What Does Direct Energy Do?

Total employees2174
HeadquartersHouston
Founded2000

Direct Energy is a North American energy and energy-related services provider, supplying electricity and natural gas to millions of residential and business customers. Founded in Toronto in 1986, it was acquired by NRG Energy in January 2021. Direct Energy continues to operate as a prominent retail energy brand under NRG, offering a variety of energy plans, home protection services, and energy management solutions. Their focus is on providing customers with choices, competitive pricing, and innovative products to manage their energy usage effectively across various deregulated markets in the United States and Canada.

Where Is Direct Energy's Headquarters?

HQ Function

Serves as the primary corporate headquarters for NRG Energy, overseeing all strategic, operational, and administrative functions, including those of its retail brand Direct Energy. This includes executive leadership, finance, marketing, and customer operations strategy for North American energy markets.

Notable Features:

Located in the 910 Louisiana Street building (formerly One Shell Plaza), a prominent 50-story skyscraper in downtown Houston's skyline. The building offers modern office amenities and is part of the extensive Houston downtown tunnel system.

Work Culture:

As part of NRG Energy, the work culture emphasizes innovation in the energy sector, customer-centricity, sustainability, and a dynamic approach to the evolving energy market. Collaboration, diversity and inclusion, and a results-driven mindset are typically encouraged.

HQ Significance:

The Houston headquarters is strategically important due to its location in the 'Energy Capital of the World,' facilitating close proximity to industry partners, talent, and market insights. It centralizes leadership for one of North America's largest retail energy providers.

Values Reflected in HQ: The headquarters' operations and strategic location reflect NRG's commitment to being a leader in the energy industry, focusing on operational excellence, customer service, technological advancement, and serving a broad customer base across North America.

Location:

Direct Energy, as a brand of NRG Energy, primarily operates within North America, serving customers across the United States (in numerous deregulated states) and Canada (notably in Alberta and Ontario). Its functions supported in these regions include retail electricity and natural gas supply, home services (such as HVAC maintenance and protection plans), energy solutions for businesses, and comprehensive customer support. While NRG Energy has a broader energy generation portfolio, Direct Energy's core business is centered on these North American retail energy markets.

Street Address:

910 Louisiana Street

City:

Houston

State/Province:

Texas

Country:

USA

Where Else Does Direct Energy Operate Around the World?

Princeton, New Jersey, USA

Address: 804 Carnegie Center, Princeton, NJ 08540, USA

Serves as a key center for NRG's retail energy business in the Northeastern United States, focusing on market operations, product innovation, and regional customer support.

Mississauga, Ontario, Canada

Address: 2425 Matheson Blvd E, 8th Floor, Mississauga, ON L4W 5K4, Canada

Oversees NRG's retail electricity and natural gas offerings in provinces like Ontario and Alberta, ensuring compliance with Canadian regulations and catering to the specific needs of Canadian consumers and businesses.

Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Address: Place 800, 800 6 Ave SW, Calgary, AB T2P 3G3, Canada

Focuses on serving the Albertan energy market, managing local sales, customer service, and regulatory affairs for Direct Energy customers in the province.

Buying Intent Signals for Direct Energy

Highperformr Signals uncover buying intent and give you clear insights to target the right accounts at the right time — helping your sales, marketing, and GTM teams close more deals, faster.

Notable news
Hiring actively
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
*Example signal, not calculated in real time

Who's Leading Direct Energy? Meet the Executive Team

As of April 2025, Direct Energy' leadership includes:

Lawrence S. Coben - Chair of the Board, Interim President and Chief Executive Officer
Alberto Fornaro - Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Elizabeth Killinger - Executive Vice President, NRG Home
Robert Gaudette - Executive Vice President, NRG Business Solutions and President, NRG Canada
Denise Wilson - Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer, and Corporate Secretary
Ragan T.S. Wilkinson - Senior Vice President and General Counsel

Who's Investing in Direct Energy?

Direct Energy has been backed by several prominent investors over the years, including:

BlackRock, Inc.
The Vanguard Group, Inc.
State Street Corporation
Capital World Investors
Icahn Capital LP
Elliott Investment Management L.P.

What Leadership Changes Has Direct Energy Seen Recently?

Hire1
Exits1

NRG Energy experienced significant leadership transitions over the past year, notably with the departure of its CEO and the subsequent appointment of an interim CEO, followed by the hiring of a new Chief Financial Officer. These changes occur as the company continues to refine its strategy in the competitive energy market.

Departures

Mauricio Gutierrez, Mauricio Gutierrez departed from his role as President and CEO of NRG Energy, a position he held since 2015.

New Appointments:

Lawrence S. Coben, Lawrence S. Coben, already serving as Chair of the Board, assumed the additional responsibilities of Interim President and CEO.
Alberto Fornaro, Alberto Fornaro was appointed as the new EVP and CFO of NRG Energy, succeeding Bruce Chung who served as Interim CFO.

What Technology (Tech Stack) Is Used byDirect Energy?

Discover the tools Direct Energy uses. Highperformr reveals the technologies powering your target accounts — helping your sales, marketing, and GTM teams prioritize smarter and close faster.

Direct Energy Email Formats and Examples

NRG Energy, the parent company of Direct Energy, most commonly uses the email format 'first.last@nrg.com'. This pattern is widely adopted by large corporations for professional communication. Other potential, less common formats could exist but this is the primary one.

first.last@nrg.com

Format

jane.doe@nrg.com

Example

90%

Success rate

What's the Latest News About Direct Energy?

NRG Energy Investor RelationsFebruary 29, 2024

NRG Energy, Inc. Reports Full Year and Fourth Quarter 2023 Results

NRG Energy announced its financial results for the fourth quarter and full year 2023. The company highlighted its performance, including achievements in its retail segment (which includes Direct Energy), and discussed its strategic priorities, focusing on capital allocation, debt reduction, and delivering shareholder value....more

Business WireFebruary 14, 2024

NRG Energy, Inc. Appoints Alberto Fornaro as Chief Financial Officer

NRG Energy, Inc. announced the appointment of Alberto Fornaro as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, effective March 1, 2024. He succeeds Bruce Chung, who served as interim CFO. Fornaro brings significant financial and leadership experience to NRG....more

NRG Energy Investor RelationsNovember 29, 2023

NRG Energy Announces CEO Transition Plan

NRG Energy announced that Mauricio Gutierrez, President and CEO, would be stepping down. Lawrence S. Coben, Chair of NRG’s Board of Directors, was appointed Interim President and CEO while the company conducts a search for a permanent successor....more

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