PUC zaps electric supplier with $6.75M penalty
The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission has approved a settlement requiring retail electricity supplier IDT Energy Inc. to pay about $6.75 million in penalties and refunds for deceptive marketing practices related to high bills during the winter of 2014.
The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission has approved a settlement requiring retail electricity supplier IDT Energy Inc. to pay about $6.75 million in penalties and refunds for deceptive marketing practices related to high bills during the winter of 2014.
IDT will pay $2.4 million in refunds to eligible consumers, in addition to the $4.2 million it has already paid. The company also will pay a civil penalty of $25,000 and contribute $75,000 to the Electric Distribution Companies' hardship funds. It will pay, as well, for some of the costs of a third-party administrator to distribute the refunds.
Under the terms of the proposed settlement, consumers who were on variable-rate plans in January, February or March 2014 will be contacted directly by the settlement administrator if they qualify for a refund. Attorney General Kathleen G. Kane and Acting Consumer Advocate Tanya J. McCloskey announced the settlement in August.
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