Updated: Ohio Directs Retail Energy Suppliers To Halt Door-To-Door, In-Person Marketing

March 17, 2020

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Update 7:00 p.m.

PUCO's written order has been issued, and the order applies to all door-to-door and in-person marketing and all customer classes

Under the order, "CRES [competitive electric] providers and CRNGS [competitive gas] suppliers immediately suspend, for all customer classes, all door-to-door and in-person marketing to customers in this state for the duration of the emergency, unless otherwise ordered by the Commission."

"Marketing practices involving in-person contact like door-to-door and in-store marketing by CRES and CRNGS suppliers present unnecessary risks of spreading COVID- 19 to all individuals, particularly with respect to at-risk populations in Ohio. These practices are, therefore, in conflict with the Governor’s Executive Order, the March 12, 2020 Order of the Director of the Ohio Department of Health, and the policy of this state. Accordingly, the Commission directs CRES providers and CRNGS suppliers to immediately suspend, for all customer classes, all door-to-door and in-store marketing to customers as well as any other sales or solicitation practice that involves in-person contact in this state for the duration of the emergency, unless otherwise ordered by the Commission," the order states

Earlier:

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The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) today issued an order directing Ohio’s competitive natural gas and electric providers to halt door-to-door and in-person marketing to avoid unnecessary social contact.

A written order was not immediately available.

Chairman Sam Randazzo said that the ban shall be in effect for the, "duration of emergency."

Randazzo further warned customers that individuals may seek to take advantage of the current emergency climate and the stress people are under, and warned customers to be on guard against practices involving misrepresentations by agents of retail energy suppliers, such as misrepresentations that the agent is working for the local utility

Case 20-591-AU-UNC

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