Texas Retail Provider Asks That Brokers Be Required To Disclose All Websites Where Services Offered

In comments filed with the Texas PUC on a strawman rule to adopt regulations for electric brokers, Young Energy, LLC recommended that brokers, "be required to disclose the websites through which they advertise or describe electric services."

"Young Energy strongly believes that the proposed new rules and registration form should require a registering broker to list all websites where either the brokers' services or the services of REPs are described and to update such list as it creates or uses new websites. This is consistent with the proposed requirements that the registering brokers provide contact information. Additionally, the proposed rule would require several restrictions on the content of a broker's site, such as the inclusion of an Electricity Facts Label, Terms of Service, and Your Rights as a Consumer Disclosure. This rule cannot be enforced by the PUC if brokers are not required to disclose a list of websites subject to the rule. Further, disclosure of the list of websites may allow REPs to 'enforce' the rule themselves by enabling them to better monitor the actions and statements of brokers who describe the REPs' services or offerings," Young Energy said

Young Energy further proposed that, "brokers be required to disclose the relationship with their agents."

"Brokers should be required to disclose whether their agents and representatives are their own employees or are contracted or subcontracted from other brokers or from other third parties. If the broker does use agents and representatives contracted or subcontracted from other brokers, the registered broker should disclose from which brokers the agents are obtained. These disclosures will allow REPs to know the sources from which brokers obtain their agents or representatives who will be dealing with potential or existing customers and to evaluate the risks of doing business with particular brokers accordingly," Young Energy said

Project 49794