Nazarian: Consumer Protection Problems in Maryland Challenge Credibility of Retail Choice

"This whole notion of the Wild West, free market is going to set us all free is being challenged by some of this real life consumer protection stuff we're encountering," Maryland PSC Chairman Douglas Nazarian said in opening Wednesday's hearing on a show cause order issued to North American Power, which was extensively covered in our January 27 story.

"This is an area of grave concern and sensitivity to us right now," Nazarian said of consumer protection and particularly the solicitation and marketing allegations made by Staff.

"The allegation that the agent is out representing himself as a Commission employee is, by itself, enormously troubling to me," Nazarian continued.

"We need to be very clear that this is bad," Nazarian said.

"And this is exactly the kind of stuff that we are worried about week in and week out when we license suppliers, and we get all this heavy hogwash about how customers are going to be happy, and then we find out [customers are subject to the alleged marketing practices]," Nazarian added

"And I'll tell you too, people on this side of the bench have had personal experiences with not only this company but others that contribute to these concerns," Nazarian said.