I had purchased a 'Home Heating Plan" from Direct Energy as my furnace was older and repairs were likely to be required in the future. I found the plan to be very beneficial for me as my furnace required a number of repairs that turned out to be very expensive. Additionally beneficial, the plan included one free furnace cleaning per year.
If I had to pay for the repairs myself, they would have cost far more than the $300 yearly charge for the plan. I assume that the plan is only to a customer's benefit if they actually need a furnace repair at some point. A person may never know whether they will require repairs that exceed the cost of the plan or not. If not, it is like insurance, something that you pay for but never actually use. This seems to determine whether people have been satisfied with the plan or not.
My experience with calling for a repair from Direct Energy has also been very positive. I have always been treated respectfully and the service has been efficient. By service, I mean the response time and the quality of the repair made. I have no complaints about Direct Energy.