Respond Power

Revdex.com:
I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID# [redacted], and have determined that my complaint has NOT been resolved because:
 
I am requesting prove from Respond Power that I gave permission for them to switch my account. I have asked the operator several times to please send me prove of me giving permission to be switched. To this date I have not received any prove nor have I received an apology from Respond Power,
 Thank you,
 
 
In order for the Revdex.com to appropriately process your response, you MUST answer the question above.
Sincerely,
[redacted]

Good Evening,
According to the complaint, the
customer is unhappy with the recent rate being charged and has been having difficulty reaching us.  We apologize that the the customer has had trouble reaching our customer service department but due to ongoing repercussions of...

the Polar Vortex, we are experiencing an extremely high call volume.
The customer agreed to a variable
rate contract, meaning the rate would be determined by the energy market.
As has been widely reported, there
has been a spike in the wholesale energy market which was reflected on the most
recent bill. This is merely a reflection of the current energy market where a
shrinking supply of electricity is under the strain of massive demand due to
one of the coldest winters on record. We are referring customers to the
February **press release from the PUC regarding this issue. (Please see
attached)  In addition, this is not just happening in Pennsylvania. 
Please see this link relating to New York prices as well.
[redacted]
We are truly sorry for your
experience and advise you to sign up on a fixed rate that will ensure price
protection.
Regards
 
In addition please see this informative article.
Why Have
Energy Bills Increased – Explaining Price Volatility
It has
been a record cold winter across much of the country, and many have been
expressing deep concern as to why energy bills have been so high. Regardless of
whether energy is purchased from a utility or a competitive energy supplier,
customers have seen electricity and natural gas prices spike in many parts of
the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions.
Why did
prices rise?
Simply
put, the issues at hand are the cold weather, electric grid and natural gas
pipeline capacity, and the increasing use of natural gas not just for heating
purposes, but to create electricity.
There is
ample gas supply in the United States, especially given the boom in shale gas.
What customers are feeling are the results of a strained transportation and
infrastructure system that delivers electricity and gas. When demand is high
and capacity is constrained, costs increase.
This
winter’s “polar vortex” has increased the demand for both natural gas and
electricity, resulting in significant congestion in the natural gas pipelines
and on the electric grid (the highways of the energy system). Everyone relies
on these natural gas pipelines and the electric grid to get energy from where
it is produced to where it is used by the homeowner, the tenant, and the
business owner. Just like only so many cars can efficiently travel along a
highway, only so much natural gas and electricity can move through the natural
gas pipeline system and the electric grid.
Also,
while more and more people are using natural gas directly for heating purposes,
electricity generators are also increasingly using natural gas to produce
affordable power. In the short-term, this electricity generation is putting
further strain on the natural gas capacity in certain parts of the country. At
the same time there are also bottlenecks on some parts of the electric grid,
preventing electricity from getting from the generators to the consumers in an
efficient manner.
It’s
known from economics that constraints on supply (such as not being able to get
gas from where it is plentiful to where it is needed) cause prices to rise, and
this has occurred in the wholesale energy markets. The result? Competitive
energy suppliers and utilities alike are paying higher than normal prices when
purchasing from the wholesale market in order to provide energy to homeowners,
tenants, and business owners. This is causing everyone’s bills to rise.
As the
winter weather gradually improves and temperatures rise, the demand for energy
to heat homes and businesses will decrease, placing less pressure on the
nation’s electricity grid and allowing energy prices from suppliers and
utilities to normalize. However, winter weather may very likely be around for
some weeks to come. Despite the unusual weather, the gas and electric delivery
systems have proven to be highly reliable this winter. A number of new natural
gas pipelines and electricity transmission lines are planned or under
construction which should reduce the chances of a similar price spike in the
future.
In the
meantime, there are some things that can be done to help manage energy bills.
Conserve energy as much as possible. For example, make sure
doors and windows are well insulated, seal any air leaks, and lower the
water temperature setting to 120 degrees on the water heater.
Customers using a competitive supplier and who are on a
variable rate plan or whose fixed contracts have expired, should review
their contract to confirm the accuracy of the pricing and call their
supplier if they have any questions.
Customers interested in price stability can also investigate
fixed price options that many suppliers offer.
Customers in need of financial assistance should investigate
their state’s home heating assistance programs. In many states, a customer
can stay with a competitive supplier and still receive assistance paying
utility bills.
Customers should visit their
state’s “energy shopping” websites to compare offers from different suppliers.
For a list of shopping websites, [redacted]

Good Morning,
We are sorry the customer remains dissatisfied.  Briefly, let me try to explain why PPL can offer lower rates right now.  While suppliers like Major Energy/Respond Power base their rate on a daily rolling average and
hedging, most utilities purchase energy in massive block and adjust quarterly
or semi-annually. Because of that, sometimes suppliers find themselves with
higher rates than utilities. Eventually trends reverse and utilities are forced
to adjust their rates to make up for losses due to underpriced supply sold to
customers during high markets.  We are sorry to lose you as a customer.
Regards,

Revdex.com:
I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID# [redacted], and have determined that my complaint has NOT been resolved because:

So explain why your rates are triple the rates of West Penn Power. Your cold weather excuse is ridiculous its winter that's what happens in the winter it gets cold!!!
Your company is taking advantage of customers and blaming cold weather, which is unacceptable. I will let others know about your scam via all social media outlets. I would hate for anyone else to be taken advantage of by this unprofessional company.
 
 
 
 
In order for the Revdex.com to appropriately process your response, you MUST answer the question above.
Sincerely,
[redacted]

As the customer notes, she enrolled in a variable rate plan with our company several years ago. Unfortunately, the
energy market performed very poorly this past winter due to decreases in energy
supply and increases in demand due to the cold weather. While suppliers like
[redacted]/Respond Power base the rate on a daily rolling average and
hedging, most utilities purchase energy in massive block and adjust quarterly
or semi-annually. Because of that, sometimes suppliers find themselves with
higher rates than utilities. Eventually trends reverse and utilities are forced
to adjust their rates to make up for losses due to underpriced supply sold to
customers during high markets.
Regards,

Revdex.com:
I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID# [redacted], and have determined that my complaint has NOT been resolved because:

[Your Answer Here]
 first of all, your representative, [redacted], filled out a form (it is not my handwriting)that he said was just using for information purposes...not a sales agreement and he didn't show me the form or explain he was checking the variable rate...second, my name is [redacted] not [redacted]...third of all, the line that he asked me to initial (he did not give me the form to view) has my initials but not my signature; I would be happy to send you a copy of my drivers license to verify that is not my signature...fourth of all, the verification phone call was on his cell phone and barely audible, again he said it was for inquiry purposes and not to switch over...the bottom line is that customers are being deceived then ripped off...I have been a PECO customer for over twenty years and no longer go over my bill closely because there is no reason to after all this time (or so I thought)...apparently I have been switched over to respond since sept, 2013 and when I spoke to a PECO representative, they informed me that I have been over-charged (what you call variable rate) since...fifth of all, I have been trying to call respond power repeatedly and the initial computer generated voice says "wait time will be 30 minutes or more"...how is this possible of a business that cares about their customers and are dedicated to providing the best rates (that is what your website states)...in lieu of the deception and lack of response I have received from respond energy (I have also sent two emails), I believe I have not been given an appropriate response and I do not feel I am entitled to pay them anything higher than what I would have been charged by PECO...the reason I cancelled my service initially is because PECO answers their calls and they were the only people I could get some answers from
 
 
 
In order for the Revdex.com to appropriately process your response, you MUST answer the question above.
Sincerely,
[redacted]

Good Afternoon,
According to the complaint, the
customer states that she is unhappy with the current rate being charged.
The customer agreed to a variable
rate contract, meaning her rate would be determined by the energy market. 
As...

has been widely reported, there
has been a spike in the wholesale energy market which was reflected on the most
recent bill. This is merely a reflection of the current energy market where a
shrinking supply of electricity is under the strain of massive demand due to
one of the coldest winters on record. We are referring customers to the
February ** press release from the PUC regarding this issue. (Please see
attached)  In addition, this is not just happening in Pennsylvania. 
Please see this link relating to New York prices as well. [redacted]
Finally, the account has been
canceled and it is now up to the utility to process the cancellation.  Please contact your utility for budget
billing concerns.
We are truly sorry for your
experience and advise you to sign up on a fixed rate that will ensure price
protection.
Regards
 
In addition please see this informative article.
Why Have
Energy Bills Increased – Explaining Price Volatility
It has
been a record cold winter across much of the country, and many have been
expressing deep concern as to why energy bills have been so high. Regardless of
whether energy is purchased from a utility or a competitive energy supplier,
customers have seen electricity and natural gas prices spike in many parts of
the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions.
Why did
prices rise?
Simply
put, the issues at hand are the cold weather, electric grid and natural gas
pipeline capacity, and the increasing use of natural gas not just for heating
purposes, but to create electricity.
There is
ample gas supply in the United States, especially given the boom in shale gas.
What customers are feeling are the results of a strained transportation and
infrastructure system that delivers electricity and gas. When demand is high
and capacity is constrained, costs increase.
This
winter’s “polar vortex” has increased the demand for both natural gas and
electricity, resulting in significant congestion in the natural gas pipelines
and on the electric grid (the highways of the energy system). Everyone relies
on these natural gas pipelines and the electric grid to get energy from where
it is produced to where it is used by the homeowner, the tenant, and the
business owner. Just like only so many cars can efficiently travel along a
highway, only so much natural gas and electricity can move through the natural
gas pipeline system and the electric grid.
Also,
while more and more people are using natural gas directly for heating purposes,
electricity generators are also increasingly using natural gas to produce
affordable power. In the short-term, this electricity generation is putting
further strain on the natural gas capacity in certain parts of the country. At
the same time there are also bottlenecks on some parts of the electric grid,
preventing electricity from getting from the generators to the consumers in an
efficient manner.
It’s
known from economics that constraints on supply (such as not being able to get
gas from where it is plentiful to where it is needed) cause prices to rise, and
this has occurred in the wholesale energy markets. The result? Competitive
energy suppliers and utilities alike are paying higher than normal prices when
purchasing from the wholesale market in order to provide energy to homeowners,
tenants, and business owners. This is causing everyone’s bills to rise.
As the
winter weather gradually improves and temperatures rise, the demand for energy
to heat homes and businesses will decrease, placing less pressure on the
nation’s electricity grid and allowing energy prices from suppliers and
utilities to normalize. However, winter weather may very likely be around for
some weeks to come. Despite the unusual weather, the gas and electric delivery
systems have proven to be highly reliable this winter. A number of new natural
gas pipelines and electricity transmission lines are planned or under
construction which should reduce the chances of a similar price spike in the
future.
In the
meantime, there are some things that can be done to help manage energy bills.
Conserve energy as much as possible. For example, make sure
doors and windows are well insulated, seal any air leaks, and lower the
water temperature setting to 120 degrees on the water heater.
Customers using a competitive supplier and who are on a
variable rate plan or whose fixed contracts have expired, should review
their contract to confirm the accuracy of the pricing and call their
supplier if they have any questions.
Customers interested in price stability can also investigate
fixed price options that many suppliers offer.
Customers in need of financial assistance should investigate
their state’s home heating assistance programs. In many states, a customer
can stay with a competitive supplier and still receive assistance paying
utility bills.
Customers should visit their
state’s “energy shopping” websites to compare offers from different suppliers.
For a list of shopping websites, visit [redacted]

Revdex.com:
I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID# [redacted], and have determined that my complaint has NOT been resolved because:
[Your Answer Here]
 The fact that a company can quadruple someone's rate without telling them and then try to blame it on the customer is disgusting. I understand that I had a variable rate, and I was prepared to see the rate increase slightly, but who expects to see their normal $150 bill go up to $600? Obviously, no customer would be prepared for that. At the very least, a letter should have been sent out advising customers of the rate increase, before 2 months had passed.
 
 
 
In order for the Revdex.com to appropriately process your response, you MUST answer the question above.
Sincerely,
[redacted]

Revdex.com:
I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID# [redacted], and have determined that my complaint has NOT been resolved because:
 
[Your Answer Here]the new company I am going with has given me a fixed rate of .08/kwh  why cant respond power do that?  they are arippoff, and will not give me a refund or credit
 
 
 
 
In order for the Revdex.com to appropriately process your response, you MUST answer the question above.
Sincerely,
[redacted]

Good Morning,
The customer enrolled in a variable rate plan with our company. The customer's signed sales agreement is attached below for confirmation. Unfortunately, the
energy market performed very poorly this past winter due to decreases in energy
supply and...

increases in demand due to the cold weather. While suppliers like
Major Energy/Respond Power base the rate on a daily rolling average and
hedging, most utilities purchase energy in massive block and adjust quarterly
or semi-annually. Because of that, sometimes suppliers find themselves with
higher rates than utilities. Eventually trends reverse and utilities are forced
to adjust their rates to make up for losses due to underpriced supply sold to
customers during high markets.
Regards,

We are sorry that the customer is unhappy.  We are also sorry that no refund is due in this case.
Regards,

Revdex.com:
I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID# [redacted], and have determined that my complaint has NOT been resolved because:
 
I am rejecting this response.  My father was scammed into agreeing to the variable rate.  He was promised the rate would always be competitive with [redacted]’s rate. This was untrue after the second month into the cycle.  He was also convinced and given 2 cards for “free” drug prescriptions which were not valid. Had I realized this scam earlier, I would have cancelled the account earlier, however I live in another state and do not get to his home as often as I would like.  I would like him to receive some type of refund directly from Respond Power as they should be embarrassed and shut down for their preying and lying to elderly persons.  I switched energy supply companies 2/**/14 unflortunately it takes 2 months to take effect, which means he paid over .10 cents more than [redacted] rates for the first month and .18 cents more per kilowatt this month.  His average use is about 525 KW so he paid at least  $140 extra the past 2 months waiting to switch.  Again, I feel this is criminal to scam and persuade elderly folks in this manner.  My father is a very trusting man, unfortunately---if is harmful when you are trusting very dishonest people, such as those soliciting for Respond Power.
Sincerely,
[redacted]

Good Afternoon,
We are sorry the customer is dissatisfied with our response.  I have attached his application to verify that he signed up for a variable rate plan.  
Regards,

Good Evening,
We are sorry that the customer is not satisfied with our response.  We will not be issuing a refund in this situation.
Regards,

Good Morning,
We are sorry the customer is dissatisfied with our previous response.  We have done our best to provide information on why energy rates fluctuate.
Regards,

Review: called today to dispute charges on bill charged me twice two different rates 689kwh @0.1899=$13084 [email protected]=$16084 total charges $337.02 I don't use that much electricity I live alone never have any lights on it's winter don't use ac in winter they lied to me on the phone switched back to peco. Respond told me they contacted me about the fixed rate ended and it would now be variable rate I never received it. Because if I did I know I would have never continued with this companyDesired Settlement: some if not all money refunded

Business

Response:

Good Afternoon,

According to the complaint, the

customer states that she is unhappy with the current rate being charged.

Customer was offered a partial refund if she signed a new fixed rate and declined.

As has been widely reported, there

has been a spike in the wholesale energy market which was reflected on the most

recent bill. This is merely a reflection of the current energy market where a

shrinking supply of electricity is under the strain of massive demand due to

one of the coldest winters on record. We are referring customers to the

February 14 press release from the PUC regarding this issue. (Please see

attached) In addition, this is not just happening in Pennsylvania.

Please see this link relating to New York prices as well.

Finally, the account has been

canceled and it is now up to the utility to process the cancellation. Please contact your utility for budget

billing concerns.

We are truly sorry for your

experience and advise you to sign up on a fixed rate that will ensure price

protection.

Regards

In addition please see this informative article.

Why Have

Energy Bills Increased – Explaining Price Volatility

It has

been a record cold winter across much of the country, and many have been

expressing deep concern as to why energy bills have been so high. Regardless of

whether energy is purchased from a utility or a competitive energy supplier, customers

have seen electricity and natural gas prices spike in many parts of the

Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions.

Why did

prices rise?

Simply

put, the issues at hand are the cold weather, electric grid and natural gas

pipeline capacity, and the increasing use of natural gas not just for heating

purposes, but to create electricity.

There is

ample gas supply in the United States, especially given the boom in shale gas.

What customers are feeling are the results of a strained transportation and

infrastructure system that delivers electricity and gas. When demand is high

and capacity is constrained, costs increase.

This

winter’s “polar vortex” has increased the demand for both natural gas and

electricity, resulting in significant congestion in the natural gas pipelines

and on the electric grid (the highways of the energy system). Everyone relies

on these natural gas pipelines and the electric grid to get energy from where

it is produced to where it is used by the homeowner, the tenant, and the

business owner. Just like only so many cars can efficiently travel along a

highway, only so much natural gas and electricity can move through the natural

gas pipeline system and the electric grid.

Also,

while more and more people are using natural gas directly for heating purposes,

electricity generators are also increasingly using natural gas to produce

affordable power. In the short-term, this electricity generation is putting

further strain on the natural gas capacity in certain parts of the country. At

the same time there are also bottlenecks on some parts of the electric grid,

preventing electricity from getting from the generators to the consumers in an

efficient manner.

It’s

known from economics that constraints on supply (such as not being able to get

gas from where it is plentiful to where it is needed) cause prices to rise, and

this has occurred in the wholesale energy markets. The result? Competitive

energy suppliers and utilities alike are paying higher than normal prices when

purchasing from the wholesale market in order to provide energy to homeowners,

tenants, and business owners. This is causing everyone’s bills to rise.

As the

winter weather gradually improves and temperatures rise, the demand for energy

to heat homes and businesses will decrease, placing less pressure on the

nation’s electricity grid and allowing energy prices from suppliers and

utilities to normalize. However, winter weather may very likely be around for

some weeks to come. Despite the unusual weather, the gas and electric delivery

systems have proven to be highly reliable this winter. A number of new natural

gas pipelines and electricity transmission lines are planned or under

construction which should reduce the chances of a similar price spike in the

future.

In the

meantime, there are some things that can be done to help manage energy bills.

Conserve energy as much as possible. For example, make sure

doors and windows are well insulated, seal any air leaks, and lower the

water temperature setting to 120 degrees on the water heater.

Customers using a competitive supplier and who are on a

variable rate plan or whose fixed contracts have expired, should review

their contract to confirm the accuracy of the pricing and call their

supplier if they have any questions.

Customers interested in price stability can also investigate

fixed price options that many suppliers offer.

Customers in need of financial assistance should investigate

their state’s home heating assistance programs. In many states, a customer

can stay with a competitive supplier and still receive assistance paying

utility bills.

Customers should visit their

state’s “energy shopping” websites to compare offers from different suppliers.

For a list of shopping websites, visit [redacted]

Consumer

Response:

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID# [redacted], and have determined that my complaint has NOT been resolved because:

[Your Answer Here]They did not offer me a refund of any kind that's why they were canceled and their rates are way too high they raise them without notice sick and tired of being ripped off time and time again you can't really TRUST ANYONE.

In order for the Revdex.com to appropriately process your response, you MUST answer the question above.

Sincerely,

Business

Response:

We are sorry that the customer is dissatisfied with her experience.

The account has been canceled and it is now up to the utility to process the cancellation. Please contact your utility for budget billing concerns.

Consumer

Response:

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me and the matter has been resolved.

Sincerely,

Review: Charges for electric services from Respond Power doubled over the course of one month and I was told by my original provider that I could cancel services with Respond Power and default back to my original provider (PPL). From their call menu there is no option for cancelling services, and there is no response by phone to customer service. I merely wait indefinitely on hold. I also tried initiating a chat service on their website, and nobody responded. There are no obvious links on their website to cancel services. I am now being charged more than 2X what my original provider is charging, and I want to opt out now.Desired Settlement: I want my services cancelled immediately, and I would like my bill adjusted for the extra time I have to wait before the Revdex.com or I get through to them. I also think they should be required to make it easier to opt out.

Business

Response:

Good Afternoon,

According to the complaint, the

customer is unhappy with the recent rate being charged and would like to cancel her account.

The customer agreed to a variable

rate contract, meaning the rate would be determined by the energy market.

As has been widely reported, there

has been a spike in the wholesale energy market which was reflected on the most

recent bill. This is merely a reflection of the current energy market where a

shrinking supply of electricity is under the strain of massive demand due to

one of the coldest winters on record. We are referring customers to the

February ** press release from the PUC regarding this issue. (Please see

attached) In addition, this is not just happening in Pennsylvania.

Please see this link relating to New York prices as well.

Finally, the account has been

canceled and it is now up to the utility to process the cancellation. Please contact your utility for budget

billing concerns.

We are truly sorry for your

experience and advise you to sign up on a fixed rate that will ensure price

protection.

Regards

In addition please see this informative article.

Why Have

Energy Bills Increased – Explaining Price Volatility

It has

been a record cold winter across much of the country, and many have been

expressing deep concern as to why energy bills have been so high. Regardless of

whether energy is purchased from a utility or a competitive energy supplier,

customers have seen electricity and natural gas prices spike in many parts of

the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions.

Why did

prices rise?

Simply

put, the issues at hand are the cold weather, electric grid and natural gas

pipeline capacity, and the increasing use of natural gas not just for heating

purposes, but to create electricity.

There is

ample gas supply in the United States, especially given the boom in shale gas.

What customers are feeling are the results of a strained transportation and

infrastructure system that delivers electricity and gas. When demand is high

and capacity is constrained, costs increase.

This

winter’s “polar vortex” has increased the demand for both natural gas and

electricity, resulting in significant congestion in the natural gas pipelines

and on the electric grid (the highways of the energy system). Everyone relies

on these natural gas pipelines and the electric grid to get energy from where

it is produced to where it is used by the homeowner, the tenant, and the

business owner. Just like only so many cars can efficiently travel along a

highway, only so much natural gas and electricity can move through the natural

gas pipeline system and the electric grid.

Also,

while more and more people are using natural gas directly for heating purposes,

electricity generators are also increasingly using natural gas to produce

affordable power. In the short-term, this electricity generation is putting

further strain on the natural gas capacity in certain parts of the country. At

the same time there are also bottlenecks on some parts of the electric grid,

preventing electricity from getting from the generators to the consumers in an

efficient manner.

It’s

known from economics that constraints on supply (such as not being able to get

gas from where it is plentiful to where it is needed) cause prices to rise, and

this has occurred in the wholesale energy markets. The result? Competitive

energy suppliers and utilities alike are paying higher than normal prices when

purchasing from the wholesale market in order to provide energy to homeowners,

tenants, and business owners. This is causing everyone’s bills to rise.

As the

winter weather gradually improves and temperatures rise, the demand for energy

to heat homes and businesses will decrease, placing less pressure on the

nation’s electricity grid and allowing energy prices from suppliers and

utilities to normalize. However, winter weather may very likely be around for

some weeks to come. Despite the unusual weather, the gas and electric delivery

systems have proven to be highly reliable this winter. A number of new natural

gas pipelines and electricity transmission lines are planned or under

construction which should reduce the chances of a similar price spike in the

future.

In the

meantime, there are some things that can be done to help manage energy bills.

Conserve energy as much as possible. For example, make sure

doors and windows are well insulated, seal any air leaks, and lower the

water temperature setting to 120 degrees on the water heater.

Customers using a competitive supplier and who are on a

variable rate plan or whose fixed contracts have expired, should review

their contract to confirm the accuracy of the pricing and call their

supplier if they have any questions.

Customers interested in price stability can also investigate

fixed price options that many suppliers offer.

Customers in need of financial assistance should investigate

their state’s home heating assistance programs. In many states, a customer

can stay with a competitive supplier and still receive assistance paying

utility bills.

Customers should visit their

state’s “energy shopping” websites to compare offers from different suppliers.

For a list of shopping websites, visit [redacted]

Review: I was mislead by a person who showed up at my door. She said I would save money on my electric bill if I switched to Respond Power. I signed up without understanding the implications of a variable rate. It consistently went up over the life of the agreement. Then it spiked from 18 cents to 34 cents per kwh in one month. Nearly double. After speaking with Respond Power, they told me they fulfilled my contract by offering me a variable rate. They did indeed! Do not allow people to show up at your door and sell you any electrical services. They used deceatful practices to con me into something I did not want. I ended up switching back to PPL. It was funny that that last month they had me stuck in their claws, they raised my rate up so much. What they are doing to people is not ethical. Stick with the utility company people. They are not allowed to make money of generation. They offer the lowest rate in the long runDesired Settlement: I would like to be refunded the difference I paid compared to PPL's rate.

Business

Response:

Good Afternoon,

According to the complaint, the

customer is unhappy with the recent rate being charged.

The customer agreed to a variable

rate contract, meaning the rate would be determined by the energy market.

As has been widely reported, there

has been a spike in the wholesale energy market which was reflected on the most

recent bill. This is merely a reflection of the current energy market where a

shrinking supply of electricity is under the strain of massive demand due to

one of the coldest winters on record. We are referring customers to the

February ** press release from the PUC regarding this issue. (Please see

attached) In addition, this is not just happening in Pennsylvania.

Please see this link relating to New York prices as well.

Finally, the account has been

canceled and it is now up to the utility to process the cancellation. Please contact your utility for budget

billing concerns.

We are truly sorry for your

experience and advise you to sign up on a fixed rate that will ensure price

protection.

Regards

In addition please see this informative article.

Why Have

Energy Bills Increased – Explaining Price Volatility

It has

been a record cold winter across much of the country, and many have been

expressing deep concern as to why energy bills have been so high. Regardless of

whether energy is purchased from a utility or a competitive energy supplier,

customers have seen electricity and natural gas prices spike in many parts of

the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions.

Why did

prices rise?

Simply

put, the issues at hand are the cold weather, electric grid and natural gas

pipeline capacity, and the increasing use of natural gas not just for heating

purposes, but to create electricity.

There is

ample gas supply in the United States, especially given the boom in shale gas.

What customers are feeling are the results of a strained transportation and

infrastructure system that delivers electricity and gas. When demand is high

and capacity is constrained, costs increase.

This

winter’s “polar vortex” has increased the demand for both natural gas and

electricity, resulting in significant congestion in the natural gas pipelines

and on the electric grid (the highways of the energy system). Everyone relies

on these natural gas pipelines and the electric grid to get energy from where

it is produced to where it is used by the homeowner, the tenant, and the

business owner. Just like only so many cars can efficiently travel along a

highway, only so much natural gas and electricity can move through the natural

gas pipeline system and the electric grid.

Also,

while more and more people are using natural gas directly for heating purposes,

electricity generators are also increasingly using natural gas to produce

affordable power. In the short-term, this electricity generation is putting

further strain on the natural gas capacity in certain parts of the country. At

the same time there are also bottlenecks on some parts of the electric grid,

preventing electricity from getting from the generators to the consumers in an

efficient manner.

It’s

known from economics that constraints on supply (such as not being able to get

gas from where it is plentiful to where it is needed) cause prices to rise, and

this has occurred in the wholesale energy markets. The result? Competitive

energy suppliers and utilities alike are paying higher than normal prices when

purchasing from the wholesale market in order to provide energy to homeowners,

tenants, and business owners. This is causing everyone’s bills to rise.

As the

winter weather gradually improves and temperatures rise, the demand for energy

to heat homes and businesses will decrease, placing less pressure on the

nation’s electricity grid and allowing energy prices from suppliers and

utilities to normalize. However, winter weather may very likely be around for

some weeks to come. Despite the unusual weather, the gas and electric delivery

systems have proven to be highly reliable this winter. A number of new natural

gas pipelines and electricity transmission lines are planned or under

construction which should reduce the chances of a similar price spike in the

future.

In the

meantime, there are some things that can be done to help manage energy bills.

Conserve energy as much as possible. For example, make sure

doors and windows are well insulated, seal any air leaks, and lower the

water temperature setting to 120 degrees on the water heater.

Customers using a competitive supplier and who are on a

variable rate plan or whose fixed contracts have expired, should review

their contract to confirm the accuracy of the pricing and call their

supplier if they have any questions.

Customers interested in price stability can also investigate

fixed price options that many suppliers offer.

Customers in need of financial assistance should investigate

their state’s home heating assistance programs. In many states, a customer

can stay with a competitive supplier and still receive assistance paying

utility bills.

Customers should visit their

state’s “energy shopping” websites to compare offers from different suppliers.

For a list of shopping websites, visit http://www.[redacted].org.

Review: Their sales person came to my door, he showed me my electric bill and marked all numbers that I should pay less. he said if I change the energy supplier to them I will pay 50-100 less every month. He also said you are changing only 3rd party supplier, we are not canceling anything from [redacted] . This month I got my bill, my bill was $120 more than it should be. I know the number exactly because I called [redacted] and asked them, if I haven't change my supplier how much I should have pay now? and they told me this $120 less. They also told me Respond Power actually cancelled [redacted] energy (which I just learned, actually is a [redacted] service).

[redacted] says I have to pay the bill and also if I cancel Respond Power now, [redacted] will be back on my bill maybe 2-3 bill cycle later. So that means I will have to pay over 2-3 more months. No matter what I cancelled Respond Power immediately now.

I called Respond Power, talked to someone and told them I want to cancel and refund. They say they can't give you refund. Also they won't give me refund for next 2-3 months of service until it will switch back to [redacted].

They also told me if I wanted they can switch me to a better plan and I will pay $120 less. I told them are you insane? Why didn't you start me with this plan than? Why did you over charge me since you can charge me less? They didn't answer, if I want they can change plan, BUT I have to sign a one year contract and they still cannot refund me those over charges I am facing now.Desired Settlement: I want them to pay my $120 over charge for December bill.

I also want them to be out of my electric bill in January. If they are not, I want them to give me refund for every bill they are my supplier.

Business

Response:

We apologize for any inconvenience the customer may have experienced. Customer enrolled on a variable rate plan and was billed in accordance with the terms and conditions of that plan. Customers on the variable rate plan may see savings of up to 10% over the course of a year, in comparison to the utility company. Customer's service will discontinue on 1/**/15. No refund will be issued as customer has, and will, be billed in accordance to the terms and conditions agreed upon.

Consumer

Response:

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID# [redacted], and have determined that my complaint has NOT been resolved because:

This response is not fixing any of my problem. I had to over pay $120 on my December bill and I have to overpay on my January bill who knows how much. As I explained before, their sales person came to my door and told me "You will pay less on your bills, you are paying too much. look..." and he showed me numbers and he told me those numbers will go lower. He DID NOT told me that "Customers on the variable rate plan may see savings of up to 10% over the course of a year, in comparison to the utility company." . He didn't mention about I "MAY SEE SAVINGS" (so it's not a guarantee apparently, I may or may not save) and he didn't mention about "OVER THE COURSE OF A YEAR". This problem is not fixed. Reason I am asking refund is your sales person lied to me. Your sales person didn't mention those info on your response. In fact he told me almost opposite, I quote "You will pay less on electricity every month, because you are paying too much, here are numbers..."You are sending these sales persons on our doors, you have to take responsibility on their lies. They lie, we got hurt and you only send me PDF document of your agreement and one sentence cover-up response. How is that fair?

In order for the Revdex.com to appropriately process your response, you MUST answer the question above.

Sincerely,

Business

Response:

We apologize for any misunderstanding on the part of the customer. The terms and conditions are provided at the time of sale as well and customer is made aware of those terms. If customer was not satisfied with the terms and conditions. customer had seven days to rescind the agreement. As stated before, no refund is warranted as customer was billed in accordance with the terms and conditions.

Review: In October 2013, I had a gentleman to come to my door asking if he can speak to me regarding lower my monthly electric bill, as of course since I am currently on Section 8 and not employed at this time nor was I for the past couple of years, I asked him many questions. I proceeded to ask him if I had to sign for this and said yes; also told them I get public assistance with liheap and pcap. I signed up for lower electric bills because of where I currently reside. A couple days went by and a friend told me that I need to get rid of them and I called and said im not interested in signing up for this to cancel and the rep asked me why. I proceeded to tell her that my friend said they are a scam. They told me I would have to pay $100 and then I told them that they will be reported for such a scam and the rep hung up on me. I ccontacted respond power llc back and the same bull they been giving me and said they would have me officially signed off of them and they told me they wont be on my next months bill because I had cancelled before the 30 days. I have continuously called them to find out why they have been showing up on my electric bill. I am tired of contacting this company and they give me the same response, "you are no longer with us, have a nice day and hang up". now that my March bill has come, my bill is over $1000. in October 2013, I have seen them on every month and I cant rid of them so my best bet was to contact Revdex.com and now I cant afford to pay for this bill, being on housing and having no job, was on liheap and pcap and because they have been exceeding more kilowatts per hour is extremely high when im out looking for work and all of my thermostat's are at 68 degrees, never changed. Met-ed is no help. ive tried to explain the same I am doing to you and don't want to hear it. I have a 10yr old son who lives with me. I cannot afford to pay this amount since they have exhausted all of my liheap benefits. met ed account number [redacted]. all the months I have lived at this address, it has not been higher than [redacted] in kilowatts per hour. this month its 7177 kilowatts per hour, that is highly ridiculous and outrageous to think this company thinks I can pay that amount which I will not until this is resolved immediately...PLEASE HELP MEDesired Settlement: I want my liheap amount for the whole year to be returned of false advertisement for one and also that they refuse to take me off there plan since I have been complaining every month to them in Orangeburg, NY since October. I want my bill adjusted back to the normal limit of what I use. I also want them to acknowledge that there false advertisement was 0.84 was for 6 months. it has been higher than that at .014 which is almost doubled than what originally said verbally. I want this resolved asap. thank you and hope to hear from you soon.

Business

Response:

We will call the customer and try to work out something. Electric use reported by Met-Ed averaged 4754 kWh per month, very high. We advise the customer to work with Met-Ed on making sure the readings are correct.