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PUC Staff Recommend Undispersed Refunds From Retail Supplier Settlement Be Subject To State's Escheatment Process
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Staff of the PUC of Ohio have recommended that undispersed customer re-rates, required under a 2023 order addressing a settlement between PUCO Staff and SmartEnergy Holdings, LLC, should be subject to Ohio's escheatment process
See full background on the settlement here
SmartEnergy Holdings, LLC provided the following statement concerning the matter:
"SmartEnergy has been transparent with the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio throughout this process. As acknowledged by Staff, the Company has taken significant steps to identify and compensate affected customers. SmartEnergy will continue to work cooperatively with Staff to address any remaining questions and ensure all obligations are fully satisfied."
--- Statement from SmartEnergy Holdings, LLC
PUCO previously required SmartEnergy to re-rate, to the then-applicable price to compare, all customers who were charged a $0.299 per kWh rate which had been cited in alleged violations from PUCO Staff, adjusted for any prior rebates provided by SmartEnergy to re-rated customers pursuant to the provisions of the settlement
Staff noted that SmartEnergy provided re-rates as follows:
• Active customers received bill credits.
• Inactive customers were mailed letters in batches (January 2024, July 2024, and November 2024) informing them of their eligibility for a rerate and requesting address verification.
• From December 2024 to February 2025, SmartEnergy issued rerate checks to customers whose address information was verified with the utility by Staff.
• SmartEnergy has committed to continuing to mail rerate checks as they are contacted by eligible former customers.
Staff reported that SmartEnergy has completed nearly 10,000 rerates totaling approximately $1,700,000 to current and former customers.
SmartEnergy has processed approximately $200,000 in rebates or incentives specifically for customers who responded to address-verification letters.
However, Staff estimates that more than 2,300 rerates, with an estimated value of over $355,000, remain undispersed as of June 2025
Staff recommended that SmartEnergy be directed to follow Ohio’s escheatment process for all outstanding rerates.
The escheatment process generally governs unclaimed funds or property and essentially transfers such funds to the state of Ohio, with the person entitled to such funds able to file with the State a claim for such funds within a defined period
Staff also reported various other measures SmartEnergy has taken in compliance with the settlement and PUCO's order
Case 23-0601-EL-UNC
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April 15, 2026
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Copyright 2026 EnergyChoiceMatters.com
Reporting by Paul Ring • ring@energychoicematters.com
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