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PUC Staff Seek Retail Supplier's Exit From Market, Propose $240,000 Forfeiture
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Note: this is a rush report. This story will be updated later this evening
Staff of the PUC of Ohio requested that the PUC initiate a proceeding to
address SunSea Energy OH, LLC’s compliance with the Commission’s rules and laws, after Staff issued two notices of probable
non-compliance to SunSea in 2025
In a June 2025 notice of probable
non-compliance, Staff had proposed a $240,000 forfeiture against SunSea
In such notice of probable
non-compliance, Staff had also sought the wind-down of SunSea's Ohio retail energy operations, and that the supplier agree to not seek license renewal
Staff alleged that SunSea:
• did not respond to consumer complaints and
inquiries, or provided delayed responses
• did not respond to Staff inquiries, or provided responses that were overdue and lacked complete information
• did not respond to, or did not adequately and materially respond to, two formally docketed consumer complaints. Staff alleged that the complaints alleged behavior including slamming, unfair and deceptive marketing and enrollment practices, and charging "unconscionably high" variable rates
• relied on a TPV that Staff alleges does not appear to have been completed solely by the customer; relied on another TPV that Staff alleges was altered
Staff alleges that various informal complaints against SunSea relate to door-to-door
solicitations and enrollments, and involve slamming allegations and other deceptive and misleading
practices.
"Staff found numerous compliance issues with the third-party verification ('TPV') recordings
SunSea provided, and Staff believes that at least two TPV recordings were altered," Staff said
"Staff believes that SunSea does not have the ability to operate in
Ohio in full compliance with the Commission’s rules. By failing to respond to call center investigators and
failing to respond to formal complaints, SunSea is greatly harming Ohio consumers, impeding
consumers’ ability to obtain resolution of their concerns," Staff said
Staff noted that SunSea was in 2023 subject to a prior settlement with Staff concerning various alleged violations
"Due to the pervasive nature of SunSea’s conduct, Staff has serious concerns about SunSea’s managerial
capabilities. Staff requests that the Commission open a formal proceeding to review SunSea’s
compliance with the Commission’s rules and laws, pursuant to Adm.Code 4901:1-23-05(A) and
Adm.Code 4901:1-34-06(A)," Staff said
Case 25-0713-GE-COI
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July 1, 2025
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Copyright 2025 EnergyChoiceMatters.com
Reporting by Paul Ring • ring@energychoicematters.com
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