Authorities in Pennsylvania have recently taken two actions to protect consumers from retail suppliers and utilities. Last week, Energy Choice Matters reported that the Pennsylvania Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) fined retailer Blue Pilot Energy for using confusing and ambiguous language about rate changes in its contract with a commercial customer. Although the ALJ fined the supplier just $2,000 and ruled that it must refund $27,000 to the customer, this could serve as precedent for other cases involving complaints against retail suppliers.
In a proactive move to protect customers and hold suppliers accountable, the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) announced on March 10 that it had launched a website that allows customers to search for formal complaints against both retail suppliers and regulated utilities. The PUC received a record number of complaints after last year’s Polar Vortex resulted in price spikes for variable-rate customers. Complaints could include billing concerns, difficulty contacting the company, poor service or other issues.
