Maryland Sets For Hearing Question of Whether Suppliers' Provided "Misleading" Pricing Information

The Maryland PSC has assigned to the Public Utility Law Judge Division the question of whether three retail suppliers' marketing and pricing practices were "misleading" or otherwise provided inadequate information to allow a customer to make an informed choice regarding the purchase of electricity and natural gas services

Specifically, the PSC set further proceedings to review the practices of Blue Pilot Energy, LLC; Major Energy Electric Services, LLC and Major Energy Services, LLC; and XOOM Energy Maryland.

Prompted by customer complaints, the PSC had previously issued a show cause order to each supplier over their practices (click here for prior story).

The PSC said that, "the factual submissions provided by the named parties are insufficient to evaluate the veracity of allegations regarding supplier behavior outlined in the Order to Show Cause."

"Specifically, the Commission finds that further proceedings are warranted to determine whether the parties' actions with respect to the customer complaints cited in the Order, as well as any customer complaints subsequently filed, constitute: providing false and misleading information about the expected range and nature of variable prices; providing false and misleading information about the process for canceling variable rate contracts; advertising to customers that the supplier's variable rate would not exceed the Standard Offer Service (electric) or Sales Service (natural gas) price for the relevant utility; or providing inadequate information to allow a customer to make an informed choice regarding the purchase of electricity and natural gas services," the PSC said.

Case 9346