Connecticut AG Seeks Investigation of Energy Plus Holdings, LLC Over Pricing, Disclosures

The Connecticut Attorney General and Office of the Consumer Counsel have petitioned the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority for an investigation into the manner of operation and conduct of Energy Plus Holdings, LLC (Docket 12-07-13).

"The Attorney General has received multiple customer complaints concerning Energy Plus and Petitioners have also reviewed other Energy Plus marketing and solicitation materials. These complaints and materials appear to demonstrate that Energy Plus has engaged in a pattern of soliciting customers with the direct or implied promise of competitive, market based rates and savings on their electric bills, but then rapidly increasing customers' charges substantially above competitive market rates or the utilities' standard service rates. The Petitioners further assert that Energy Plus may have misrepresented its promotional rates in its customer solicitations," the AG and OCC alleged.

Energy Plus provided the following statement to Matters regarding the petition: "Energy Plus complies with all laws and regulations in offering our services. We will cooperate with the Offices of the Connecticut Attorney General and Consumer Counsel."

The AG and OCC further said that, "These allegations, if true, may violate the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act, Conn. Gen. Stat. § 42-110a et seq., Conn. Gen. Stat. § 16-245o(e), which requires electric suppliers to provide clear and conspicuous statements to customers about the rates they will be paying, including the circumstances under which the rate may change, and possibly other Connecticut statutes. Such violations could subject Energy Plus to civil penalties under § 16-41 and potential suspension or revocation of its supplier license."

Specifically, the AG and OCC cited multiple customer complaints which alleged that Energy Plus variable rates increased to as high as 14-15¢/kWh, while no competitive offers on CT Energy Info during the period exceeded 11¢.

As part of the petition the AG and OCC also asked that PURA consider enacting new regulations requiring the utilities to disclose on customers' bills the standard service rate (See Related Story today)