Tulsa Metro Chamber announces Direct Energy will double its Tulsa area workforce

11.16.2011
The Tulsa Metro Chamber hosted a press conference Nov. 15 at which Direct Energy, one of North America’s largest energy and energy-related services companies, announced plans to expand its customer operations center in Tulsa, bringing 115 new jobs and significant economic impact to the Tulsa metro area.

Direct Energy began housing operations in Tulsa more than 10 years ago and currently employs around 160 people. Its Tulsa office serves as an operations base for the company’s growing residential energy business in Texas, across the Northeast and in Canada.
 
“We are very pleased that Direct Energy is continuing its commitment to the Tulsa area and that they are planning to hire locally to fill the newly-announced positions,” said Mike Neal, President and the CEO of Tulsa Metro Chamber. “This is great news that will have a significant impact.”

Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin stated: "The energy industry continues to thrive in Oklahoma, creating good-paying jobs and helping to grow our economy. Moving forward, the 'Oklahoma First' Energy Plan will help us continue to build upon that momentum. Direct Energy's announcement is great news for Tulsa and all of Oklahoma. I applaud the company for their investment in our state."

Neal said: “The hiring announced from Direct Energy today will support about $7 million in wages in the Tulsa region. The 115 new jobs at Direct Energy will support 170 additional jobs throughout the Tulsa-area economy and a total income of more than $19 million.”

Additional economic impact of Direct Energy’s hiring announcement is as follows:
• The new-hires will contribute $14.6 million to the production of goods and services in the area economy annually, and support another $12.5 million in goods and services, for a total of $27.1 million.

• The state and cities and counties within the Tulsa-area gain $1.6 million in revenues due to the employment of the new-hires.
• Local sales and property taxes supported by the new-hires total more than $430,200.

Tulsa Mayor Dewey Bartlett said: “Jobs are the life blood of any community. They are Tulsa’s number one priority. Our coordinated partnership with the state of Oklahoma and the Tulsa Metro Chamber that keeps our eye on the ball of economic development is the heart of Tulsa’s job expansion and creation.”


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