Direct Energy U.S. Residential Churn Steady

Direct Energy's residential churn levels in the U.S. remain at the lower levels achieved towards the end of 2010 while organic customer growth in the Northeast continues, parent Centrica said this morning in an interim management statement.

Direct Energy's business electric volumes in the first quarter were 17% higher than in 2010, Centrica said.

In Texas, residential energy profits were impacted by the February 2011 weather event, although this negative impact was "largely offset" by higher profits from Direct's Texas gas-fired generation.