Retail Supplier To Exit State's Market, Drop Customers To Default Service, Pay $500,000 Under Settlement

Clearview Electric, Inc. would pay $500,000 and return its Connecticut customers to default service under a settlement agreement with the Connecticut PURA's Office of Education, Outreach, and Enforcement (EOE), Connecticut Office of Consumer Counsel, and the Connecticut Attorney General to resolve a Notice of Violation (NOV).

Clearview provided the following statement concerning the matter:

"Clearview disagrees with the allegations that the EOE made in its Notice of Violation. However, rather than continue a protracted hearing process that would not benefit the ratepayers of Connecticut or the company, Clearview agreed to settle this matter amicably. Clearview regrets that it now joins the ranks of other energy suppliers that have left the Connecticut market over the past few years."

--- Statement from Clearview

Among other things, EOE had alleged in the NOV that during TPVs for Clearview enrollments, the TPV agent reads the customer's name key, address, and phone number to the customer. Staff also alleged various violations relating to the information required to appear on, or related to, bills. See a full discussion of the alleged violations in our prior story here

Under the settlement, Clearview specifically agrees to pay the amount of five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) to the electric distribution companies (Eversource Energy and The United Illuminating Company) indicated as a donation to reduce hardship arrearages.

The settlement provides that, upon approval of the settlement, Clearview shall immediately voluntarily withdraw from the Connecticut electric supplier market for six (6) years. As a result, Clearview will return its current Connecticut customers to default service

Under the settlement, Clearview will reimburse all customers enrolled through the TPVs indicated in a discovery response the difference between what they paid Clearview and the applicable standard service rate for the length of the enrollment with Clearview

The settlement provides that, "This Settlement Agreement does not represent an admission or concession by Clearview as to the claims, or facts or circumstances surrounding the claims, or proper disposition of any issue related to the NOV or this Settlement Agreement."

Docket No. 07-08-17