PITTSBURGH and SAN MATEO, Calif., Sept. 10, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Direct Energy and SolarCity® (Nasdaq:SCTY) have undertaken a broad agreement to provide solar electricity directly to businesses. The two companies have created a dedicated investment fund capable of financing up to $124 million in solar projects for Direct Energy's commercial and industrial (C&I) customers, which is partially funded with up to $50 million from Direct Energy. While many retail electricity providers ask customers to pay a price premium for a "green energy" option, SolarCity can make it possible for many of Direct Energy's customers to pay less than current rates for clean power*. Through the arrangement, eligible Direct Energy C&I customers will be able to utilize solar power with little or no upfront cost, depending on the customer's choice of plans. Customers will be given a choice to pre-pay for their solar electricity or pay a monthly payment, with installation, insurance, repairs and monitoring service included.

Solar energy's use of free, abundant sunlight and rapidly falling technology and operations costs have made it cost-competitive with power generated from fossil fuels in a growing number of markets nationwide. SolarCity's vertically integrated service model, combined with Direct Energy's energy expertise, North American footprint, customer relationships and financial stability are attractive to customers in a fragmented solar market.

"Solar is a viable opportunity that positions Direct Energy Business as a total energy management service provider for commercial and industrial customers," said Mike Senff, head of U.S. sales, marketing and 360Direct for Direct Energy Business. "Solar complements Direct Energy Business' other product offerings while supporting our customers' corporate sustainability goals."

SolarCity is America's No. 1 full-service solar power provider in the U.S. with more than 68,000 customers across 14 states, including more than 1,000 commercial and government customers. SolarCity has created 28 investment funds to date. Direct Energy Business serves commercial and industrial customers in 14 states, the District of Columbia and five Canadian provinces, providing electricity and natural gas supply and energy management services to more than 180,000 customers. Direct Energy Business is part of Direct Energy, North America's largest competitive retail energy supplier, with more than six million customer relationships across the continent.

"This unique relationship demonstrates how traditional energy companies and renewable energy companies can work together to make clean energy more accessible and affordable," said Jimmy Chuang, vice president of structured finance for SolarCity. "Direct Energy is giving business and industrial customers direct access to cheaper, cleaner energy. SolarCity gains an important new avenue to provide its groundbreaking services to businesses at a lower cost."

*Please note, this is not a guarantee for future energy costs.

About Direct Energy

Direct Energy is North America's largest provider of heating & cooling, plumbing and electrical services and a leading energy and energy-related services provider with over six 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 46 U.S. states plus the District of Columbia and 10 provinces in Canada. To learn more about Direct Energy, please visit www.directenergy.com.

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About SolarCity

SolarCity® (Nasdaq:SCTY) provides clean energy. The company has disrupted the century-old energy industry by providing renewable electricity directly to homeowners, businesses and government organizations for less than they spend on utility bills. SolarCity gives customers control of their energy costs to protect them from rising rates. The company offers solar power, energy efficiency and electric vehicle services, and makes clean energy easy by taking care of everything from design and permitting to monitoring and maintenance. SolarCity currently serves 14 states and signs a new customer every five minutes. Visit the company online at www.solarcity.com and follow the company on Facebook & Twitter.

This release contains forward-looking statements including, but not limited to, statements regarding the number of organizations that can pay less for solar electricity, the value of the projects that will be financed and the benefits to SolarCity and Direct Energy. Forward-looking statements should not be read as a guarantee of future performance or results, and will not necessarily be accurate indications of the times at, or by, which such performance or results will be achieved, if at all. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual performance or results to differ materially from those expressed in or suggested by the forward looking statements. You should read the section entitled "Risk Factors" in SolarCity's registration statement on Form S-1, which has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and identifies certain of these and additional risks and uncertainties. SolarCity does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

CONTACT: Andrea Romo Direct Energy 412.334.9510 Andrea.Romo@directenergy.com Jonathan Bass SolarCity 650.963.5156 press@solarcity.com

Source: SolarCity Corporation

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