State Seeks Comments on Retail Supplier Sales & Marketing Practices, Standard Disclosure Statement

The Connecticut PURA has issued a request for comments concerning its investigation into the development and implementation of marketing standards and sales practices for electric suppliers (Docket 14-07-20).

Section 4 of Public Act 14-75, An Act Concerning Electric Customer Consumer Protection, requires the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority to initiate a contested proceeding to develop and implement, or cause to be implemented, standards relating to abusive switching practices, solicitations and renewals by electric suppliers, the hiring and training of sales representatives, door-to-door sales and telemarketing practices by electric suppliers.

Docket 14-07-20 will also examine a disclosure statement for all electric suppliers to use on all promotional materials directed to residential customers. The statement will direct consumers where they can find the highest and lowest electric generation service rates charged by such supplier as part of a variable rate offer in each of the preceding 12 months to any customer eligible for standard service.

Parties were requested to file written comments that provide proposed standards for Connecticut, examples of standards that are used in other states, proposed standards or disclosure statements and any other comments that are relevant.