This was a lesson taught to us all by none other than Steve Smith who established himself as arguably the most successful marketer in the history of our industry in the 1990s when he pioneered the use of network marketing in the deregulated telecommunications industry with Excel Communications.  Excel’s revenues grew to a billion and a half dollars in just seven years, making it the fourth-largest long distance carrier in the U.S. and at the time was the youngest company to have joined the New York Stock Exchange in its history. Excel actually reached a billion dollars in revenue nine years quicker than Microsoft, which took 15 years, making it the youngest billion-dollar-annual company in history. Today, energy is being deregulated on a state-by-state basis. Skeptics of the emerging energy/network marketing business say that the deregulation of the energy markets is in the early stage.  And yet the size of the market is huge.  There are currently 129 million residential homes in the United States, spending an average of $2,000 per year on energy.

            Industry legend Steve Smith has waited until now to make his second move on a deregulated utility service category.  He has recently aligned himself with Spark Energy, a Houston-based, independent, multi-state certified retail electricity and natural gas supplier, with a goal of establishing Ampegy as the premiere network marketing company in the deregulated energy marketplace.  This combination of industry giants has positioned Ampegy to have a strong leadership team and business foundation from day one.  

History of Ampegy

            It just so happens that Steve has been keeping an eye on this deregulated industry for several years now, waiting to make his move, as has Spark Energy.   Never resting on their past successes, Spark began to see much smaller energy companies having success through network marketing platforms.  Spark recognized that it had all the right ingredients for success in network marketing with a large number of markets to serve, a proven operating platform, and solid financial strength.  Spark’s Executive Vice President, Waters Davis, had to find a seasoned, successful network marketing expert to help launch this effort.

            Call it fate when Waters Davis reached out to Steve in late 2010 to gauge his interest in doing with energy what he had done with telecommunications. Shortly thereafter, in February 2011, Ampegy was introduced as the Network Marketing arm of Spark Energy, with the intention of writing history all over again.

Management Team

            Leading the management team, along with Waters and Steve, is another proven entrepreneur, W. Keith Maxwell, III. As Spark Energy’s Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Keith was recently named Ernst and Young’s National Entrepreneur of the Year® winner in the Energy, Chemicals and Mining category for 2010.  A well respected businessman, Keith gave credit to his Spark family for this prestigious award stating, “This is an award not of individual achievement; this is an award of teamwork.” He truly has a passion for the American dream, and recognizes Ampegy as the conduit to empower the field of Independent Representatives to achieve their own financial successes through the growth of his company. Over the past ten years, Keith has built the Spark customer base to several thousand residential and commercial energy customers in fifteen states through traditional customer acquisition channels.

            Waters Davis is not only the Executive VP for Spark Energy, he is also the President of Ampegy, leading the executive team at the home office, proudly stating, “We have a great culture here.  It’s built on integrity, respect for the individual, and an entrepreneurial spirit.”  Waters has spent his entire career in energy and has been involved in its deregulation since the beginning of its evolution in 1997.

            Collectively, these three unmatched industry giants define Ampegy’s opportunity, knowledge, and experience. Together, they plan to write history all over again with Ampegy.

Products/Services Offered

            Ampegy offers residential natural gas and/or electricity through Spark Energy to select zip codes in the following states: California (natural gas); Illinois (natural gas and electricity); Maryland (natural gas & electricity); New York (natural gas & electricity), Pennsylvania (natural gas & electricity), Connecticut (electricity); and Texas (electricity).  With more than a decade of experience, Spark Energy works to consistently deliver low-cost energy rates, quality products, and superior customer service to its customers.  Spark Energy is dedicated to positively impacting the communities it serves by building relationships, inspiring philanthropy, and promoting good will both inside the company and throughout the community.

Customer Base

            Spark Energy currently has thousands of residential and commercial energy customers in fifteen states across the country, with plans to add more states in 2011.  Ampegy Representatives will be able to offer the retail energy customers a unique value add, a customer cash back program.  (Ampegy will begin enrolling Spark Energy retail customers in the seven states listed above.)

Distributorship/Home Business Opportunity Offered

            Ampegy’s Independent Representatives have the potential to earn multiple revenue streams by maximizing opportunities within the deregulated energy industry.  Through enrolling Energy Customers with Spark Energy, and by the building of an organization of other Independent Representatives, who do the same, Ampegy Representatives have the opportunity to earn Bonuses and residual Commissions, all of which are based on the acquisition, or referral, of Energy Customers.

Compensation Plan

            The Ampegy compensation plan is simple to understand as it revolves around three basic activities: The first is the enrolling of a few Customers, the second is the sponsoring of other Representatives, and the third is providing help to their Representative organization in gathering their first Customers. By successfully achieving this simple three-step plan, Independent Representatives can earn immediate income and work towards creating long-term residual income, as they develop a team that could result in unlimited income generating levels.

Training and Support Provided

            Ampegy offers its Independent Representatives various training and support tools, both online and offline:

• AmpZone Back Office: Ampegy Independent Representatives (“IR”) are provided a software license for exclusive access to AmpZone.  This dynamic on-line interface allows the Representatives to monitor every aspect of their Ampegy business, including the Amped Up Training Suite, genealogy and commission reports, customer reports, professional marketing tools, and the ability to manage direct deposit information and forecasted earned commissions and bonuses.

• Business Building Kit: Each new Ampegy IR receives a complimentary professional Business Building Kit, including an array of marketing materials to help in Referring Energy Customers and Sponsoring Independent Representatives.  Representatives will also receive the Ampegy Success Guide, a comprehensive document providing an overview of the company, services, and a step-by-step plan to build a profitable business, focusing on the most important phase of any Representative’s business relationship with Ampegy; the first month. Structuring a plan that new Representatives can work and hold themselves to is a key element in generating a fast return and achieving fast promotions to higher earning levels.

• Business Building Websites: Ampegy Representative Sponsoring and Customer Referrals are all facilitated online. Therefore, all active Ampegy IR’s are provided with two personalized business building websites, http://RepresentativeBusinessName.ampegy.com (Opportunity Site for referring Representatives) and http://RepresentativeBusinessName.ampegyservices.com (Services Site for referring Customers).

• Ampegy Success Specialists: Trained specialists are available for any questions during business hours via phone, email, and live chat.

The Future of Ampegy

            Over the next five years, we predict that Ampegy will not only establish itself as the premiere network marketing company in America, but will also exceed the network marketing successes that were experienced by Excel in the 1990’s.

             “There is no better way to penetrate a newly deregulated utility market than by harnessing a network marketing business model.  I proved this with Excel Telecommunications and since then have been waiting until the deregulated energy industry was in enough markets to make it a viable business model.  I am once again ready to prove what a network marketing business model is capable of doing,” Chief Marketing Officer, Steve Smith says. HBM

At the time of writing this article, Ampegy was preparing to launch their website, www.ampegy.com, on February 24, 2011 followed by a kick-off event in Houston, Texas comprised of thousands of Independent Representatives later this Spring. 

For more information on Ampegy, please visit www.ampegy.com or call 855-Ampegy1 (855-267-3491).  Ampegy and its energy service provider, Spark Energy, L.P. are located in Houston, Texas. HBM  V18-2 Add: 6/11 HP: