COLUMBUS, OHIO (Dec. 16, 2019) – The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) staff today filed a notice to the Commission alleging PALMco (d/b/a Indra Energy) charged unconscionably high rates between August and December. The Commission is currently investigating the company for previous violations and that case is pending Commission decision. This action is in addition to the ongoing case.
Between Aug. 1, 2019 and Dec. 10, 2019, the PUCO received more than 50 contacts related to PALMco’s rates for natural gas and electric service. In one consumer complaint, PUCO staff alleges that between July and August, PALMco’s electric rate increased by more than 70%. Preliminary investigations indicate that the variable rate charged by PALMco may have been egregiously higher than the default rate available to customers who do not enroll with a competitive supplier.
The PUCO staff notice recommends a fine of $10,222,000 based upon estimated customer counts and the length of alleged violations. The Commission will make a final determination upon completion of its adjudicatory process. A procedural schedule to consider the case will be established in the near future.
The PUCO is responsible for adopting and enforcing regulations to protect Ohioans from unfair rates and marketing practices by competitive retail electric service and competitive retail natural gas providers.
In April 2019, PUCO staff alleged misleading and deceptive marketing practices by PALMco and the Commission opened an investigation (19-957-GE-COI). In May 2019, PUCO staff and the company filed a settlement and a hearing convened in September 2019.
A copy of today’s letter is available on the PUCO website by clicking the link to the Docketing Information System (DIS) and searching case 19-2153-GE-COI.