Direct Energy Regulated Services Announces Natural Gas Rates for February

Calgary, AB (1/30/2009) - Direct Energy Regulated Services has announced default natural gas rates for February 2009. These rates will apply to customers who have not chosen a competitive supplier within the ATCO Gas North and South service territories. The rates have been verified by the Alberta Utilities Commission.

North Service Territory
The North territory includes customers living in and north of the City of Red Deer.
• For customers in the ATCO Gas North service territory, the February regulated natural gas rate is decreasing from the January rate of $6.092 per GJ to $5.580 per GJ.
• This rate reflects a market price for February supplies of approximately $5.41 per GJ as reported by the NGX, and incorporates an adjustment of $0.17 per GJ for January and prior months.
• The typical residential gas bill for February based on an average 17 GJ of consumption would be approximately $158 in the North.

South Service Territory
The South territory includes customers living south of the City of Red Deer.
• For customers in the ATCO Gas South service territory, the February regulated natural gas rate is decreasing from the January rate of $5.584 per GJ to $5.479 per GJ.
• This rate reflects a market price for February supplies of approximately $5.41 per GJ as reported by the NGX, and incorporates an adjustment of $0.07 per GJ for January and prior months.
• The typical residential gas bill for February based on an average 17 GJ of consumption would be approximately $151 in the South.

According to the Natural Gas Price Protection Regulation, government rebates are triggered during the months of October through March when approved rates for two of the three major regulated gas providers in Alberta exceed $5.50 per GJ. Since only one of the three providers’ approved rates exceed this threshold, customers should not expect to see a Natural Gas Rebate of $1.50/GJ implemented for February.

Further information on regulated gas supply and a complete list of competitive retailers can be found on the Alberta government’s customer choice website at: www.ucahelps.gov.ab.ca

About Direct Energy
Direct Energy is one of North America’s largest energy and energy-related services providers with over five million residential and commercial customer relationships. Direct Energy provides customers with choice and support in managing their energy costs through a portfolio of innovative products and services. A subsidiary of Centrica plc (LSE: CNA), one of the world’s leading integrated energy companies, Direct Energy operates in 22 states plus DC and 10 provinces in Canada. To learn more about Direct Energy, visit www.directenergy.com.

For further information, please contact:

Lisa Frizzell
Dirctor, Public Relations
Direct Energy
403-290-6835
lisa.frizzell@directenergy.com

Direct Energy® is a subsidiary of Centrica plc. All rights reserved. Centrica was created following the demerger of British Gas plc in 1997 and is now a leading supplier of energy and related services. To read more about Centrica plc please visit www.centrica.com.