Centrica (Direct Energy Parent) Acquires U.S. Solar Company

Centrica plc has announced the acquisition of Vista Solar, a California-based solar engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) company.

Established in 2008, Vista Solar has delivered 40MW of solar projects to over 160 customers across the private and public sectors.

The company will be integrated into Centrica’s Distributed Energy and Power business, which provides energy insight, asset optimization and energy solutions to large energy users under the Centrica Business Solutions brand. Earlier this year, Centrica’s Direct Energy Solar team joined the business to deliver solar as part of a portfolio of distributed energy offers that includes combined heat and power, back up generation, battery storage, and demand response.

Jorge Pikunic, global Managing Director for Centrica Business Solutions said: "Solar is a key technology for businesses in California and represents an important opportunity for us to grow our footprint in one of the largest economies in the world."

"Combining Vista Solar’s impressive track record with our own in-house capabilities in energy insight, demand management, and onsite generation and storage puts us in a unique position to help more organisations in North America to take advantage of the changing energy landscape," Pikunic said

"Vista Solar's extensive experience in the California solar market will play an integral role in supporting our North American growth agenda," said Stephen Prince, Head of Centrica Business Solutions North America. "We believe Vista Solar's impressive track record in delivering commercial solar solutions, together with our existing technology and project capabilities – and trusted relationships with Direct Energy Business' 240,000 customers, will be a winning combination helping our customers succeed."

Through this acquisition, Centrica Business Solutions will expand its solar operations to California and other western states. Centrica Business Solutions has a legacy of facilitating solar projects helping customers with 150 megawatts of solar globally as of 2017