Press Release

PUC Seeks Comments on Proposed Settlement with Great American Power Regarding Company’s Sales and Marketing, Billing Practices

Published on 3/2/2023

Filed under: Electric

Proposed Settlement Modifies Company’s Telemarketing Procedures, Enhances Training for Marketing Agents and Assesses a Civil Penalty

HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) today issued for comment a proposed settlement between the PUC’s independent Bureau of Investigation & Enforcement (I&E) and Great American Power LLC (GAP) stemming from alleged misleading and deceptive conduct related to GAP’s billing and sales and marketing practices as a licensed electric generation supplier (EGS) in Pennsylvania.

The Commission voted 5-0 to issue for comment the proposed Joint Petition for Approval of Settlement between the Parties, providing an opportunity for interested parties to file comments before the Commission considers a final Opinion and Order on the matter. 

The proposed settlement resolves the informal complaint proceeding initiated by I&E based on information referred to I&E by the Commission’s Office of Competitive Market Oversight (OCMO) as well as several informal complaints forwarded by the PUC’s Bureau of Consumer Services (BCS) raising concerns with unauthorized enrollment and billing errors.

Under the settlement agreement, GAP agrees to the following terms and conditions:

• Pay a cumulative civil penalty of $92,500. No amount of the civil penalty may be passed through as an additional charge to GAP’s Pennsylvania customers.
  
  
• Modify its telemarketing procedures, including the company’s refraining from telemarketing through third-party vendors for a period of one year. The company agrees to notify BCS and I&E at least thirty days prior to resuming telemarketing after the one-year moratorium.
  
  
• Enhanced training for sales and marketing persons – including applicable requirements of the policies regarding marketing and billing practices for EGSs.
  
  
• Attest to I&E, at least 5 days prior to resuming telemarketing, that all agents, whether internal or through a third-party vendor, have successfully completed any and all training related to telemarketing rules and regulations.

Interested parties may submit comments, preferably via the Commission’s electronic filing system, within 25 days of publication of this Opinion and Order in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.  An eFile account may be opened free of charge and used through the Commission’s website.

Paper comments may be filed with the PUC’s Secretary’s Bureau at the following address:

          Rosemary Chiavetta, Secretary
          Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission
          Commonwealth Keystone Building
          400 North Street
          Harrisburg, PA  17120

About the PUC

The PUC balances the needs of consumers and utilities; ensures safe and reliable utility service at reasonable rates; protects the public interest; educates consumers to make independent and informed utility choices; furthers economic development; and fosters new technologies and competitive markets in an environmentally sound manner.

For recent news releases and video of select Commission proceedings or more information about the PUC, visit our website at www.puc.pa.gov. Follow the PUC on Twitter – @PA_PUC for all things utility.  “Like” Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission on Facebook for easy access to information on utility issues.

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Docket No.: M-2023-3020643

Contact:

• David Hixson
  Deputy Press Secretary
  717-772-2766
  dhixson@pa.gov
• Nils Hagen-Frederiksen
  Press Secretary
  717-418-2701
  nhagen-fre@pa.gov