PSC Fines Broker

The Maryland PSC granted Light Star Energy Group, LLC an electric broker license to serve residential, commercial and industrial customers in all service areas. In doing so, the Commission directed Light Star Energy Group, LLC to pay a civil penalty to the Commission in the amount of $1,000 for engaging in brokering activity prior to licensure

The Maryland PSC also granted Light Star Energy Group, LLC a natural gas broker license to serve residential, commercial and industrial customers in all service areas. In doing so, the Commission directed Light Star Energy Group, LLC to pay a civil penalty to the Commission in the amount of $1,000 for engaging in brokering activity prior to licensure

According to a filing from PSC Staff, the company began operating as a broker in Maryland without a license in January 2013. According to a filing from PSC Staff, the company serves about two dozen accounts, and the company would owe almost $150 in assessments to the Commission if the company had obtained a license in 2013.

The company said that its current operations in Maryland are minimal as there are no sales representatives actively seeking customers or soliciting its services. The customers previously obtained in Maryland were acquired through previous childhood and college/university relationships of a prior principal of the company

The company explained that in August of 2016, the owner/president of the company suddenly passed away. The company said that it was unclear why a Maryland license was not originally obtained, but a management team brought on subsequent to the death of the owner/president identified the lack of a Maryland license and made efforts to come into compliance