door representative.

How Pricing Works

Rates typically run 10.5¢ to 12.5¢ per kWh in Ohio—on the higher end compared to other suppliers. They offer variety: fixed rates, variable rates, green energy plans, rewards programs, and their "Free Nights & Weekends" plans in some markets. The options are genuinely extensive. The catch is the cancellation fee structure. Some plans have no ETF, but others charge up to $295. That's among the highest in the industry. Combined with their D- BBB rating and complaint pattern, you need to be very careful about what you're signing up for.

Customer Support

Call them at 1-888-305-3828. Since we can't enroll you, that's your only option. Their BBB response history shows they do respond to complaints, but the volume of complaints (136 in 3 years) suggests systemic issues rather than isolated incidents. Common themes include difficulty reaching supervisors, long hold times, and getting bounced between departments. The door-to-door sales channel is particularly problematic. If anyone comes to your door claiming to represent Direct Energy (or any supplier), never sign anything on the spot. Legitimate suppliers won't pressure you into immediate decisions. Take their information and verify independently.

Customer Feedback

What Customers Like

Many plan options Free nights/weekends plans Long company history Online tools

Common Concerns

Signed up without consent via door-to-door reps High cancellation fees Rates higher than quoted Difficulty canceling service Poor customer service responsiveness

Frequently Asked Questions

How do Direct Energy's Ohio rates compare to other suppliers?

Direct Energy's Ohio rates typically land in the 10.5¢ - 12.5¢ range, but the sticker rate alone won't tell you what you'll pay. Ohio deregulation lets you pick any licensed electric generation supplier (EGS), and Direct Energy competes against dozens of others on rate, term length, monthly fees, and early termination fees. The honest comparison runs your actual usage through each plan's fee structure. Enter your average monthly kWh on the comparison page and we'll rank every available plan by real annual cost, accounting for base charges and bill credits that turn a low headline rate into a high effective rate (or vice versa). That is the only number that predicts your bill.

How do I switch to Direct Energy in Ohio?

Switching to Direct Energy in Ohio takes one form. Your electric distribution company (EDC) (AEP Ohio, Duke, AES Ohio, FirstEnergy) keeps delivering the power and reading your meter — that does not change. Only the supplier on the generation portion of your bill changes. Sign up through Smart Enroll on this site: we collect your address, current account info, and signature, then submit the enrollment to Direct Energy electronically. the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) requires a confirmation period before the switch takes effect, usually on your next meter read. There's no service interruption, no second meter, no installation. Your old supplier is dropped automatically. Switching is free in Ohio; any early termination fee comes from your current contract, not the switch itself.

Are Direct Energy's Ohio plans worth it at my usage?

Whether Direct Energy's plans pay off depends on your monthly kWh — not the advertised rate. A "low" 10.5¢ cents per kWh plan with a $9.95 monthly base charge costs more than a higher-rate plan with no fees if you use under 1,000 kWh. A bill credit plan that requires 1,000+ kWh to trigger is cheap for a 2,000 kWh household and expensive for a 700 kWh apartment. Enter your monthly usage on the comparison page and we'll pull real fee structures from Direct Energy's plans and competitors, then show the total annual cost at your usage. That ranking is what matters; the sticker rate isn't.

What happens after I sign up with Direct Energy?

After you complete Smart Enroll, we match you to a current Direct Energy plan based on what's actually available the day you sign up — specific plan terms depend on Direct Energy's active offers at that moment, since suppliers add and retire plans frequently. Ohio doesn't require a deposit to switch suppliers, and your electric distribution company (EDC) won't run a separate credit check for the supplier change. You'll get a confirmation from Direct Energy with your contract terms, then a notice from your utility confirming the switch date. Your first bill arrives from your utility as usual — the Direct Energy supply charge appears as a line item. No service interruption, no new meter, no installation visit.

Sources

Verified

Last updated 2024-12-24