PSC Staff: "Increasing Number Of Complaints" Allege Brokers Providing "Inaccurate Or Misleading Information"

New York PSC Staff reported, "an increasing number of complaints in which consumers allege that energy brokers provided inaccurate or misleading information concerning ESCO products and services."

Included within Staff's definition of brokers are, "non-utility entities that perform energy management or procurement functions on behalf of customers or ESCOs but do not make retail energy sales to customers."

In response, Staff proposes to modify the Uniform Business Practices to require ESCOs to identify and provide contact information for entities, including energy brokers, which market to customers on behalf of the ESCO, or sell lists of potential customers to the ESCO.

"This information will assist Staff in overseeing retail energy markets and ensuring that consumers can participate in these markets with confidence," Staff said

Staff, however, is not proposing that brokers be required to be licensed by the PSC

Case 15–M-0127