New Retail Supplier Led By Veterans of Direct Energy/Strategic Receives First License

The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio granted Guttman Energy, Inc. an electric supplier license to serve all sizes of non-residential customers in all service areas.

As previously reported by EnergyChoiceMatters.com, Guttman Energy is a new retail supplier being launched by Northeast petroleum marketer Guttman Oil, and which counts several veterans of Direct Energy Business and Strategic Energy among its management.

Guttman Energy had also applied for an Ohio natural gas supplier license on the same day it applied for an electric license, but the gas license has not yet been issued by PUCO (given the grant of the electric license, the gas license is anticipated shortly). Guttman is also seeking electric and gas supplier licenses in Pennsylvania.

Guttman Energy, Inc. is a petroleum marketer with operations in fourteen states in the eastern United States, and its retail energy business is led by Gary Smelko, Executive Vice President of Guttman Energy, Inc.'s Natural Gas & Power Division.

Michael Young serves as Vice President and General Manager of Guttman Energy, Inc.'s Natural Gas & Power Division. Young was formerly Senior Vice President of North American Sales at Direct Energy Business, and previously held a similar role at Strategic Energy.

Doug Schaefer serves as Head of Supply and Trading for Guttman Energy, Inc.'s Natural Gas & Power Division. Schaefer was formerly Head of Operations at Global Energy Market Services (a wholly owned subsidiary of Fellon McCord), leading the company's expansion into retail energy brokering. Schaefer was also formerly Director of Portfolio Management at Strategic Energy.

Kim Thoma serves as Director of Business Development - Channels for Guttman Energy, Inc.'s Natural Gas & Power Division. Thoma was previously Senior Manager, Channel Operations for Direct Energy and held a similar role at Strategic Energy.

Darren Sadowski serves as IT Director for Guttman Energy, Inc.'s Natural Gas & Power Division. Sadowski was previously Manager of Business Analysis and Strategy for Direct Energy.