Terms and Conditions
Participation in and use of the Direct Energy Refer a Friend program ("The Program") is subject to the following Terms and Conditions ("Program Terms.") The Program pertains specifically to current Direct Energy residential customers ("Participant(s)") referring other residential customers ("Customer(s)") in the USA where electricity and/or natural gas competition is available and where Direct Energy offers residential electricity and/or natural gas service. If you have any questions about the Program Terms or any other policies or terms applicable to your involvement in the Program, please e-mail Direct Energy at ga-deonlinehelptx@directenergy.com.
Participants in the Refer a Friend Program
Participants must be in good standing to be eligible to participate in the Program. To be considered in good standing, the Participant must have an active residential account with Direct Energy and be current on all payments. Direct Energy reserves the right to terminate a Participants participation in the Program or cancel the Program at any time for any reason or no reason, to the extent permitted by law, upon written notice to Participants. Any written notices required or permitted to be given by Direct Energy hereunder may be delivered by email. By participating in the Program, you consent to delivery of all Program-related notices and information by email to the email address you have registered for your Direct Energy Online Account Manager and acknowledge that you have the necessary equipment (hardware and software) to receive and read such emails.
Qualified Referrals and Rewards
For purposes of the Program, a qualified referral must be a new Direct Energy postpaid customer. New customer is defined as someone that is neither 1) a current or pending postpaid residential electricity or residential natural gas customer of Direct Energy or 2) a person who was a residential electricity or residential natural gas customer of Direct Energy within 90 days prior to the date of enrollment with Direct Energy. In addition, a qualified referral must satisfy all Direct Energy enrollment requirements including; a) enrolling with Direct Energy and providing a valid Referral ID/code in the Referral ID/code field within the online enrollment or advising the Call Center agent of the Referral ID/code when enrolling over the phone, and b) for residents of Texas only, must remain Direct Energy customers for at least 10 consecutive days to be eligible for the program. Eligible participants and qualified referrals that are residents of Texas will receive their reward for participation in the Program in the form of a Direct Energy bill credit that will be applied within two billing cycles following 10 days of active service. The reward amount of such bill credit will be determined based upon Direct Energy's current offer at the time of the qualified referral's enrollment with Direct Energy. The amount Direct Energy is offering may be changed by Direct Energy at any time prior to enrollment of a qualified referral without notice to you or your referrals. The Direct Energy Refer-a-Friend Program page in the Direct Energy Online Account Manager will contain up-to-date information regarding Direct Energy's current offer. By participating in the Program, you agree that Direct Energy shall make the final determination as to whether a person meets all requirements to be considered a Qualified Referral. Bill Credits earned by residents of Texas shall only be applied to the kWh usage portion of the Participants Direct Energy electricity bill. Program bill credits shall not be applied to amounts owed on applicable taxes and/or fees portion of the bill. Participants are solely responsible for any and all tax liability arising out of any rewards issued; for residents of all deregulated states within the 48 contiguous US, excluding Texas, a qualified referral must remain a Direct Energy customer in good standing for at least 90 consecutive days and make 3 consecutive, on time bill payments to Direct Energy. Eligible participants and qualified referrals will receive their reward for participation in the Program in the form of a gift card. The reward amount of such gift card will be determined based upon Direct Energy's current offer at the time of the qualified referral's enrollment with Direct Energy. The amount Direct Energy is offering may be changed by Direct Energy at any time prior to enrollment of a qualified referral without notice to you or your referrals. The Direct Energy Refer a Friend Program page in the Direct Energy Online Account Manager will contain up-to-date information regarding Direct Energy's current offer. By participating in the Program, you agree that Direct Energy shall make the final determination as to whether a person meets all requirements to be considered a Qualified Referral. Gift cards are subject to terms and conditions set by the issuer and may expire according to an expiration date located on the card. Residents are limited to $599 in gift card referral rewards and other incentives from Direct Energy per calendar year before being subject to submission of a completed W-9 form. Once a Participant earns approximately $550 per calendar year, Direct Energy will require the Participant to complete and return a W-9 form before allowing them to continue their participation in the Program. Participants are solely responsible for any and all tax liability arising out of any rewards issued. If a Participant is issued more than $599 in gift cards through the Program in a calendar year, Direct Energy will issue a 1099-MISC form reporting the value of the rewards and incentives received and Participant will receive a copy.
Program Use
Direct Energy will provide you with access to the Program, which you may use to track your referrals and rewards, provided that your use of the Program is strictly subject to the Program Terms. Direct Energy is not obligated to, and will not, release to you the reasons why a particular referral has not been deemed a qualified referral.
CAN-SPAM Act Compliance
Direct Energy complies with the federal CAN-SPAM Act and honors requests of consumers and customers who choose to opt out of receiving marketing emails. Accordingly, if you designate a referral email address that has previously opted out of receiving marketing emails, you may be advised that the email address is not eligible to be sent a Direct Energy Refer-a-Friend email.
Independent Contractor Relationship
Your participation in the Program does not authorize you to act on Direct Energy's, its parent's or their respective affiliates' behalf. Nothing herein is intended or will be construed to constitute or imply a joint venture, employer-employee relationship, partnership or association between you and Direct Energy, its parent or their respective affiliates. By participating in the Program, you acknowledge that you do so at your own risk and as an independent contractor and that Direct Energy is not directing how you perform your obligations hereunder.
Trademarks
Other than with respect to materials provided in connection with your participation in the Program, your status as a Participant in the Program does not entitle you to use any trademarks, copyrighted materials, patents, names, logos or other intellectual property owned or licensed by Direct Energy, its parent or each of their respective affiliates.
Indemnification
By participating in the Program, you agree to and will indemnify and hold Direct Energy, its parent and each of their respective affiliates harmless from and against any damages, costs, expenses, claims or liabilities of any kind, including third party claims, whether pending or threatened, including without limitation, attorneys' fees and court costs, incurred by any of them arising out of or related to your participation in the Program or breach of these Program Terms.
Amendments
These Program Terms may be altered, changed, modified or assigned by Direct Energy at any time by providing notice to you. Your participation in the Program at any time after Direct Energy provides you such notice of changes will constitute your agreement to such changes.
Other Terms and Conditions
These Program Terms are in addition to and do not in any way limit or alter Direct Energy Online Account Manager terms, other terms and conditions or agreements pursuant to which Direct Energy allows you to participate in the Program and/or use Direct Energy Online Account Manager.