Direct Energy sponsors 2009 Ontario Junior Citizen of the Year Awards Partnership with Ontario Community Newspapers Association

Toronto, ON (9/10/2009) - Direct Energy, in partnership with the Ontario Community Newspapers Association (OCNA), is pleased to announce its sponsorship, alongside TD Bank Financial Group, of the 2009 Ontario Junior Citizen of the Year Awards. Since 1981, the Junior Citizen Awards have recognized the best of Ontario’s youth, ages 6 to 17, which have made a significant contribution in their community.

“The Junior Citizen Awards is a tremendous program and we are excited to be involved for 2009,” said Janice Thomson, EVP HR & Communications of Direct Energy. “It is inspiring to see the involvement and contribution of so many young people in various communities across Ontario.”

Direct Energy, one of North America’s largest energy and energy-related services companies is a member of Volunteer Canada’s Corporate Council and in 2008 committed over $1.8 million in cash, product and services to charitable organizations across North America. An additional $160,000 was raised for charitable causes through employee-led fundraisers.

“We are thrilled to have Direct Energy onboard as a primary sponsor of the 2009 Awards,” said Abbas Homayed, President of OCNA. “The commitment from our member newspapers and sponsors in recognizing and rewarding the leaders of tomorrow is incredible.”

The Junior Citizen Awards will be accepting nominations through OCNA beginning the second week of September until November 30, 2009. In total, up to 12 individuals will be recipients of the award. The Awards Presentation ceremony will be next March at Queen’s Park in Toronto and will be officiated by the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario. In 2008, over 117 nominees were received from across the province.

About OCNA
The Ontario Community Newspapers Association is a non-profit industry association representing more than 320 community newspapers. Community newspapers and their dedicated staff are leaders in their own communities. The association takes pride in assisting our member newspapers to acknowledge the contributions of outstanding young people across the province. 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 20 states plus DC and 10 provinces in Canada. To learn more about Direct Energy, visit www.directenergy.com.
For additional information, contact:

Joel Dykstra, Communications Coordinator
Direct Energy
(416) 590-3344
joel.dykstra@directenergy.com

Anne Lannan/Lynn Fenton
Ontario Community Newspapers Association
905-639-8720, ext. 228/243
l.fenton@ocna.org

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.