Direct Energy Offering "Free Power Saturday" Plan at PPL

Direct Energy has launched a "Free Power Saturday" product at PPL, offering generation supply at 0 cents per kWh for usage on Saturdays.

Under the Pennsylvania market design, distribution charges still apply.

The Free Power Saturday product is a 12-month plan with a fixed rate of 9.99 cents per kWh for all hours except those on Saturday, during which time there is no charge for generation service.

The non-Saturday rate of 9.99 cents per kWh compares to Direct Energy's 12-month fixed rate of 8.59 cents per kWh listed on PA Power Switch. Both products do not include an early termination fee.

Direct's product is enabled by PPL's current metering technology, and Direct is not offering the plan in any other service area at this time. Direct said that it plans to roll out other innovative products taking advantage of PPL's metering technology later this year.

Direct said that if a customer dries two loads of clothes using an electric dryer on Saturday instead of another day during the week, the customer can save approximately $50 a year, compared to what it would otherwise cost to dry those two loads during the rest of the week on the product.

Direct further said that a 10% shift from on-peak to off-peak electricity consumption by its projected consumers will reduce market costs by 1%. Direct further said that, last year, PPL customers paid $3.2 billion for electricity, and the 1% reduction translates into savings of more than $30 million dollars.