New Texas Prepaid Retail Brand Hello Energy Launches Service, Affiliate of Existing REP, Generator

Hello Energy a new prepaid retail electricity brand of Champion Energy (owned by Calpine), has launched service in Texas

Currently, Hello Energy is offering exclusively prepaid variable rate plans with no long-term contract and no early termination fee. Included among these plans are a Free Nights plan and a Free Weekends plan

Hello Energy, which bills itself as "powered by Champion Energy Services," is marketing variable rate plans where an initial set payment is guaranteed to last a certain amount of days. For example, under the Hello Energy Fast Start 40 plan, an initial prepayment of $40 is guaranteed to cover all energy and recurring TDU charges for 13 introductory days at Oncor. After such time, the customer is charged a variable rate, which at Oncor is 9.8¢/kWh, which includes all energy and recurring TDU charges.

Similar "Fast Start" plans are available with initial payments of $20 and $60. The plans with higher initial prepayments cover more days of guaranteed service, and also include a lower variable rate thereafter

Hello Energy's Free Nights variable plan, in the Oncor service area, is quoted as having an all-in charge, at 1,000 kWh, of 9.7¢/kWh, which reflects a current all-in charge of 14.7¢/kWh for daytime usage, and 0¢/kWh for night usage (6:00pm through 7:59am).

Hello Energy's Free Weekends variable plan, in the Oncor service area, is quoted as having an all-in charge, at 1,000 kWh, of 9.4¢/kWh, which reflects a current all-in charge of 13.1¢/kWh for weekday usage, and 0¢/kWh for weekend usage.

Prepaid service fees as listed on Hello Energy's prepaid disclosure statement include:

• Disconnection Recovery Fee (plus TDU Charges): Up to $30.00

• Reconnection Recovery Fee (plus TDU Charges): $0.00

• Minimal Payment Fee: $2.95

• Payment Processing Fee: $2.95

• Account Protection Fee: $5.00

• Revising a TDU Request Fee: $1.95

• Insufficient Funds: $25.00

• Summary of Usage and Payment, if sent via USPS or fax: $2.95

• Additional Billing Summary Fee: $2.95

• Inactive Account Maintenance Fee: $9.95

Hello Energy's prepaid programs allows customers to earn "free electricity" through the following which is added to their account balance:

• $10 Welcome Bonus: When you make your initial payment within 24 hours of sign-up

• $20 Bonus after 90 Days: When your account balance has at least $20 on your 90th day of service

• $30 for every new referral: When you refer a new customer and they make their initial payment