D.C. OPC Seeks 30 Days Notice Prior to Restart of Horizon Marketing Efforts

The District of Columbia Office of People's Counsel asked the District of Columbia PSC to require that Horizon Power & Light give 30 days' notice to the PSC before Horizon resumes sales calls in the District.

In response to certain customer concerns received by OPC regarding a Horizon marketing campaign, Horizon decided in late October to cease all sales calls until further notice.

Previously, Horizon had instituted a number of other remedial measures including increased live silent monitoring and reviewing a higher percentage of daily agent sales calls. Horizon released four sales agents due to misconduct.

During the voluntary cessation of sales calls, Horizon has been re-training all remaining agents. Once re-training is completed, Horizon said that it will choose the best five agents for its new sales team. Each sales agent will only be allowed to sign up 20 accounts a week, until such time as Horizon believes that all rules are being followed again, at which time Horizon will allow the agents to increase production.

Prior to starting up a sales campaign again, Horizon said that it will provide the PSC with a one week notice.

OPC said that while it is "pleased" Horizon has taken action to investigate and ameliorate any harmful actions, OPC said that it is, "compelled to exercise caution," given a prior Horizon settlement with the Delaware PSC which saw, among other things, Horizon relinquish its Delaware electric license.

Given this record, OPC requested that the PSC require Horizon to provide 30 days notice prior to resuming sales calls in the District, and also sought sworn affidavits from Horizon's officers attesting to its solicitation practices.

OPC said that the requested 30-day notice period, "will provide the Commission sufficient time to review and request additional information, if necessary, so it can decide whether resumption of Horizon's marketing operations would be in the public interest."