RESA Publishes Choice Consumer Education Guide

In an effort to improve consumer education about choosing a competitive energy supplier, the Retail Energy Supply Association (RESA) today released a consumer education guide at the summer conference of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC).

"[M]any consumers may be wary of sales agents who may knock on their door, call them on the phone, or make offers through the mail or on the internet, simply because they are unaware of their right to choose competitive electricity and natural gas products," said David Fein, President of RESA.

In response, RESA's education guide is a, "proactive step to help ensure that consumers are armed with the information they need to become a better educated consumer as they shop for competitive electricity or natural gas products," Fein said.

Link to RESA Consumer Education Guide

Jay Kooper, Past President of RESA and Chairman of RESA's consumer education committee, said that RESA's goal is to, "combat and minimize any of the bad marketing practices out there."

"[I]t is imperative for us as an industry to ensure consumers have a positive experience when shopping for competitive energy products and services and to have at their fingertips the information necessary to ensure this happens," Kooper added.

RESA's education guide, in particular, directs customers that, "If a competitive supplier makes any claims that they are acting on behalf of the utility, discontinue the conversation, and contact your utility and the public utility commission for clarification."

Additionally, RESA's guide encourages customers solicited via door-to-door to ensure that they, "receive a copy of all pages of the contract, especially any pages you signed and initialed."

The guide also says that customers marketed to at the doorstep should not feel pressured to make a decision on the spot.

RESA's four-page guide also provides general information on competitive suppliers; types of questions to ask before entering into a contract; pricing and product option information; and outlines the elements of legitimate sales interactions.

RESA said that its members are expected to adhere to the guide (as well as a separate statement of principles). RESA will monitor members' compliance, with members' standing dependent on compliance.