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Regulator Removes Retail Supplier From Rate Board
The Connecticut PURA has removed Public Power from the Energize CT rate board, alleging that a message for customers calling Public Power placed on hold still references Levco Energy.
As previously reported, PURA had directed Public Power in November to take immediate steps to correct "deficiencies" associated with its marketing practices and to assure that its legal agents or third-party contractors perform all marketing and/or enrollment activities under Public Power's name and that all marketing materials must bear Public Power's name exclusively
In that November directive, PURA had said that, "When LEVCO Energy acts on behalf of, or is compensated by, Public Power, LEVCO Energy is Public Power's legal agent pursuant to Conn. Gen. Stat. §16-245o(h). When acting on behalf of Public Power, LEVCO Energy may not use its own name. All legal agents of Public Power must make it clear that consumers are dealing with Public Power and not any other company, such as LEVCO. For example, LEVCO must answer the phone as 'Public Power' and not 'LEVCO Energy' to avoid misleading or otherwise confusing customers."
PURA said that on Friday January 2, 2015, its Consumer Services Unit received an inquiry regarding one of the Public Power generation offers that had recently been posted to the Connecticut rate board. The customer inquiry was forwarded to Arthur Marcelynas of the Authority's staff who called Public Power to discuss the matter. Due to high call volume, Mr. Marcelynas was placed on hold. PURA alleged that the on-hold message indicated that Mr. Marcelynas had reached Levco Energy, not Public Power.
"The use of LEVCO Energy in the on-hold message violates the Authority's November 18, 2014 directive," PURA alleged.
"As a result, the Authority removed Public Power from the Rate Board on January 2, 2015 and will reinstate Public Power to the Rate Board when Public Power demonstrates it has taken steps to remove all references to 'LEVCO Energy' in its marketing materials, website, enrollment activities or interactions with customers," PURA said.
"Any future violations will subject Public Power to civil penalties and/or other action by the Authority including revocation of Public Power's license," PURA said.
Public Power provided the following statement to EnergyChoiceMatters.com:
"Public Power continues to work closely with the Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) in order to maintain our reputation as one of the Northeast's leading retail energy suppliers.
"We appreciate PURA's effort to bring this undetected deficiency in a third-party's internal support system to our attention so that it can be quickly rectified.
"Public Power routinely conducts proactive marketing spot checks as part of our rigorous commitment to compliance. We look forward to resolving this matter swiftly and to our prompt reinstatement to the Rate Board."
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January 6, 2015
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Copyright 2010-15 EnergyChoiceMatters.com
Reporting by Paul Ring • ring@energychoicematters.com
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