Regulator Urges Commission To Address "Outrageous" Retail Supplier Marketing Activity, Complaints

Illinois Commerce Commissioner Miguel del Valle yesterday urged the Commission to step up its oversight efforts to address "outrageous" retail suppliers marketing tactics.

Prompted by an ICC order approving a settlement with a retail supplier (click here for story), but addressing the market generally and not a specific supplier, del Valle said that the ICC continues to receive complaints about how some alternative retail electric suppliers are conducting business, and said that the complaints are not related solely to the polar vortex.

"The Commission needs to step up its efforts to address the problems highlighted by this case as well as other issues that need more attention. Some of the complaints we continue to receive include: marketing personnel implying or stating outright that their company is sponsored by ComEd; pressure at the door or over the phone to produce a ComEd bill with an account number before the product is explained; use of scare tactics, some very outrageous; refusal to leave written information identifying the company for customers to review before agreeing to a transfer; and, one of the most important ones, misleading or erroneous information regarding rates; as well as customers not understanding the letter of agency," del Valle said.

"We as a Commission certify these retail electric suppliers, and I think it's important that our Commission carefully look at the growing number of complaints and address them," del Valle said.

Brien J. Sheahan, chairman of the Illinois Commerce Commission, said in a news release concerning the settlement that, "The Commission and our staff will continue to aggressively enforce appropriate marketing behavior among all energy suppliers."