EnergyChoiceMatters.com

Retail Supplier Alleges Utility Rep. Passing "Unverified", "Intentionally Misleading" Info to PUC

July 16, 2015

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Copyright 2010-15 EnergyChoiceMatters.com
Reporting by Paul Ring • ring@energychoicematters.com

A representative of Central Maine Power, "has been passing incorrect information to the PUC regarding Clearview's marketing practices that is unverified at best, and intentionally misleading at worst," Clearview Energy said in a response to the Maine PUC concerning its marketing practices.

As first reported by EnergyChoiceMatters.com, the PUC had directed Clearview to submit certain information related to a door-to-door marketing campaign, citing customer concerns received by Central Maine Power regarding the campaign.

In addition to answering the PUC's concerns, Clearview in its response stated:

"Clearview currently operates in 13 states and the District of Columbia. Clearview does business in 45 unique distribution utility territories. Clearview has never encountered staff at a distribution utility that is so blatantly anti-supplier (deregulation) as [CMP's Director of Electric Supply] and [that] team at CMP. It is unconscionable that a utility representative falsely tells a consumer that a supplier is illegally marketing door-to-door, and that complaints should be filed with the PUC regarding the supplier's legitimate marketing actions," Clearview alleged.

"[CMP's Director of Electric Supply] has been passing incorrect information to the PUC regarding Clearview's marketing practices that is unverified at best, and intentionally misleading at worst. In a prime example, [CMP's Director of Electric Supply] stated a Clearview representative made false claims which tricked a consumer into switching supply service to Clearview, yet Clearview's standard Quality Assurance Call found that the same customer stated that the representative was great, but they simply changed their mind about enrollment. A drop was issued, and service was never switched to Clearview," Clearview alleged

Central Maine Power Company provided the following response to EnergyChoiceMatters.com:

"Central Maine Power Company (CMP) and its employees have no reason to be “anti-supplier” since we do not compete with competitive suppliers.
"As a transmission and distribution utility, CMP's role is to deliver the electricity customers purchase in the competitive market. Unlike some other states, T&D utilities in Maine do not provide the default service (referred to in Maine as Standard Offer). Rather, it is provided by suppliers selected by the through a competitive solicitation process.
"CMP does not in any way compete with Clearview or any other competitive electricity provider marketing to customers in our service territory. Our company is in no way affected and has no interest in any customer's choice of electricity supplier.
"CMP has embraced deregulation in Maine since it was initially proposed in 1997 and implemented on March 1, 2000. Since that time, CMP has worked cooperatively with the Maine Public Utilities Commission, more than 50 competitive electricity providers, and other stakeholders to implement electric industry restructuring and facilitate our customers' participation the competitive electricity market in Maine. CMP actually helps CEPs through providing billing, metering, and enrollment services to facilitate the competitive market in Maine.
"CMP acts in a completely impartial manner with respect to its customers' electricity supply options. In over 15 years of facilitating the competitive market in Maine, CMP has worked diligently to assist competitive electricity providers such as Clearview to serve the electricity supply needs of our customers.
"On occasion, customers will call CMP's Customer Relations Center with concerns or complaints about their interactions with CEPs, and our representatives will pass those concerns to the director of Electricity Supply. The director of Electric supply will contact the CEP if it appears that the CEP has provided incorrect information to a customer, such as characterizing the Standard Offer as 'CMP's Standard Offer.' If it appears that the CEP has violated an MPUC regulation, she may also contact the MPUC, which licenses CEPs. Generally, such matters are resolved quickly after CMP's initial contact with the CEP."

Clearview also provided Matters with the following statement:

“As one of the largest renewable energy suppliers in the United States, Clearview Energy has a long-standing reputation for putting its customers first. Not only is our goal to provide value, but to ensure a positive experience. Having an A rating with the BBB, along with a .82% complaint-to-sales ratio in the state of Maine, Clearview Energy strives to ensure the complaint resolution process is authentic and clear, and we are responsive to any concerns brought to our attention.”

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