A Texas-based third-party electricity supplier will have to pay $500,000 and withdraw from Connecticut’s electric supplier market for six years under the terms of a settlement approved by regulators this week.
The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority on Wednesday signed off on an agreement negotiated by state officials holding Clearview Electric Inc. to account for possible violations of the state’s electric supplier marketing laws.
The company has agreed to pay half-a-million-dollars toward non-medical hardship customer arrearages, to the benefit of customers of the state’s two power utilities, Eversource Energy and the United Illuminating Co., agency officials said.
Aside from the fine and voluntary six-year ban from Connecticut’s energy market, Clearview will have to provide advance notice to PURA if it ever plans to return. It must also submit to increased regulatory oversight if and when it begins marketing its services to Connecticut consumers.
Additionally, Clearview will have to reimburse certain customers the difference between what they paid Clearview and the applicable standard service rate for the length of their enrollment with the company.
PURA two months ago issued a Notice of Violation and Assessment of Civil Penalty against Clearview in which it stated it had reason to believe the company violated Connecticut’s electric supplier marketing laws. A settlement was reached in October and submitted to PURA for approval on Nov. 8.
