Contact: Deborah Sturm Rausch 518.473.9472|518.474.2896
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For Immediate Release: October 15, 2008 |
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Statement Regarding Today’s Decision By The Public
Service Commission On Energy Service Company Marketing Practices
From Mindy
A. Bockstein
Chairperson And Executive Director Of The NYS Consumer
Protection Board |
The New York State Consumer Protection Board (CPB), as the sole Agency with statutory responsibility to represent consumers before the Public Service Commission (PSC), commends the Commission’s decision to expand consumer protections regarding the marketing and business practices of energy service companies (ESCOs). Today’s decision goes a long way toward addressing the concerns raised by the CPB and the New York City Department of Consumer Affairs in our Joint Petition filed at the PSC in December 2007.
Specifically, the CPB is pleased that the PSC has adopted new rules to respond to unscrupulous marketing practices by some independent marketers which have heretofore been harmful to consumers, including specific guidelines for in-person and telephone contact and the institution of a 5-day investigation process for complaints. Additionally, the CPB welcomes the news that non-English speaking consumers will receive language accommodations to protect the integrity of any agreements that might be made.
We at the CPB look forward to working with the PSC on the implementation of the new rules, and to assisting consumers in understanding the new guidelines once they have been promulgated.
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