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The Proposed Order of November 28, 2023 became a Final Order on December 29, 2023.  The Settlement Agreement includes the following:

SFE will be permitted to resume residential door-to-door sales upon the implementation of the new operational enhancements outlined in the Settlement Agreement. 

For two years after approval of the settlement, SFE shall not include ETF provisions in SFE contracts going forward; and shall waive collection of ETFs if a customer cancels and ETFs were allowed in his/her contract. 

SFE will add a statement on its door-to-door agents’ business cards that are provided to customers at their residence. 

For any future customer complaints filed with CAD, SFE shall provide to CAD: A. The name of the agent; B. The geo-location of the agent at the time the customer signed the contract; C. A copy of the agent’s government-issued identification card (with personal information redacted), which may include a driver’s license from any state, a government-issued identification card from any state for those who do not have a driver’s license, a passport, or other form of government-issued identification; D. A copy of the agent’s SFE identification badge; E. The name and physical address of the door-to-door vendor; and F. The contact information for the vendor, including the contact’s name, email address, physical address, and phone number. of an individual that CAD may contact. 

Within thirty days of settlement approval, SFE shall increase security on file with the Commission to $1 million.

SFE will pay of civil penalty of $150,000 to the Maryland Public Service Commission for deposit into the Retail Choice Customer Education and Protection Fund. In addition, SFE shall provide refunds in the aggregate total amount of approximately $400,000. 

For a period of two years following the resumption of residential door-to-door marketing in Maryland, SFE shall submit quarterly reports to Staff.

Final Order (ML# 306937) (01/02/2024)
9690 (01/26/2023)