Direct Energy, one of North America’s largest energy and energy-related services providers, has upgraded to First Data Utilities’ Peace 8 Customer Information System (CIS) to manage more than 1 million retail electricity and gas customers — both residential and commercial — in Ontario, Canada.

With over 5 million customer relationships across North America, Direct Energy provides customers with choice and support in managing their energy costs through a portfolio of innovative products and services. With operations across Canada, Texas and the northeastern United States, Direct Energy delivered US$7.6 billion of energy and energy-related services to residential and commercial customers in 2006.

Direct Energy has operated the Peace CIS software product since 2000. The latest version, Peace 8, incorporates hundreds of new features and enhancements and reflects a particular focus on process improvement to lower utility customer cost-to-serve.