Updated
Applies To Non-Residential and Residential

Pennsylvania PUC Suspends Door-to-Door, In-Person Marketing Activities For Retail Energy Suppliers

Consumers Urged To Report Any Such Sales Activity To PUC

March 16, 2020

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Reporting by Paul Ring • ring@energychoicematters.com

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Updated, March 17, 10:55 a.m.

The Pennsylvania PUC's order on the door-to-door marketing suspension noted that door-to-door sales, public event, and sales and marketing are defined at 52 Pa Code §111.2:

Door-to-door sales - A solicitation or sales method whereby an agent proceeds randomly or selectively from residence to residence.

Public event - An event in a public location which may facilitate sales and marketing activities or may result in a customer enrollment transaction.

Sales and marketing - The extension of an offer to provide services or products communicated orally, electronically or in writing to a customer.

The PUC's order provides, "While door-to-door sales refers to residences, through this Emergency Order we will direct the cessation of all door-to-door, public event and in person sales and marketing activities, regardless of customer class, in order to minimize all non-essential personal contact."

"Due to this unprecedented emergency, I find that door-to-door, public event and any in person sales and marketing of competitive energy supply is not a necessity at this time given the need to protect the health and the safety of the public, both customers and persons employed by suppliers, by minimizing unnecessary social contacts. This is especially the case under the current challenges that resulted in the Proclamation of a pandemic emergency," the order from Chairman Gladys Brown Dutrieuille states

"Therefore, all electric generation suppliers and natural gas suppliers subject to the Commission's jurisdiction are prohibited from engaging in any door-to-door, public event and in person sales and marketing activities during the pendency of the Proclamation of Disaster Emergency, or unless otherwise directed by the Commission," the order from Chairman Gladys Brown Dutrieuille states

Earlier:

Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) Chairman Gladys Brown Dutrieuille today signed an emergency order suspending all door-to-door, in-person and public event sales activities by agents of competitive electric and natural gas suppliers in the Commonwealth’s retail energy markets.

"Under the unique circumstances presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, establishing a moratorium on activities of this nature for all customer classes – to help minimize non-essential personal social contact – is consistent with the Governor’s Proclamation of Disaster Emergency and the requirements of the Public Utility Code," the PUC said

"Section 1501 of the Public Utility Code provides that every public utility has a duty to furnish and maintain adequate, efficient, safe and reasonable service as is necessary for the accommodation, convenience and safety of its patrons, employees and the public," Chairman Dutrieuille stated. "Due to this unprecedented emergency, I find that door-to-door, public events and any in-person sales and marketing of competitive energy supply is not a necessity at this time, given the need to protect the public health and safety."

"Pursuant to the Commission’s regulations governing emergency relief, an emergency order will be issued only when there exists a clear and present danger to life or property or when the relief requested is uncontested and action is required prior to the next scheduled public meeting," the PUC said

Chairman Dutrieuille also urged consumers to report any public sales and marketing activity by an agent of a competitive supplier to the PUC’s Bureau of Consumer Services at 1-800-692-7380 as well as alert their local utility. The complete list of regulations governing marketing and sales practices for Pennsylvania’s retail residential energy markets is found at 52 Pa. Code, Chapter 111.

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