June 8, 2021
State Regulator Rescinds Request That Retail Energy Suppliers Cease Door-to-Door Marketing
The Massachusetts DPU has rescinded its prior "request" that retail energy suppliers and marketers cease door-to-door marketing
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May 21, 2021
Retail Energy Regulator Rules On Whether Proposed Virtual Training Of Sales Agents Meets Adopted Requirements
The Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority issued further guidance to Vistra Corp. (Vistra or Company) finding that Vistra's specific virtual training process of sales agents meets the face to face requirements of virtual training adopted by PURA under the Electric Supplier Marketing…
May 21, 2021
Retail Energy Regulator Approves One Change In TPV Script, Denies Other Sought Changes
In response to a motion for clarification from Vistra Corp., the Connecticut PURA adopted a single change to the third-party verification (TPV) script that retail suppliers must use under PURA's Marketing Standards, but denied other sought changes
May 21, 2021
Regulator Clarifies When Retail Suppliers Must Use New Default Service Rates In Marketing
The Connecticut PURA has issued a clarification concerning when retail electric suppliers are required to use new electric distribution company standard service rates in marketing to customers.
May 21, 2021
PSC Staff Seeks Order Enjoining Retail Supplier From Marketing
The Staff of the Public Service Commission of Maryland (Staff) filed a Motion to Enjoin Statewise Energy Maryland, LLC from marketing in Maryland during the pendency of a complaint proceeding brought by Staff against Statewise
May 20, 2021
PUC Issues For Public Comment Settlement Under Which Retail Supplier Would Pay $150,000
Investigation Prompted When Mailer With Alleged Violations Received By PUC's Director Of Oversight
The Pennsylvania PUC issued for public comment a settlement between National Gas & Electric, LLC (NG&E) and the PUC's Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement ('I&E') under which National Gas & Electric would pay a $120,000 civil penalty and contribute $30,000 to PPL's hardship fund to resolve…
May 19, 2021
Regulator's Staff Issues Straw Proposal That Would Require Retail Suppliers To Send Notice To Customers For Any Rate Increase
Proposes Limitation On Low-Income Customer Products
Staff of the Massachusetts DPU as well as a group of competitive suppliers have filed straw proposals addressing various Tier II issues in the DPU's ongoing review of the retail energy markets (Docket 19-07)
May 14, 2021
Retail Supplier To Pay $150,000 Under Settlement With PSC Staff
Would Pay $305,000 In Early Termination Fee Refunds
U.S. Gas & Electric, Inc. d/b/a Maryland Gas & Electric and Energy Service Providers, Inc. d/b/a Maryland Gas & Electric (together, 'MDG&E'), would pay a civil penalty of $150,000 and provide certain customer re-rates under a partial settlement with Staff of the Maryland Public Service Commission…
May 14, 2021
Retail Energy Supplier To Pay $59,000 Under Settlement With PUC Staff
Clearview Electric, Inc. d/b/a Clearview Energy ('Clearview' or 'Company') would pay a civil penalty in the amount of $59,750, and has provided refunds to certain customers, under a settlement with the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission's Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement ('I&E') to…
May 12, 2021
Office of Consumer Counsel Advises Small Businesses To Review Contracts With Competitive Energy Suppliers
The Colorado Office of Consumer Counsel (OCC) said in a news release that, "As natural gas charges from February’s extreme weather event continue to impact residents and businesses alike, the Colorado Office of Consumer Counsel (OCC) is advising small businesses, multi-dwelling residential, and…
May 6, 2021
Pennsylvania PUC Allows Door-To-Door Marketing To Resume For C&I Customers Only
Seeks Comment On Need For Additional Monitoring, Oversight
May 4, 2021
Regulator Issues $750,000 Notice Of Violation (NOV) To Retail Supplier That Would Require Return Of All Customers To Default Service If Adopted As Final
The Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (Authority or PURA) issued a Notice of Violation and Assessment of Civil Penalty to Mega Energy of New England, LLC (Mega or Company) under which PURA would adopt, among other things, a $750,000 fine and which would require Mega to return all…
April 29, 2021
Retail Supplier To Pay $125,000 Under Settlement With PSC Staff
Direct Energy Services, LLC ('Direct' or 'Direct Energy') would pay a civil penalty of $125,000 under a partial settlement with Staff of the Maryland Public Service Commission ('Staff') and the Maryland Office of Peoples Counsel ('OPC') to resolve certain alleged violations of COMAR
April 16, 2021
Regulator Opens Investigations Into Two Retail Energy Suppliers
The Illinois Commerce Commission has opened separate investigations into Liberty Power Holdings LLC (Liberty Power) and Switch Energy LLC to review alleged potential violations of various provisions of the Ill. Adm. Code, Public Utilities Act (PUA) and Section 2EE of the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive…
April 15, 2021
Retail Energy Regulator Allows Additional Type Of In-Person Sales, Broadly Applicable To All Retail Suppliers
The Illinois Commerce Commission has granted, on a generic basis, all retail electric and natural gas suppliers the ability to resume, "in-person [marketing] appointments with non-residential customers," as well as the ability to resume in-store marketing with their retail partners.
April 15, 2021
PUC Approves Settlement Under Which Retail Supplier Will Pay $82,000, Issue Refunds
Relates To Pricing Disclosures, Alleged Slamming
The Pennsylvania PUC approved without modification a settlement between Liberty Power Holdings, LLC ("Liberty Power") and the PUC's Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement ('I&E') under which Liberty Power will pay $82,800, and provide certain customer refunds, to resolve allegations that its…
April 13, 2021
Retail Supplier Seeks Clarification Of Requirement To Present Utility's Charges To Customers
Vistra Corp. requested from the Connecticut PURA clarification regarding disclosure of the electric distribution companies’ ('EDCs') current charges when advertising or disclosing the price of electricity as required pursuant to Connecticut General Statutes section 16-245o(h)(3)(i).
April 9, 2021
PSC Stays Recent Order Which Had Required Retail Supplier To Return Customers Enrolled Via Telesales To Default Service
The Maryland PSC has granted a stay of its recent order which had, among other things, required that SmartEnergy Holdings, LLC d/b/a SmartEnergy (“SmartEnergy” or the “Company”) return its customers enrolled through telesales to default service and which had ordered certain customer refunds
April 5, 2021
PPL Electric Utilities Calls For Restrictions On Introductory, Promotional & Teaser Rates From Retail Suppliers
Greg Dudkin, president of PPL Electric Utilities (PPL), had an op-ed published in the Allentown Morning Call in which he said, "We need restrictions around introductory, promotion and teaser rates," from competitive retail electric suppliers
April 1, 2021
PSC Orders Retail Supplier To Return Customers Enrolled Via Specific Sales Channel To Default Service
The Maryland PSC ordered SmartEnergy Holdings, LLC to return all of its Maryland customers that were solicited and enrolled via telephone, in response to the supplier’s direct mail advertising, to utility standard offer service, as the PSC found that SmartEnergy failed to comply with the Maryland…
March 30, 2021
Citing Further Opening Of State, Retail Suppliers Ask Pennsylvania PUC To Allow In-Person Marketing To Non-residential Customers, Without Appointment
The Retail Energy Supply Association petitioned the Pennsylvania PUC for a partial rescission of the Commission’s March 16, 2020 Emergency Order which generally prohibits in-person marketing (subject to exceptions later adopted by the PUC)
March 24, 2021
PUC Approves $100,000 Settlement With Retail Supplier
PUC Commissioner Says Lack Of Quality Assurance By Suppliers May Be Inferred As Speaking To Supplier's Technical Competence (Or Lack Thereof) For Continued Licensure
March 18, 2021
PSC Staff Files Complaint Against Retail Supplier, Seeks Show Cause Order On License Revocation Or Suspension
Recommends Supplier's Existing Customers Be Returned To SOS Unless "Signed" Contract Obtained
The Staff of the Public Service Commission of Maryland ('Staff') filed a complaint against StateWise Energy Maryland LLC ('StateWise' or the 'Company') and sought an order from the PSC directing that StateWise, "show cause why its license to provide electricity and electricity supply services, and…
March 18, 2021
Retail Supplier To Pay $250,000 Under Settlement With PSC Staff
Settlement Also Includes Customer Refunds, Changes In Sales Practices
Atlantic Energy MD, LLC (Atlantic Energy) would pay a civil penalty of $250,000 as part of a settlement with Staff of the Maryland Public Service Commission (Staff) and the Maryland Office of People's Counsel (OPC) (collectively, the "Settling Parties") to resolve various alleged violations by…
March 16, 2021
Regulator's Staff Says Required Rate Increase Notice Applies To All Contracts, Not Just Variable Rates
Offers Guidance On Timing Of Notice
In response to an inquiry from a retail supplier, the Connecticut PURA's Office of Education, Outreach, and Enforcement (EOE) said that a required form ("Form 4") that suppliers must send notifying customers of a rate increase of at least 25% applies to all residential contracts, not just variable…