Dive Summary:

• Last Thursday, the New York State Public Service Commission (PSC) threatened to stop Buy Energy Direct from doing business in the state after receiving dozens of complaints of misleading marketing tactics and “slamming,” a process of signing-up customers without their permission.
• The majority of complaints involved customers being enrolled in the service against their wishes. In one case, a salesman misrepresented his identity and claimed he was calling from Consolidated Edison’s rebate department. Despite prior warnings from the commission, the electricity retailer has repeatedly violated commission rules prohibiting misrepresentations and unauthorized account transfers.
• The retail marketer has seven days to show the PSC why it should remain eligible to service customers in New York or be shut down.

From the article:

“…we are left with no choice but to require the company to tell us why its eligibility to sell energy in New York should not be revoked.”