Cincinnati Bell Energy Launches Green Energy Service

Cincinnati Bell Becomes the First Telecom to Offer Energy Service to Customers

CINCINNATI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Cincinnati Bell Energy, a local provider of affordable, green retail energy, has launched energy service to Cincinnati Bell customers in Ohio. In a landmark launch for the telecom industry, the new entity allows Cincinnati Bell Inc. (NYSE:CBB) to become the first telecom provider to offer retail energy supply to residential customers along with its other services packages including entertainment, internet and phone.

“Telecom is a dynamic and ever-evolving industry that has proven its ability to continually reinvent itself and adapt to changing customer needs”

Cincinnati Bell partnered with Viridian Energy, a leading green energy supplier, to deliver a product that is 100 percent green. The service is the state’s first green energy option offered at a discount to the local utility.

"The retail energy market is an exciting and rapidly growing space, and this convergence between telecom and energy is a dramatic first for both industries," said Ted Torbeck, president and general manager of Cincinnati Bell Communications. "This innovative partnership with Viridian Energy provides substantial value to our customers, saving them money and helping them contribute to a cleaner environment.”

Unique among local retail energy offerings, Cincinnati Bell Energy is 100 percent green energy and has been certified by Green-e Energy. The energy is regionally sourced wind power, resulting in both a positive environmental and local economic impact. The company will offer green retail energy to its customers in southwestern Ohio, where Cincinnati Bell Energy’s rate for green energy will be offered at a guaranteed annual savings over the utility’s rate.

The partnership between Cincinnati Bell and Viridian Energy leverages Viridian’s rich expertise in the retail energy sector and commitment to innovative, green energy solutions with Cincinnati Bell’s established presence and solid customer relationships in the market.

“Telecom is a dynamic and ever-evolving industry that has proven its ability to continually reinvent itself and adapt to changing customer needs,” said Michael Fallquist, founder and CEO of Viridian Energy. “The launch of an affordable, green energy solution is the next natural progression in the telecom industry’s legacy of delivering excellent products and services to its customers, and Cincinnati Bell Energy is establishing the leadership position in this movement. We are proud to be affiliated with a partner that helps broaden our company’s mission to provide affordable green energy to retail customers.”

About Cincinnati Bell Energy

Cincinnati Bell Energy is a local provider of affordable, green retail energy. The company provides 100 percent green energy to customers in southwestern Ohio, and is the first green energy option offered at a discount in the state. Cincinnati Bell Energy was created through a strategic partnership between Viridian Energy and Cincinnati Bell, Inc. (NYSE:CBB). Cincinnati Bell Energy uses the Cincinnati Bell Energy name under a license agreement with Cincinnati Bell, Inc. Through this landmark launch, Cincinnati Bell is the first telecom provider to offer energy in its bundled services packages along with entertainment, internet and phone.

About Viridian Energy

Viridian Energy is a socially-responsible retail energy supplier that provides greener electricity at an affordable price. The company services commercial and residential electricity customers in Connecticut, Maryland, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania with energy derived from renewable sources. In all of its markets, Viridian offers consumers discounted electricity rates that comply with a higher renewable energy content standard. Located in Norwalk, Conn., Viridian was founded with the vision to empower its customers to make a significant collective impact through a relatively small individual choice simply by switching energy providers.

About Cincinnati Bell, Inc.

With headquarters in Cincinnati, Ohio, Cincinnati Bell provides integrated communications solutions--including local, long distance, data, Internet, entertainment, and wireless services--that keep residential and business customers in Greater Cincinnati and Dayton connected with each other and with the world. In addition, Cincinnati Bell provides best-in-class data center colocation services to enterprise customers in the Midwest and Texas with fully redundant power and cooling solutions. Complementing the colocation products, Cincinnati Bell also offers complex information technology solutions like managed services and technology staffing. For more information, visit www.cincinnatibell.com and www.cincinnatibell.com/energy.

Cincinnati Bell Energy uses its name under a license agreement with Cincinnati Bell, Inc.