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On September 14, 2026 IDT Energy, Inc. and Residents Energy, LLC filed a joint application with the PUC of Ohio (PUCO) for “grant waivers of certain Commission rules which require third-party verifications (“TPV”) to be completed solely through telephonic means for door-to-door sales of competitive retail electric and natural gas service.”  These rules further require an “audio recording” and calls with verbal questions/statements and responses from the customers. The requested waivers will enable the Joint Applicants to offer customers the option to complete the TPV process digitally on their own tablet or cell phone devices.

IDT and Residents seek relief similar granted to other retail suppliers in prior petitions that allow the use of a digital TPV.

If approved, the TPV process proposed by Joint Applicants would proceed as follows:

• At the conclusion of a door-to-door sale for CRES and/or CRNGS that results in a signed contract, the customer will be given the option to complete the TPV process by either the traditional method (telephonic) or the digital method on their own device.
• If the customer selects the digital TPV option, the customer will receive a text or email (based on the information provided during the initial enrollment process) with a link to the verification process. This link will expire within 24 hours of the text/email being sent.
• The sales agent will leave the property and not return during or after the TPV process.
• When the customer clicks the link in the text message or email on their own device, the TPV will display information explaining that it is the TPV for confirming the authorization to enroll with the supplier for an electricity or gas supply product. The customer’s location is required to enable the digital TPV to continue and then the series of TPV questions are asked. The customer must answer each question, and the responses must be satisfactory for the TPV to be successful.
• If the customer does not complete the digital TPV process, then the TPV is not successful and no enrollment will occur. If the customer does not satisfactorily answer each question, then the TPV is not successful and no enrollment will occur.
• Joint Applicants will have measures in place to ensure that the device used by the sales agent is not the device utilized for the TPV process. If the same device is identified, the digital TPV will not be able to be completed.
• At the end of the verification questions, the customer will see a “Thank You” page that provides a confirmation that the verification was successfully completed and final confirmation of their decision to enroll with the supplier. A telephone number is also provided to allow the customer to contact the supplier with any follow-up questions.
• The customer will then be sent a welcome package automatically, which contains all the information and disclosures required under Ohio Adm.Code 4901:1-21-06 and 4901:1-29-06.
• Joint Applicants will maintain digital TPV records under the same rules and standards applicable to verbal TPVs. Additionally, digital TPVs will be reviewed internally for completion, compliance and quality assurance. These review efforts include, for example: review for consistent provision of the telephone numbers, email addresses and signatures throughout the transaction process; review for the same telephone number being used for multiple enrollments including TPVs; and review for emails with bounce-backs. If noncompliant TPVs are identified, then the customer will not be switched to the retail service.