Retail Energy Supply Association Announces Formation of Natural Gas Regulatory Advocacy...

Retail Energy Supply Association Announces Formation of Natural Gas Regulatory
Advocacy Caucus

HARRISBURG, Pa., Jan. 12 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Retail Energy Supply
Association (RESA), a leading trade association of retail energy suppliers
committed to the advocacy of vibrant and sustainable competitive retail energy
markets, announced today its expansion of its regulatory advocacy to
competitive retail natural gas markets. The creation of RESA's new natural
gas regulatory caucus marks the expansion of the Association, which has
focused exclusively on retail electric competition advocacy since its
inception. RESA currently monitors retail electric competition activities in
more than ten states.

RESA's newly formed natural gas regulatory caucus will initially focus on
advocacy in four states, including Illinois, Michigan, New York and
Pennsylvania. Current RESA member companies that supply natural gas to
end-use customers and are participating in this caucus include Direct Energy,
LLC, Hess Corporation, Integrys Energy Services, Inc., and U.S. Energy Savings
Corp. Further expansion of RESA's natural gas caucus to additional states
will take place over the course of 2009.

"Today, RESA begins its natural evolution from an electric-only regulatory
advocacy group to a truly retail energy regulatory advocacy group," said Jay
Kooper, President of RESA. "For well over a decade, competitive retail
natural gas markets have been unparalleled in their success throughout the
United States, providing competitive choices, information and consumer
empowerment for customers of all sizes and types. The success of competitive
retail natural gas markets is evidence that all retail energy markets can be
structured so as to enable customers to make educated decisions about their
energy use and provide customers with choices that produce better and more
efficient results. These are valuable lessons that can be drawn from the
success story that is vibrant and sustainable retail natural gas competition."

Leading RESA in responding to and shaping state natural gas regulatory efforts
will be the 2009 Gas Caucus State Chairs, who include:

-- Illinois - Teresa Ringenbach (Integrys Energy Services, Inc.)
-- Michigan - John Gomoll (Direct Energy Services, LLC)
-- New York - Francis Pullaro (U.S. Energy Savings Corp.)
-- Pennsylvania - Debra Rednik (Hess Corporation)

"I am particularly proud of this distinguished lineup of Gas Caucus State
Chairs who have volunteered to lead RESA as it enters into its first-ever
natural gas advocacy efforts," said Mr. Kooper. "I thank these state chairs
for their willingness to serve and look forward to continuing RESA's expansion
into natural gas both in terms of geography and new membership throughout
2009. We will continue to work with policymakers and stakeholders to build
upon the success of retail natural gas and electric competition and ensure
that the benefits of choice remain available for all consumers who are served
by or seek the products and services of competitive energy suppliers."

About RESA
RESA's members include Commerce Energy, Consolidated Edison Solutions, Inc.,
Direct Energy Services, LLC, Gexa Energy, Hess Corporation, Integrys Energy
Services, Inc., Liberty Power, Reliant Energy Retail Services, LLC, Sempra
Energy Solutions LLC, SUEZ Energy Resources NA, Inc., and U.S. Energy Savings
Corp. For more information, contact RESA Executive Director Tracy McCormick
at (717) 566-5405 or go to www.RESAUSA.org.

SOURCE Retail Energy Supply Association

Alicia Moran, +1-410-991-7027, for Retail Energy Supply Association