Plenti card lets you earn and spend rewards at several businesses

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- The average household belongs to about 21 loyalty and rewards programs, but uses less than half of them because it is too much to keep track of.

But there is a new program that is making that much easier. With the new Plenti card, you can earn points at one place and use them at another, all with a single card.

The card is by American Express and allows shoppers to earn points on everyday items that they already purchase, like filling up at the pump, or paying a cell phone or electric bill.

"With Direct Energy specifically, customers can enroll in one of our electricity plans. They can earn 5,000 points for doing so, and coming soon we'll have many more offers for our customers to earn," said Director of Marketing at Direct Energy Ken Weibacher.

Unlike other loyalty programs, Plenti isn't tied to a single company or credit card.

How does it work? A customer signs up at a participating business, on the Plenti app, or on Plenti.com.

Every time you spend money at participating merchants, you earn Plenti points. The number of points vary from business to business.

"Plenti has brought together a coalition of well-known brands across the U.S., so AT&T, Macy's, Direct Energy, and others," said Weibacher. "Now consumers can go and earn points for everyday purchases such as gas at Exxon, electricity at Direct Energy, then take those points and buy a pair of shoes at Macy's. The convenience factor really makes it exciting for consumers."

Plenti points can be redeemed in 1,000 point increments, which is equal to $10 in savings.

In the Houston area, you can redeem the points at Macy's and participating Exxon and Mobil gas stations.

You can earn points nationwide at the following:

- AT&T

- Exxon

- Macy's

- Mobil

- Nationwide

- Rite Aid

- Direct Energy

- Enterprise/National/Alamo

- Hulu

Plenti is only 2 months old, and in the coming months the network is expected to grow. In the future, Plenti hopes that customers will be able to link all of their grocery store loyalty cards to their Plenti card and earn double points, while eliminating multiple cards to carry.