PUC Issues Order To Show Cause To Retail Supplier

The Maine PUC issued an order to show cause to Clearview Electric, Inc, (Clearview) under which the retail supplier was directed to, "show cause why it should not be found to have violated Maine statutes and Commission rules regarding its operations as a licensed competitive electricity provider (CEP) in Maine and be subject to appropriate sanctions."

Clearview Energy issued the following statement concerning the order: "Clearview Energy is committed to working with the Maine Public Utility Commission to address any concerns the Commissioners or Staff may have regarding Clearview Energy’s marketing practices. Clearview Energy is dedicated to providing best in class service to the residents of Maine."

In the order to show cause, the PUC noted that, in 2016 as a result of complaints received by Central Maine Power about Clearview's door-to-door marketing activities, Clearview in 2016 entered into an agreement to take specified actions intended to minimize confusion and allow the Commission to monitor activities giving rise to customer complaints. The prior complaints, received in 2015 and 2016, alleged that Clearview representatives made false or misleading statements, including leading customers to believe that Clearview representatives were either employees or working on behalf of CMP.

In the order to show cause, the PUC stated that, "On January 15, 2019, Clearview filed a request to terminate the February 10, 2016 agreement, stating that the number of requests for information related to its marketing efforts have been reduced and that revisions to the Commission's CEP customer protection rules now incorporate similar requirements contained in Clearview's agreement. By letter dated February 11, 2019, Commission Staff agreed to terminate the requirements in the February 10, 2016 agreement."

In the order to show cause, the PUC stated that, "Beginning in May 2019, CMP and the Commission's Consumer Assistance and Safety Division (CASD) began receiving complaints regarding Clearview's door-to-door marketing activities. The nature of the complaints included: the marketer claims to be an employee or representative of CMP; need to check the meter for accuracy; and marketing to a customer that did not speak English."

In the order to show cause, the PUC stated that, "As a general matter, Clearview has not denied complaints that its sales agents acted in a misleading or deceptive manner in violation of Commission rules. Clearview has consistently responded that it would retrain or suspend offending sales agents."

In the order to show cause, the PUC stated that, "the Commission hereby directs Clearview to show cause why its marketing practices should not be found to have violated Maine statute and Commission rules regarding its operations as a licensed CEP in Maine. Specifically, the Commission directs Clearview to show cause why its license as a CEP in Maine should not be revoked or suspended with respect to marketing to and enrolling new customers or from re-enrolling existing customers at the end of the customer's term of service."

Clearview was directed to respond to this Order in writing by November 29, 2019.

Docket No. 2010-00376