December 10, 2014
Regulator to Hold Technical Meeting on Retail Supplier's Use of Trade Names
The Connecticut PURA will hold a technical meeting with Reliant Energy Northeast, LLC on December 17, 2014 to discuss the following items:
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December 6, 2014
Maryland Opens Rulemaking on Retail Supplier Marketing Rules
The Maryland PSC formally opened a rulemaking, RM 54, to address changes to electric and natural gas supplier marketing and customer protection regulations at COMAR 20.32, 20.51, 20.53 and 20.59.
December 3, 2014
Sitting Ducks: Now Class Action Suits Targeting Retail Suppliers Over Alleged Do Not Call Violations
It appears that the polar vortex has made the trial lawyer community aware of the competitive retail energy supplier industry, and the industry now serves as a perpetual target for class action lawsuits, as the latest development is similar suits filed against multiple retail suppliers over alleged…
December 1, 2014
Retail Supplier Agrees to Cease Marketing to Low-Volume Residential Customers, Pay $20,000 Under Settlement With Regulator
Sunwave Gas & Power Inc. has committed to refrain from marketing to new low-volume residential consumers in Ontario for the remainder of its license terms, and pay a $20,000 (Canadian $) penalty under an Assurance of Voluntary Compliance accepted by the Ontario Energy Board.
November 24, 2014
State Proposes Requiring Retail Suppliers to Obtain New Customer Consent for Any Rate Change
Staff of the Maryland PSC have proposed that the Commission adopt regulations that would require a notice of change in a retail supplier's rate prior to the rate being billed to customers and require what Staff terms a "soft verification" that demonstrates the customer's willingness to maintain the…
November 21, 2014
Ohio Grants Retail Supplier Waiver of TPV Requirement for In-Dwelling Tablet Sales
The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio has granted IGS Energy a waiver of the third party verification requirements contained in Ohio Adm. 4901:1-29-06(D)(6)(b) and 4901:1-21-06(D)(1)(h) for in-dwelling sales conducted in accordance with a tablet-reliant process described by IGS Energy.
November 20, 2014
Regulator Issues Cease and Desist Order to Retail Supplier Over Use of Marketer's Brand
The Connecticut PURA has issued a cease and desist order to Public Power, LLC after alleging that Levco Energy, in marketing supply from Public Power, is doing so under the name Levco Energy rather than Public Power.
November 18, 2014
Texas Schedules Forum on Power to Choose Site
The Public Utility Commission of Texas has scheduled for December 19 a forum on the Power to Choose website
November 18, 2014
State Proposes to Prohibit Assignment of Customer Contracts to Another Supplier "Without The Customer's Consent"
The Connecticut PURA, in newly proposed marketing standards for electric suppliers, has proposed prohibiting electric suppliers from assigning a customer's contract to another supplier, "without the customer's consent."
November 18, 2014
State Proposes Prohibiting Suppliers from Soliciting In Elderly Housing Complexes, Other New Marketing Rules
The Connecticut PURA has proposed that electric suppliers be prohibited from conducting door-to-door solicitations in elderly housing complexes under proposed new marketing standards.
November 14, 2014
PUC Accepts $59,000 Settlement With Retail Supplier
After receiving more information regarding the impact on customers from the alleged violations, the Pennsylvania PUC accepted without modification a settlement between its Staff and ResCom Energy LLC under which ResCom will pay $59,000 to resolve an investigation into alleged slamming, Do Not Call…
November 14, 2014
PUC Addresses Authority to Enforce General Consumer Protection Laws, Whether EGS Prices Conform to Disclosures
The Pennsylvania PUC has affirmed that it lacks jurisdiction to enforce the Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law and Telemarketer Registration Act, but that the Commission may determine whether a retail electric supplier's prices conform to its disclosure statement
November 14, 2014
State Puts Retail Suppliers on Notice Regarding Compliance With New Requirements
The Connecticut PURA has put retail electric suppliers on notice regarding new requirements for rate disclosures.
November 7, 2014
Retail Suppliers Seek Workgroup On Proposed Changes to Customer Protection Regulations (Changes Would Require Signed Contract For All But Internet Sales)
The Retail Energy Supply Association requested that the District of Columbia PSC establish a working group of interested stakeholders to hold a series of meetings to discuss modifications to the customer protection rules proposed by the PSC.
November 6, 2014
Final PURA Decision Drops Declaration That Authority Will Investigate Two Suppliers
A final Connecticut PURA decision concerning retail supplier customer notice requirements (click here for related story today) does not state any intent by PURA to investigate two suppliers' compliance with the rules governing the use of third-party agents.
November 6, 2014
Connecticut Adopts New Customer Notice Requirements, Forms for Suppliers, Says Generic T&Cs Not Compliant
The Connecticut PURA has adopted forms and associated requirements to be used for several statutorily required notices to be sent by retail electric suppliers, adopted new product definitions, and clarified several rules, including a finding that sending generic terms and conditions do not meet…
October 28, 2014
Retail Supplier Removes "Peace of Mind" From Marketing Material Under Assurance of Voluntary Compliance Accepted By Regulator
Active Energy Inc. and Active Energy Corp. have agreed to make changes to their marketing materials, including removing the phrase "peace of mind" in describing a product, under an Assurance of Voluntary Compliance accepted by the Ontario Energy Board
October 28, 2014
Increase in Retail Supplier Interest in Massachusetts Prompts Calls for New Consumer Protection Rules
With the long-awaited implementation of purchase of receivables and large spikes in default service rates driving new interest among retail suppliers in serving the Massachusetts mass market, consumer representatives are calling for the DPU to enhance customer protections.
October 20, 2014
Suppliers Rebut Draft Decision's Conclusions on Agent Training, Choice Energy Warns PURA Tactics Will Chill Open Dialog in Proceedings
Choice Energy LLC and Discount Power, Inc., in separately filed comments, called a conclusion in a draft Connecticut PURA decision that each failed to properly train sales agents as flawed and erroneous, with Choice Energy warning that the conclusion, which was based on policy recommendations rather…
October 20, 2014
Proposed Rule Would Require "Informed" Consent to Enter Into Retail Energy Contract
Adding one word to the definition of slamming under the District of Columbia Municipal Regulations could drastically change retail energy contracts in the District.
October 20, 2014
Proposed Rule Would Require Double Verification of Most Contracts: Signed Contract AND TPV for Telesales, Door-to-Door Sales
Proposed rule changes from the District of Columbia PSC would essentially require double verification of most electric and natural gas sales, adding a written contract requirement to telesales, and a third party verification (or other recording) requirement for door-to-door sales.
October 16, 2014
Regulator Surveying Customers to Determine If Stronger Consumer Protections Needed
The Ontario Energy Board is conducting a survey of Ontarians to determine whether customers signing retail energy contracts need stronger consumer protection.
October 15, 2014
City Asks State to Ban Door-to-Door Marketing By Energy Providers
The City Council of Euclid, Ohio has adopted a resolution requesting that the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, "ban home door-to-door solicitation by utility providers."
October 14, 2014
Under Draft, State Would Initiate Investigation Into Two Retail Suppliers, Whether Contracts Should Be "Voided"
The Connecticut PURA, in a draft decision, has indicated that it intends to initiate an investigation into two retail electric suppliers' compliance with the agent training requirements under statute, and whether contracts should be "voided" should PURA determine non-compliance.
October 13, 2014
Latest Draft Would Walk Back Restriction on Utility Consolidated Billing; Require Customer-Specific Written T&C's To Be Sent After TPV
A revised draft Connecticut PURA decision implementing several new statutes has dropped some of the more extreme proposals from an August draft, but would still impose onerous new requirements on electric supplier marketing and contracting.