Starion Energy to Pay $20,000 Under Settlement with DPUC Staff

Starion Energy would make a $20,000 donation to Connecticut energy assistance fund Operation Fuel in lieu of a civil penalty to resolve a Connecticut DPUC Notice of Violation previously issued by the Department against Starion (see 11/8).

The donation is part of a settlement between Starion and DPUC Prosecutory Staff, which remains subject to DPUC approval (09-10-10RE01).

In the original Notice of Violation, the DPUC had sought a $70,000 civil penalty, for among other things, allegations that Starion executed: (1) two switches for which it did not have proper consent; (2) 20 enrollments whose verification did not meet the statutory independence standard; and (3) some 4,000 enrollments in which the right of rescission was not properly disclosed.

Under the settlement, Starion agrees that "some" of the relevant statues and regulations were violated, though the settlement does not enumerate specific admissions.

Prosecutory staff further stated that the number of consumer complaints involving Starion has gone down dramatically since the DPUC's investigation was first initiated.

Staff further said that Starion has corrected the errors that were the precursors to the original allegations and customer complaints, and has made good faith efforts to develop programs and procedures to ensure ongoing compliance.