North American Power Suspends Maryland Door-to-Door, Telemarketing

North American Power and Gas LLC, as a demonstration of good faith efforts to address concerns of the Maryland PSC, has voluntarily agreed to, "cease all door-to-door marketing and telemarketing in the State of Maryland," until the PSC's concerns are resolved (Case 9253).

EnergyChoiceMatters.com exclusively reported on January 10 that Staff had recommended that North American Power be ordered to show cause why its license should not be suspended, or alternatively assessed a civil penalty of up to $50,000, due to alleged misrepresentations by North American Power agents (see 1/10). The Commission issued a show cause order on January 14 to North American Power to answer Staff's allegations, and North American Power will appear before the Commission at the January 26 administrative meeting (1/17).

North American Power said that its voluntary action should not be construed as an admission of wrongdoing at this time.

Additionally, North American Power has initiated a review of its policies and procedures governing relationships with independent representatives, in light of the Commission's concerns.

North American Power has also drafted changes in its contract to answer Staff's allegations that the contract did not meet minimum COMAR requirements, and to answer Staff's concerns that 1) the contract states it has been approved by the PSC, which Staff alleges is false, and 2) the contract references potential savings despite being a monthly variable rate with no guarantee. North American Power is seeking to discuss these changes with Staff, and put the revised contract into place as soon as possible.