News Stories

H4144  – Entitled “An act relative to energy affordability, independence and innovation” if passed would introduce potential harmful reforms to the retail energy residential market. 

Among other things the bill if passed would:

• prohibit generation companies and suppliers: (i) automatic renewal without the customer’s written consent; (ii) variable rates other than a seasonal variable rate and time of use rate; (iii) incentive-based compensation for enrolling customers; (iv) cancellation or early termination fees; and (v) voluntary renewable or
• green energy products with non-CES-eligible energy attributes;
• extend the period in which a customer may initiate an unauthorized switching complaint from 30 days to two years;
• revise licensing for brokers, marketers, and suppliers to: (i) cap the annual fee at $10,000; and (ii) require a $5 million bond conditioned on performance of duties as a retail supplier for at least one year;
• remove competitive supplier offers from customer bills and repeal the requirement that customers be offered the option to learn about competitive supplier options and offers;
• deem energy marketers to be legal agents of suppliers and require suppliers to directly provide appropriate training to marketers;
• increase the maximum civil penalty DPU may impose on retail suppliers to $100,000 per violation, capped at $10 million; and
• require that the electricity rate for low and qualifying moderate income residential customers not exceed their EDC’s average default service rate over the prior 12 months.

See bill for full details.