PUC Commissioner Fears Bad Actor Retail Suppliers Could Take Advantage Of Large Default Service Price Increases -- EnergyChoiceMatters.com

PUC Commissioner Fears Bad Actor Retail Suppliers Could Take Advantage Of Large Default Service Price Increases

As PUC Approves Two Settlements With Suppliers, Another Commissioner Warns Recurrence Could Be Seen As Lack Of Operational Expertise Needed For Continued Licensure

May 16, 2022

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Copyright 2010-21 EnergyChoiceMatters.com
Reporting by Paul Ring • ring@energychoicematters.com

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During today's Public Utilities Commission of Ohio meeting, Commissioner Dennis Deters expressed concern that significant price spikes in default service rates which will take effect June 1 could be exploited by bad actor retail suppliers and agents

"I fear ... that there could be an increased intent for certain bad actors to take advantage," of the upcoming significant default service price increases, and the likely increased customer interest in shopping, Deters said

Deters said that he hopes that the Commission and its service monitoring and enforcement team, "will keep an eye on that and send a signal to the retail market and those participants that we will not tolerate it."

Deters comments came as PUCO approved without modification two previously reported settlements between its Staff and two retail suppliers -- Ambit Northeast, LLC and Josco Energy USA, LLC.

Josco Energy USA issued the following statement concerning the matter:

"The settlement approved today stems from unauthorized actions by one of our former marketing vendors. Upon learning of those unauthorized actions, Josco took immediate action to terminate the vendor. Josco then fully cooperated with PUCO staff to address the situation and develop a plan to protect against similar incidents in the future."
--- Statement from Josco Energy USA

See details of the settlements, which include civil forfeiture and customer refunds, in the links below:

• Settlement between PUCO Staff & Ambit Northeast, LLC

• Settlement between PUCO Staff & Josco Energy USA, LLC

Commissioner Lawrence Friedeman noted that both settlements include corrective action plans. Friedeman said that he believes that, if there is a recurrence of the aberrant behavior, notwithstanding such corrective action plans, "there could be a reasonable inference drawn that the competitive suppliers involved in any future action simply lack the operational expertise that's required to maintain certification in the state of Ohio."

Commissioner Daniel Conway concurred with Friedeman's comments

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