Pennsylvania Regulator Proposes Enhanced Penalties in Retail Supplier Door-to-Door Sales Violation

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission doubled down on the civil penalties imposed as part of a settlement agreement with Vista Energy Marketing LP, following an investigation into the company’s marketing and sales practices as a licensed electric generation supplier in Pennsylvania, according to a March 14 press release.

• The Commission voted 5-0 to approve a motion by commission Chair Gladys Brown, which modifies a settlement between Vista and the PUC’s independent Bureau of Investigation & Enforcement bumping civil penalties to more than $50,000.
• According to the regulator, an informal investigation was undertaken based on a referral by the commission’s Office of Competitive Market Oversight, which became aware of Vista engaging a third-party vendor for door-to-door sales and marketing without a proper criminal background investigation.
• Vista and I&E have 45 days from issuance of the commission’s order to indicate if they intend to withdraw from the settlement, or the modified settlement will become final.