The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio is investigating the marketing and sales practices of two retail energy providers in the state, Indra Energy and Verde Energy.

• Commission staff reviewed customer contacts and filed a notice to the regulator alleging potential misleading and deceptive practices by PALMco Energy OH and PALMco Power OH, which together do business as Indra Energy, and Verde Energy and recommending the commission conduct an investigation.
• Staff received hundreds of complaints from customers related to PALMco’s overcharging. According to the staff report, the supplier committed to providing customers with “competitive” and “the best” rates, when in reality it charged customers quadruple the price to compare.
• As for Verde Energy, the staff alleges that the company used inaccurate caller identification information stating to customers that Verde Energy’s outgoing calls are instead originating from Duke Energy Ohio, AEP Ohio, or the Internal Revenue Service. Verde Energy is also accused of using robocalling with automated messages, which included misleading and deceptive information to entice a customer to speak to a sales representative.