To further assist customers in joining the Stream Energy family, we have cut our deposits in half in Texas and Georgia for all new customers, regardless of what rate plan the customer selects.

Customers required to pay a deposit will only need to pay $125 in Texas (formerly $250) through the end of April, and $75 in Georgia (formerly $150) through the end of August. That’s a 50% reduction in both Texas and Georgia.

Stream Energy is kicking off 2013 with a variety of good news for people who are looking to join the family of satisfied Stream Energy customers. Check it out:

• On January 14, 2013, Stream Energy introduced a rate plan exclusively for new Texas electricity customers. The “New Friends Plan” is geared towards helping electric customers in Texas lock in a very competitive rate which will serve them well throughout 2013. Please visit this page to see Stream Energy’s 12-month “New Friends” Plan rates for all service areas of Texas. To take advantage of this terrific new plan, click here.
• Stream Energy also just lowered the deposits required of new customers in Texas (was $250; now $125) and Georgia (was $150; now $75). We cut those deposits in half to help our new friends get on board so they can enjoy the Stream Difference as quickly as possible.
• Stream Energy announced lowered electricity rates in Pennsylvania on January 3 and lowered natural gas rates in Georgia on January 5. Coupled with our already attractive rates in the Northeast and our New Friends Plan in Texas, we have a very cost-attractive suite of products to meet your family’s energy needs.
• Stream Energy ushered in the New Year in grand style, thanks to our third year as the Big D NYE Fireworks Spectacular sponsor. The event drew more than 35,000 attendees and was broadcast to over six and a half million people in five states. Stream Energy again used its sponsorship platform to highlight the work of Captain Hope’s Kids, a non-profit organization dedicated to serving homeless children. In 2012, Captain Hope’s Kids touched the lives of roughly 40,000 children in North Texas.
• Next month, Stream Energy is again expecting thousands of highly motivated Ignite entrepreneurs to descend upon Dallas for a three-day extravaganza we call Ignition. Each year, Ignition presses on the accelerator of our business and pushes us forward.

It’s an exciting time for Stream Energy, and we’re only getting started. Give us a shout - we’d love to show you why we’re “Your Best Friend’s Energy Company.”

As the calendar switches to September, exciting events return to the horizon. Stadiums welcome the return of frenzied fans, parkways of summer green evolve to autumn auras, flashing school zones emerge from summer hibernation and Mother Nature ushers in relief from summer’s grasp.

Whatever your preferred part of autumn’s arrival, the fall feels refreshing. As cooler breezes blow and temperatures begin to drop, Stream Energy is refreshing our rates.

Effective last week, Stream Energy dropped rates in most of our service areas across Texas, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Maryland and New Jersey. The perfect beginning to fall is already in full force.

In Texas, fall is still in its infancy as many cities saw temperatures topping 100º for much of last week. As a cold front arrived, so did lower Texas rates. Lower rates were also seen in the Northeast territories, as well as in Georgia.

So as September succulence begins to sink in, Stream Energy customers can keep focused on pigskin players, pumpkins and helping with homework.

As your best friend’s energy company, we know your time is precious because we’re husbands and mothers, too. So, get back to what’s important and we’ll take care of your energy needs with great rates that you don’t have to think twice about and customer service you’ll want to brag about.

From our family to yours, enjoy the upcoming autumn and don’t forget to start off your September succulence with a great new low rate from Stream Energy—your best friend’s energy company.

When Stream Energy and Ignite launched in 2005, it was not only the beginning of an innovative energy company, but an opportunity to be a part of something truly unique.

As Stream Energy and Ignite grew in both size and maturity, the firm adopted certain “mantras” that shaped the internal culture. The mantras encompassed an overall feeling and attitude that the firm was not just a great company, but a great family.

Although the two entities had two different logos, they both represented one company and one team with one goal.

To help make that point, Senior Director of Marketing Darryl Smith had an idea: merge the family-like atmosphere of Stream Energy with the team aspect of football into a visual representation of the firm’s support of the thousands of Ignite Associates around the country.

“Stream Energy and Ignite are a team,” Darryl said. “Supporting our Ignite Associates in the field is something every Stream Energy employee does on a daily basis. We are a very competitive group, and we have great passion and love for this firm – the same passion and love that many have for their hometown sports teams.”

“I wanted to take a symbol of that love and passion of each of our states and bring it back to the home office,” Darryl said. “It’s a symbol that we are always thinking about our IAs in all these areas, and a little piece of them is always represented in our office.”

Stream Energy and Ignite’s history can be seen in a unique visual timeline along one wall inside Stream Energy’s corporate office.

Each jersey represents when Stream Energy and Ignite entered a certain state or area. Each jersey has a number on the back of it which represents when we entered that particular state:

• Dallas Cowboys and Houston Texans – the founding of the firm in Texas in 2005.
• Atlanta Falcons – Stream Energy’s first expansion efforts reached Georgia in 2008.
• Philadelphia Eagles – the firm first entered the Pennsylvania market in the Philadelphia area in 2010.
• Pittsburgh Steelers – the firm expanded their Pennsylvania service to the Pittsburgh area in 2011.
• Baltimore Ravens – Stream Energy began offering service in Maryland also in 2011.

“As a lifelong, die-hard Cowboys fan, my office sits between the Eagles and the Steelers,” Darryl said smiling. “It’s not easy looking at those colors every day.”

Near the end of 2011, Stream Energy and Ignite expanded to a fifth state in the Northeast. To avoid confusion (and also because he just couldn’t bear hanging any blue and white jersey other than the Cowboys) Darryl decided to utilize a different sport to represent Stream Energy’s latest market.

•  New Jersey Devils – the entrance into Stream Energy’s fifth state in 2011.

But what comes after New Jersey? An empty spot resides next to New Jersey’s colors. We are anxiously awaiting a jersey to represent the loyal Associates in a brand new Stream Energy market.

“I don’t know what we’ll do if we ever go to Montana,” Darryl said jokingly.

The next jersey may be unknown, but what is certain is that Stream Energy and Ignite will continue to achieve huge long-term success as long as we work together as one team.

About eight years ago, a small group of people led by Rob Snyder and Pierre Koshakji put into action a ground-breaking business plan. The idea was to adopt a multi-level network marketing approach similar to those used by extremely successful direct-selling companies like Avon and Mary Kay, and apply that strategy to the recently deregulated energy market in Texas.

As details began to take shape, new investors committed to the idea; a PUC license was obtained; and a small amount of office space was leased in one of the most recognizable buildings in Dallas – the INFOMART. As a basic framework became operational, Stream Energy and Ignite were born.

In the more than seven years since Stream Energy was awarded a PUC license to operate in the state of Texas, Stream Energy has grown to over half a million customers in five states (Texas, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Maryland and New Jersey), employed hundreds of exceptional people at the headquarters in Dallas, and allowed thousands of Independent Associates the opportunity to seize control of their financial future and build relationships that can last a lifetime.

Along this journey, Rob, along with the executive staff and more than 260 Stream Energy employees, has been graciously thanked countless times by IAs who appreciate the vision, dedication and commitment to the plan first conceived in 2004.

While Stream Energy and Ignite have enjoyed record success in our short time, none of it could have been possible without the hard work and dedication of thousands who have worked to ensure our success.

The Stream Energy headquarters in Dallas employs more than 260 employees on a daily basis. When needed, these employees have worked weekends, overnight and incredibly long hours to ensure the success of Stream Energy and Ignite. They believe in this business—in helping people succeed. To the employees of Stream Energy: thank YOU.

Thousands of IAs bought into the idea of warm marketing and asking friends and family for their business. They have done so with such success that Stream Energy is in the record books as one of the fastest-growing companies in American business history. The success of this firm and the employment of over 260 Stream Energy employees would not have been possible without the hard work of our thousands of dedicated Associates. To the Ignite Independent Associates: thank YOU.

As most people know, the success or failure of a company hinges on its customers. Stream Energy and Ignite are in the business of helping our customers save money on one of life’s necessary commodities (energy) and doing it with a successful business model. With variety of different service providers offering energy service, customers in deregulated service areas are free to choose any service provider they like. To the loyal customers who continue to choose Stream Energy as their service provider of choice: thank YOU.

The hundreds of thousands of IAs who have joined us along the way, have attended at least one business presentation in a variety of venues to get more information on Ignite’s award-winning success model. Managers and owners of restaurants, hotels and motels have opened their doors to Ignite. Homeowners have opened their homes to new and prospective Associates. To all those who allowed the Ignite Opportunity and the Stream Energy story to be told: thank YOU.

There are countless people who have contributed in some form or fashion to the success of our business. To anyone who has contributed to this business; to anyone who has positively affected our firm; to everyone who remains loyal, committed and dedicated to the continued success of Stream Energy and Ignite: thank YOU.  

Although our achievements and successes are exciting, inspirational and motivational, Stream Energy and Ignite still have a lot of unfinished work. With over a half-million customers in five states, Stream Energy has proven it is a powerful and permanent force in the deregulated energy market.

What began as a simple business plan eight years ago has emerged into a business that has changed and bettered the lives of so many. With our spectacular team, Stream Energy is primed to continue our national expansion for a long time come.

Please see below for the emergency contact numbers for your area. Take precautions now to be safe and secure.

Maryland

Baltimore Gas & Electric (BGE) Customers
Report emergencies immediately, including downed power lines, by calling 1-877-778-2222.

Potomac Electric Power (Pepco) Customers
Report emergencies immediately, including downed power lines, by calling 1-877-PEPCO-62 (1-877-737-2662).

Pennsylvania

Duquesne Light Customers
If you have an electric emergency, call Duquesne Light immediately at 1-888-393-7000.
They are available 24/7 to answer your emergency call.

MetEd Customers
If you have an electric emergency, call MetEd immediately at 1-888-544-4877.
They are available 24/7 to answer your emergency call.

PECO Customers
If you have a electric emergency, call PECO immediately at 1-800-841-4141.
They are available 24/7 to answer your emergency call.

PPL Customers
Report emergencies immediately, including downed power lines, by calling 1-800-DIAL-PPL (1-800-342-5775).
When prompted, press 1 for “electrical emergency.”

Texas

Oncor (TXU service area)
888-313-4747
(Oncor can link to five different phone numbers with your ESID to speed restoration when you call to report outages. Call 888-313-6862 to set it up.)

CenterPoint (Reliant service area)
800-332-7143

AEP Central (CPL service area)
866-223-8508

TNMP (First Choice service area)
888-866-7456

AEP North (WTU service area)
866-223-8508

Georgia

If you smell gas, quickly get away from the area. When you can no longer smell the gas, call Atlanta Gas Light (AGL) at its 24-hour emergency number: 1-877-427-4321 (outside metro Atlanta) or 770-907-4231 (in metro Atlanta).

Or, call 9-1-1 if you can’t remember the AGL number.

Visit www.safegas.org for more gas safety tips.

Be Prepared: Hurricane Irene

The Weather Channel classified Irene a powerful storm capable of causing extraordinary affects in the Northeast. This storm is real. It is large and very powerful.

Stream Energy recommends heeding all government warnings and advisories.

We’re dedicated to assisting our customers in weathering the affects of this dangerous storm. Although evacuations to areas out of the direct path of the storm are advised, here are a few steps to help you prepare for Hurricane Irene as it approaches.

Have a Storm Kit

This includes everything from a week’s worth of canned food, flashlights, batteries, bottled water, sleeping bags and pillows, personal hygiene items, a battery-operated radio and first aid supplies. When weathering a dangerous storm, it’s best to be over prepared.

Keep Local Emergency Numbers Handy

Not only does this include 911, but also your energy company, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and your insurance company. Having these numbers handy will provide great assistance after the storm has passed.  

Stay Informed

Local news stations, as well as The Weather Channel are providing round-the-clock, real-time updates on television as well as their websites. Stay informed with the most current information on the storm’s projected path and intensity. Remember, this storm is very large and capable of causing “extraordinary affects” for millions of people along the eastern seaboard.

Government websites also provide very useful information for helping prepare for weather emergencies. Here is a list of a few helpful websites that offer more information on how to be well prepared for Hurricane Irene:

http://www.ready.gov
http://www.nhc.noaa.gov
http://www.cdc.gov
http://www.weather.gov

As with any growing company, the prospect of expansion is incredibly appetizing. The thoughts of expanding into new markets, gaining more customers and generating more revenue become a focal point of business. But Stream Energy is concerned with much more than just aggressive expansion. We must remain committed to the home bases that got us to where we are today.

The recent Power Surge in Atlanta was very needed and very well received by our Ignite Associates. A lot of energy and motivation was generated throughout the weekend.  Expansion can be very exciting, but we need to remember our foundations that provided the framework for our current success. I believe it meant a lot to the people of Georgia for us to come to Atlanta and show them that Georgia is an important piece of the Stream Energy family.

But, we have to remember to take care of everyone. We are in the people business. We have to take care of our customers and Associates as well as the employees here at Stream Energy that take care of the Associates and customers.  Power Surge went a long way to revitalize the Associate force in Georgia. With that came a lot of teamwork. I am very proud of the teamwork that took place at Stream Energy within the last few months that produced the new products for our Georgia customers. Both of the new products offered to our Georgia customers are new opportunities for Stream Energy. We have never offered a free gas promotion or a no-deposit product in which customers are not subjected to a deposit. This new product helps people become Stream Energy customers who might normally have challenges doing so. 

We are in a very competitive environment. There is very little low-hanging fruit out there. We’ve always been a firm that has tried to offer very simple and affordable products in the marketplace. However, as our competitors become craftier with their offerings, we have to be able to adapt and react quickly. In that, the free gas and no deposit promotions are some of the ways that we are trying to compete in the marketplace. The challenges we face with these new products are ensuring accurate reporting on the number of customers Stream Energy acquires via the different products; managing our bad debt exposure on these products; and ensuring that the products continue to be profitable for the firm.

I think it’s important to continue living out the Stream Energy mantras within the corporate walls but also outside the walls. Offering creative products to our Georgia customers further exemplifies Stream Energy’s dedication to those mantras. Bringing up an idea is one thing, but you must also execute the plan. Teamwork is vital to the future success of our firm. Many departments, such as IT, Regulatory, Customer Operations and Ignite Field Development all worked closely together to successfully deliver these new products to our Georgia customers.

Energy commodities are the most volatile traded commodities in the world. We have to monitor them on a daily basis. Weather forecasts constantly change, and that makes it very hard to determine how much electricity and natural gas we should purchase. It’s very challenging when the difference in millions of dollars rests on the shoulders of accurate weather forecasters and analysts.

The hot summer across the nation has put a lot of demands on the Wholesale department at Stream Energy. July has gone down as one of the hottest months on record in the U.S., especially in the Northeast and here in Texas. The consistently high demand for electricity is something we have to be very mindful of as this affects our profitability.

Another weather phenomenon we constantly monitor is hurricanes. Earlier this year, analysts predicted between four and six major hurricanes to affect the U.S. We’ve had a slow start, thus far. However, we have to be very cautious of what could be lurking around the corner. Hurricanes don’t have a huge impact on the natural gas sector unless they come through the Gulf of Mexico and into the production region. What might appear as simple tropical depression with no real structure could suddenly develop overnight into a tropical storm and soon after that into a major hurricane barreling into the Gulf.

The onshore Shale gas production in places like Texas and Louisiana offer a natural gas source that is not threatened by hurricanes. This new drilling technology creates huge natural gas resources. Natural gas has a bright future within the U.S. as analysts believe there is more than 100 years’ worth of natural gas for the current U.S. demand. It is a very attractive industry.

Stream Energy has a bright future in Georgia as well as other markets. We currently manage less than 3% of the market share in Georgia, so expansion within that state is something to focus on in itself. Georgia was the first state to deregulate in natural gas. In terms of deregulation, it is a very mature market. However, because it has been so competitive, there has not been a new market entry since Stream Energy entered the state three years ago. Stream Energy hasn’t done everything perfectly, but we continue to improve every year in a market that is very competitive. Successfully managing the Stream business model in markets we currently serve helps us to build the foundation for continued expansion into other markets.

An interview with Stream Energy’s Director of Commercial Sales Cory Hall

1.       In what ways does commercial service differ from residential service?

CH: The usage patterns for commercial meters versus residential meters vary greatly. There is a difference in the way a commercial meter is billed rather than a residential meter. Residential meters have fairly predictable usage patterns while commercial meters can vary greatly. The greatest variability between each commercial account lies in its peak usage and how often it approaches that peak usage. For instance, a church’s usage pattern is much different than that of a convenience store. The church’s daily usage will rarely reach peak usage because the church is usually used only one day per week, while the convenience store has consistent usage every day of the week as it is typically open 24 hours. We see very prominent variations in usage during high heat times and summer months.

2.       How do you determine commercial electricity rates?

CH: The rates are dependent on a couple of different factors:  the size of the account and the efficiency of usage. We use historical usage data to determine how much power we should schedule for each account and what price it qualifies for. The more efficient an account is, the easier it is to schedule power for it, which often results in a lower rate. Efficient electricity usage is often described by how frequently the customer usage pattern approaches the peak usage for the premise. Peak demand is the maximum amount of power a customer needs to service his or her location at any given time during a service period. If a customer is very inefficient, he or she could be subject to higher pricing due to scheduling requirements and the risks associated with it. Also, inefficiency typically results in higher delivery charges for the customer as power is allocated to his or her business but is rarely utilized. An efficient customer is one who consistently hovers near this peak essentially utilizing most of the power that is allocated to him or her during that service period. Therefore, if a commercial customer increases the efficiency of his or her usage, that customer could qualify for lower rates on his or her electric service.  

3.       What states currently offer commercial service from Stream Energy?

CH: We currently only offer commercial service in Texas and Georgia, but we are working very diligently to offer commercial service in new markets by the end of 2011.

4.       How will the commercial team prosper at Stream Energy in the future?

CH: Our team, through sales, acquisition, retention and industry-leading support, will continue to grow our customer base without sacrificing any profitability.

5.       In what ways has commercial changed since its inception at Stream Energy?

 CH: While the commercial venture has been an ongoing opportunity for growth, the team has become self-sufficient and altered its focus to be very customer-centric. Our primary goal is to provide the best service in the industry to all our commercial customers.

6.       How competitive is Stream Energy commercial with other retail electric providers?

CH: Stream Energy is very competitive in the deregulated landscape as it pertains to residential and commercial rates and customer service. While we are seeing in the market that some providers sacrifice margin and profitability in order to obtain deals, Stream Energy’s commercial undertaking remains profitable and competitive in the marketplace.

7.       As a team, what goals do you strive for on a daily, monthly and yearly basis?

CH: On a daily basis, from a service standpoint, we strive to serve our customers to the best of our ability through unparalleled market knowledge and award-winning customer service. For two years running, our service team has been recognized as one of the top-rated teams in Commercial Client Satisfaction for electricity in the state of Texas.  

From an acquisition standpoint, we strive to attain as many accounts as possible while maintaining a high level of sales integrity. On a monthly basis, we attempt to obtain more accounts than the same month in the previous year. Similarly, on a yearly basis, our goal is to gain more accounts than the previous year.

8.       What goals do you have for the remainder of 2011?

CH: Our goal is to continue to expand the Texas market by adding as many new commercial customers as possible, as well as prepare ourselves for the possibility of entering new markets by the end of this year.  

9.       How is the commercial team so successful?

CH: We have a dedicated group of employees that are split into two different areas. One area is primarily focused on sales and acquiring new customers. This sales team is managed by Ronnie Rodamer. The other half of our department focuses on customer service.  If the customer needs assistance with billing or transactions, this team oversees all aspects of the customer lifecycle including retention. This service team is managed by Tony Martin.

10.   How does the commercial team acquire new accounts?

CH: Well, our sales team certainly does not open up a phone book and flip to a page and start dialing numbers. A large portion of our leads come from Ignite Associates who typically have a personal relationship with business owners and/or decision makers of commercial locations.  The Associates obtain the information necessary to price the deal, and our sales specialists take over from that point. Another way we generate leads are from customers who are referred to us either from current Stream Energy commercial customers or from finding our company information online. These customers simply make a phone call into our Commercial Client Services line (1-866-544-0692), and we help them sign up from there.

One way we can all make a difference is to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It is a call to action that Stream Energy takes seriously. In keeping with our commitment to promote environmental health, we are pleased to offer renewable energy products to our customers that also aim to provide energy savings – Stream’s Green & Clean Plan family of electricity rates.

Customers who enroll on Stream’s Green & Clean Plan receive electricity derived from renewable energy sources, such as solar, wind, geothermal, biomass, biogas, and low-impact hydro, which Stream Energy purchases through the procurement of Renewable Energy Credits (REC).

Why Renewable Energy?

Wind renewable and solar renewable energy are clean, make no noise and are 100% renewable sources of energy. The wind, although not ever-present, and the sun’s energy are never going to disappear. Customers can always count on energy from the sun, and to a lesser extent, from wind. Stream Energy is now offering renewable energy credits to its customers in Georgia, Texas, Pennsylvania and Maryland.

Non–polluting renewable energy generators collect on the added value of their products. Renewable energy generators produce and sell their energy in the same market as any other generator of electricity, but renewable generation is also given a renewable energy credit (REC) for every megawatt of power it produces to recognize the cleaner energy it produces. This means that every time a green or renewable energy is produced, its renewable energy credits are created and sold to companies like Stream Energy and then resold to the ultimate consumer who chooses to be more socially conscious, rewarding the renewable product generator for not polluting.

Stream Energy purchases these renewable energy credits to help supply their customers who want a green product. This way Stream Energy’s customers can feel confident that they are making a positive impact on the environment.

Why does Stream Energy do this? Because it believes in helping the planet to remain sustainable for future generations and in helping support its customers who want to turn to green renewable energy for their electricity needs.

Thanks to the advent of energy deregulation, Stream Energy and Ignite were founded to deliver energy services and a unique business opportunity to Texas, Maryland, Georgia and Pennsylvania residents and business owners. The opportunity has led to competitive energy service rates and unlimited income potential for Ignite Independent Associates along with numerous recognitions.

Across the United States, more and more states are deregulating their energy markets. What does this mean for the consumer? It means that more companies can now offer you energy service in places such as Maryland, Texas, Georgia and Pennsylvania. Many energy markets are no longer dominated by huge corporations that can charge anything they want because no one else has been allowed to sell energy at competitive rates.

The deregulation of energy has created the opportunity for companies such as Stream Energy to offer customers many options and plans to choose from when selecting their energy services. Before deregulation, people usually only had one or two companies from whom they could receive energy service. Thanks to deregulation, however, more choices for consumers equal more competitive rates for consumers.

Stream Energy has earned a name for itself by being recognized by Direct Selling News as the largest direct seller of energy in the world for 2010, as well as being named a finalist for the Platts Global Energy Awards multiple times, along with many other honors. 

Deregulation of energy has offered the opportunity to many entrepreneurs to build energy network marketing companies such as Stream Energy / Ignite.  Energy network marketing companies pass the opportunity to you, the consumer, which gives you the ability to generate extra income by reselling deregulated energy to friends and family. This is a great opportunity for consumers who live in Texas, Georgia, Maryland and Pennsylvania to choose who they want to receive competitive energy rates from and make additional income.