Respond Power

Review: A man named [redacted] visited us wanting to look at our ppl electric bill and assured us he wasn't an electric company. He says he could take of the surcharges that our current electric company was charging us. Well when I received my electric bill sure enough they are an electric supplier and we are getting billed high prices on top of my own electric supplier that I have been with for years. I called 2 times to cancel, because he said I could do so at any time. The first time I cancelled I wanted a confirmation #. The woman stated that couldn't give me one. ???? They didn't cancel. And I neglected to write down the date when I called to cancel. Well I called them again to cancel. Said they couldn't give a confirmation # again. This time I wrote down the date I cancelled, which was Aug. [redacted],2014 Called PPL to tell them I did cancel with respond power and they said within a week respond power should send them something with the status on my cancellation. Still haven't heard anything. Thank you for taking the time to read my complaint.Desired Settlement: Because he verbally stated he was not an electric co. We were falsely represented.

Business

Response:

We apologize for any inconvenience the customer experienced. Customer spoke with a representative on 8/*/14 and a cancellation request was submitted. Customer was informed at that time that it may take the utility company up to one billing cycle from the time of the request for the cancellation to fully take effect. Customer's account will be fully cancelled after 8/**/14. In addition, customer was also informed on 8/* that customer will still receive at least one more bill with our company's supply services. In this circumstance, customer will in fact only receive one more bill with our supply services following 8/** for services rendered 7/**-8/**.

Regarding the initial enrollment, on the application it is clearly stated that our company is a gas/electric supplier. This is further confirmed on a voice recording that occurs at the time of enrollment and on the terms and conditions given to the customer at the time of enrollment.

As customer was validly enrolled, no refund or adjustment is warranted. However, as a courtesy for customer's final bill, customer's account was placed on a rate of .087/kwh.

Review: My wife and I moved to PA in June 2013. We were told to pick a generator for electricity that fit our ideals. We chose RespondPower due to their advertised "Respond Rewards" which supposedly incentivized users to decrease energy use due to text or email notifications stating that power demand was high. My family thought that this would be an incentive to keep our electricity demands to a minimum. When we signed up our price per kWh was ~$0.12. What we discovered over the winter months was that Respond Power began to price gouge. Throughout the winter months our priced went up each month to 0.19 and peaked at $0.34 per kWh. This is nearly a 300% increase of our initial charge. All this time my wife and I were doing everything in our power to keep our energy consumption to a minimum. We applied for budget billing early in the year and have been paying a substantial amount with this but are still more than a thousand dollars behind due to the incorrigable bills throughout this winter. I contacted Respond Power on 3/**/14 but did not hear back from them regarding this condition.Desired Settlement: My desired outcome is that my bill is re-analyzed to be charged a reasonable rate $0.12 per kWh for the energy that I consumed over the winter. I have already canceled Respond Power as a generator and will be using PPL as my new generator. They are gauranteed me a fixed rate of around $0.08 per kWh for two years.

Business

Response:

Good Afternoon,

We are sorry the customer was dissatisfied with our service. The customer enrolled in a variable rate plan with our company. The rates on a variable plan

fluctuate with the energy market. 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.

For information on budget billing and payment plans, please contact your local utility.

Regards,

Review: I had signed a contract back in 2011 for a lower electric rate, although looking back on it, i'm not sure why they allowed me to sign, as my name is NOT on the bill. At any rate... With out any warning, raised my prices to .24990 and while my bill last month was $96 (as it should be, I live in a 3 bedroom apartment where we wear 2 sweatshirts to keep the costs down), this month, it is a ridiculous $998? NO WAY. I cannot afford to pay this, and am completely flabergasted and devastated that I would receive a bill like this with no warning.Desired Settlement: I would like my normal rate through [redacted] energy, as like I said, I cannot afford this bill, and it is IMPOSSIBLE for me to pay it.

Business

Response:

The customer has been with our company for over 2 years on a variable rate. A member of our customer service has answered the customer.

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:

The person I spoke with was completely unhelpful. He didn't explain anything I couldn't read myself, and didn't attempt to help me, nor did he care about the fact that I can't afford to pay this absurd bill! I had NO WARNING that I would be receiving a dramatically higher rate, and need this fixed. Not only did the person ([redacted]) I spoke with on the telephone not help me, but he also included me in interoffice emails regarding food he had placed in their kitchen, to which I also received SEVERAL 'reply all' emails I had to explain to my boss. (see attached)

This company is completely unprofessional, and there is simply NO explaination as to why I should EVER receive a $998 electric bill for a SMALL 3 bedroom apartment. I need some type of HELPFUL resolution, as opposed to a pointless response that took several weeks to receive.

I cannot afford this, and will NOT be able to pay this.

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

Sincerely,

Business

Response:

Good Afternoon,

We are truly sorry that energy prices have risen so steeply this winter. For help paying your bill, please contact your utility directly for budget billing options. If you would like a more detailed explanation of your bill, please contact customer service.

Regards,

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:

Again... Not a response to anything stated.

You are the worst company ever.

Sincerely,

Review: This company solicited business by coming to my residence promising lower energy rates then my current provider approximately 2 years ago. I stayed with them and paid all of my bills on time and as soon as the cold of winter hit they increased their rates with absolutely no notice or given opportunity to go back to my original energy provider, [redacted]. Since approximately November, 2013 my bills have increased substantially. I have lived in the same small 2 bedroom apartment for the past 4 years and my energy bill has NEVER exceeded about $165.00-$185.00 per month. This winter my bill went to around $180, then to $252 the next month and my current bill for 2/**/14-3/**/14 is $335 which is absolutley ridiculous! It appears as though this company took advantage of the cold winter and in turn apparently took advantage of working class people. My usage actually went down from last billing cycle and my bill sky rocketed. I did call this company as suggested prior to filling out this complaint and they expressed to me that there was nothing they could do with this current bill as that's just the way the rates have increased "all over the country". The only thing they did say was that they could offer me a "fixed rate" which involved a contract and I don't want any parts of that. I have already gone back to [redacted] and will never change again when someone solicits me at my residenc to switch to "cheaper" energy. Thank you.Desired Settlement: I would like this company to adjust my bill to reflect [redacted]'s rate for the last 2 billing cycles, the $252 bill and the current bill of $335. Thank you.

Business

Response:

Good Afternoon,

We are unable to locate the customer in our database. If the customer could please provide the account holder name or account number, we can better respond to the complaint.

Regards,

Consumer

Response:

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted]. Here is the former account information requested by them as I have made the change to go back to my original energy source, [redacted]: [redacted]

Sincerely,

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:

Here is the former account information requested by them as I have made the change to go back to my original energy source, [redacted]: [redacted].

?

Sincerely,

Business

Response:

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,

Review: [redacted] called me in November from respond power and [redacted] to switch to their company and she said they can save me 10% on my bills by my old bill, she asked what I was paying and told her 0.040210. I got my first bill in dec. and it doubled, the second bill tripled, the 4th bill quadrupled, I called them and complained and to switch back and they promised me if the ny knicks win a certain amount of games they would give me 30% discount, and if I referred a person, I would get 50.00 dollars off, I never got anything reduced and the renigged on their contract.I went from $102 to $224 to $248 to $302 and now $486 and got a second bill for 125, 2 bills for march, everything was a scam for me to switch over so they can rack up the payment. now its 0.19989529Desired Settlement: give me my 10% discount from when I switched over and 50.00 dollars for referring someoneand 30% percent discount from ny knicks winnings, this company should be shut down, its a scamming and people on limited income cant pay the bill, they renigged on there contract. attorney general office been getting thousand of calls from people with over charged bills

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 [redacted].

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

[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] I only switched because [redacted] said she would save me 10 percent on my bill. I was with [redacted] at the time and only paying 102 dollars a month, I switch back to [redacted] and my bill is still only 125 dollars a month. [redacted] told me my bill would not change even in winter months. something is wrong here, letting people know they get a discount and switch, then jack the prices. respond power never kept their contract promise, 50 dollars for referring someone, if ny knicks win so many games I would get a discount.

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

Sincerely,

Business

Response:

Good Morning,

We are sorry the customer had been dissatisfied with his experience.

Regards,

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 should not be aloud to call people and tell they will give 10% off and give money for referrals and if knicks win so many games they will give 30% off that I never received. this is a scam to get people to switch and jack up the prices. ive spent my incometaxes on their bills and im still behind. I have filed a complaint with attorney general office and wrote to the president. I got ripped off by this company and will not see my money back, but in future something will be done about a new law

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

Sincerely,

Review: Received our electric bill from PECO for the month of March 2014 and found that the electric usage rate had increased by 75% from the past month of February 2014. This increased occurred with no explanation. Upon attempting to contact Respond Energy, we could not get any customer service personnel, only a voice mail that did not allow messages to be left. Will try one more time before selecting another provider. We have had this contract with Respond since October of 2011, and did not experience any increases. We have a fixed rate contract with no cancellation fee.Desired Settlement: Electric reduced to the rate we had in February 2014 or I will cancel this provider.

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. If the customer consults her previous bills, she will note that the rate has changed nearly every month since we first appeared on her bill in December of 2011. I have also attached her initial application indicating a variable rate.

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, if the customer is interested in cancelling her account, please contact our customer service department. 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: In late 2012 my door was knocked on by a representative of Respond Power. He informed me that if I used Respond Power I would pay a lower price then I would with Peco Energy. Being a canvasser myself at the time I was skeptical, but after the rep promised me that my rate would be fixed and would NEVER go up I gave him my account number and signed up with Respond Power. However, to my surprise at the beginning of 2014 my bill increased to almost 4 times the rate it previously was from around .09- .35. Upon calling Respond and waiting over 45 minutes I spoke with a rep who told me that I had received a letter saying that if I did not call Respond Power my rate would change from the Fixed Rate I was promised to a variable rate that as stated before is close to 4 times higher. I got through to the [redacted], [redacted] who told me that because I didn't receive this supposed letter and then contact them I was stuck with the variable rate bill and there was nothing she could do about it. I offered to sign another fixed rate contract with Respond Power if they would refund me the difference between the fixed rate I was promised and the variable rate they claimed to have notified me about and charged me in excess of $800 for. She said there was no way I would do this and I am accountable for the full charges. As of now I cancelled with Respond Power but am stuck with a $1500 billDesired Settlement: I would be willing to sign a contract to continue with Respond Power if they refunded me the difference between the fixed rate there Door-to-Door rep promised and guaranteed me would not go up and the variable rate that I was actually charged. However, I would really like to get this same refund but discontinue my relationship with this company as they are deceptive and I feel uncomfortable with their businesses practices as I entered into a contract with this company based upon false information

Business

Response:

Good Evening,

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 [redacted]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 told by a representative from this company that my rates would never cost more than [redacted], which is the public supplier for electricity. The first few bills were normal then slowly the rates creeped up and went from around 8 cents a kilowatt to 13 cents to 19 cents and my most recent bill stated I was charged 87 cents per kilowatt. I live in a 400 square foot studio apartment, and I'm never home and have my thermostat set at 60 degrees. My rent is $800 a month and my electric bill for the last month alone was $530.00.Desired Settlement: I want my bill to be adjusted so the cost per kilowatt is equivalent to that of [redacted].

Business

Response:

Good Evening,

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 [redacted].

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

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:

[I have spoke to [redacted] and I need to have my billing issues resolved with Respond Power, not them. I have since switched to a different supplier but that doesn't make my balance go away and I am now being threatened with having my power shut off. I realize electricity prices rose over the winter but that doesn't explain the ridiculous costs the company charged because other suppliers and [redacted] weren't charging rates that were nearly that high. It also doesn't make sense that last month, which wasn't nearly as cold as January or February, my rates jumped significantly and as of 4/*/2014 a customer service representative stated that for a new customer the rate was .0938. If the "demand" for electricity is so high then why are new customers only charged .0938?

This article from Forbes magazine explains the situation a bit better: [redacted]

If necessary, I can provide copies of electric bills from the past few months from my neighbor who lives in the exact same type/size of studio apartment as me and received electricity from [redacted] and wasn't charged nearly as much as me. So please explain how that makes sense with your supply and demand explanation?]

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

Sincerely,

Business

Response:

Good Morning,

We are sorry the customer is unhappy with our response. We will not be issuing a refund. For help paying your bill, please contact your utility for budget billing options.

Regards,

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:

[My complaint is in no way resolved. I find it odd the company was unable to answer my question as to why they are able to offer new customers a low rate when "market prices" are so "high." I am not asking for a refund, I want the balance of $898.87 adjusted. I have spoken to [redacted] and they said I need to work it out with the company.]

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

Sincerely,

Review: The average charge for electric in my area is (KWH)X.0875 and Respond Power is a variable electric charge company. However, their rate increased to (KWH)X.3499. This occurs without notice or justification and is way beyond the average or even high range. A bill that could have been around $85.00 is now $325.00 and I have yet to be able to talk with a representative. I am trying, but, you are put on hold and then disconnected. This is beyond ridiculous. I am aware that it is buyer beware....but, if you aren't even given prior notice of a hike and then you owe that much money. This is financial rape. I really hope this company is researched etc.Desired Settlement: I would like a reduction or a refund on my bill. Even if they say that are going to charge the highest rate in my area, my bill would be reduced by over $200.00.

Business

Response:

Review: My electric bill has been increasing at a alarming rate the last three months. I'am a single person living in a single home. Right now it cost more for electric than it does to heat my house with my gas heat. This was one of the coldest winter's on record and my electric bill was still way higher than my gas bill.Desired Settlement: I want my rate adjusted to the rate that was agreed upon or I will cancel this supplier. I will also be contacting consumer protection if I don't hear a response.

Business

Response:

Good Evening,

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 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.

We are truly sorry for your

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

protection. If you are interested in canceling your contract, please contact customer service.

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 find that this resolution is satisfactory to me and the matter has been resolved.

Sincerely,

Review: Dear Sir or Madam,

My [redacted] account No. is [redacted].

I switched my power supply company from [redacted] to Respond Power LLC in May 2013. From the winter, I found my bills continued increasing. Especially, in Jan. 2014, the bill went beyond $100. Due to living in an apartment, I never got a bill beyond $90. So I called and asked to transfer back to [redacted]. Then I got the Feb. bill from Respond Power, the bill was more than $200. The meter reading is estimate one. All the bills from the Respond Power, even the first bill in May 2013, all the meter reading are actual readings, except the last one. In March I got a bill from [redacted], it's only ~$50. Clearly, the Respond Power used a high estimate meter reading in my last bill.

I want to ask why my last bill is an estimate reading? What's in actual reading? Why the rate in Feb. is $0.25497, twice of the Jan. rate.

Please see the following my billing in details. Except in the summer of 2013, my family had a long vacation off the US, the power usage were lower than $300 watts, the usage in other months never went below than 385 watts. Comparing with the bill last year also from [redacted], the usage is 514. This year is cold than last, so the usage in the March bill may be larger than 514 watts, which means the usage in the bill of Feb. from Respond Power should be much lower than 719.

I hope the company to correct the estimate meter reading in my last bill. If no actual reading, there must be a reasonable method to readjust the meter reading and resolve this problem.

Thank you.

Here is a list of total usage for every month.

Bill date Charge ($) Power Usage (Watts) Rate ($) Company

3/**50.85 343 (estimate) 0.0797 [redacted]

2/**219.09 719 (estimate) 0.25497 Respond Power

1/**107.83 593 (actual) 0.12999 Respond Power ** 84.79 584 (actual) 0.1194 Respond Power

11/**69.35 411 (actural) 0.1100 Respond Power

10/*63.61 385 (actual) 0.1053 Respond Power

9/**42.57 214 (actual) (Partly off the US) 0.1050 Respond Power

8/6 39.24 189 (actual) (Partly off the US) 0.1093 Respond Power

7/**54.03 282 (actual) (Partly off the US) 0.1056 Respond Power

6/**74.58 407 (actual) 0.1056 Respond Power

5/7 62.54 444 (actual) 0.0825 Respond Power

4/**75.91 497 (actual) 0.0858 [redacted]

3/**73.62 514 (actual) 0.0766 [redacted]

2/**78.42 551 (actual) 0.0766 [redacted]

1/**89.14 634 (actual) 0.0766 [redacted]

12/**85.54 535 (actual) 0.0956 [redacted]Desired Settlement: A reasonable adjustment are expected.

Business

Response:

Review: I was not properly informed about the increase of my bill. Now I am receiving a bill that is $90 -$100 more than my usual bill. I have called and left a message for someone to call me. No one has. I e-mailed respond power to cancel still no response. I can't switch back to ppl until respond cancels.Desired Settlement: I would like a refund for any and all payments I have paid over my regular amount. Also, I would like respond power to cancel my service with them so I can switch back. Thank you, [redacted]

Business

Response:

Good Evening,

According to the complaint, the

customer states that she is unhappy with the recent 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 [redacted]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: Respond power has tripled our rates for electric and gas energy in the last two months. What would normally cost about $250 to maintain our 1300 square foot home in the winter is now over $600. We have called our old provider to switch and have tried calling Respond to confirm this has gone through so we are no longer getting gauged on our bills. We have not received a call backDesired Settlement: An explanation would be appreciated so I can understand how are rates have tripled in a two month span while our old provider has not taken an increase. In addition confirmation of our desire to cancel their service would be appreciated. Their business practices should be examined.

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 [redacted]

This company is one of the BEST most honest companies I ever had! After They came to my door and I signed up with them, my electric bill came down alot! Good, honest people!!!!! I "highly recommend" them to all! I will not mention the name of the wonderful electric company I had before that, but the bills were REALLY REALLY HIGH for many months!!!! When you are on a fixed income it can be rough!! Until Respond Power came around I was having it VERY ROUGH,thank you Respond Power for your affordable rates and your kindness!!!!!!!!!

Review: On October **, 2012 an employee of Respond Power was visiting homes in my town. We were promised the lowest KW/h price on electric generation. It was explained to us that Respond Power shops around and provides the lowest rates possible to us as the customer. My wife and I agreed and signed up. For a while, everything was great. Now I come to learn this was a variable rate service. This was NEVER explained to us. The sales agreement we signed does NOT show weather we were getting a locked in rate or not. We were also assured that there would never be a fee if we decided in the future to switch providers. Then comes the frigid temperatures of the last 3 months. I noticed our bill was higher than it usually would be, since we burn some coal in an all electric home. Upon investigation I noticed Respond Power was charging us $0.14990108 per KWH. Almost DOUBLE a few months ago!! I believe this is price gouging in the cold weather.Desired Settlement: I want refunded nothing more than the difference between what my wife and I were gouged and the $0.08 per KWH that is the average shown on[redacted]

for the 3 months in question.

Business

Response:

Good Afternoon,

According to the complaint, the

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

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 and it

is up to the utility to process the cancellation.

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.CompetitiveEnergy.org.

Review: On 1/*/14 a Respond Power representative showed up at my door and stated that she could save me 10% on my electric bill each month, and it wouldn't cost anything to switch providers. So I switched. On March [redacted], I got my first bill using Respond Power and it was 500% higher than my regular bill. I called [redacted] power ,my original electric company, right away to cancel Respond Power and they stated that I needed to call Respond Power to do that, so I canceled that service right away. The problem was, it had already started the next billing cycle and I could not go back to my original electric rate until the end of that cycle. That gave me another month of 500% increase in my bill. I am still paying this off in payments a year later!! and I still have $210. left to pay. I'm paying my bill plus $25 per month on this past due amount so that is at least another 8 months until I will have that 500% markup paid of!Desired Settlement: I would like Respond Power to uphold the agreement that they would sell me electric at a 10% discount from what I was paying, and credit all of the money that I have paid for their 500% markup to my [redacted] Power electric account. If that is not possible then I would like a refund check for the amount that was over paid to them, and for them to cancel any remaining money that I should not owe them if my bill would have REALLY been at 10% lower as they promised.

Business

Response:

We apologize for any inconvenience the customer may have experienced. In January of 2014 customer enrolled in a variable rate plan. Under that plan, customers may see savings of up to 10% over the course of a year. Unfortunately, last winter the energy market performed very poorly 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.Customer was at all times billed in accordance with the term and conditions attached and no refund will be given.

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:]When the agent came into my house, she told me we WOULD save 10%, not MAYBE save 10% depending on the cost of the electric that Respond Power has to buy and then sell to me. I asked her if my bill would go up and she said "NO", my mistake for believing her and thinking that Respond Power was actually looking out for my best interests.

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

Sincerely,

Business

Response:

As stated before, customer was billed in accordance with the terms and conditions. No refund will be issued.

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]

The agent for Respond Power misrepresented the product they were selling because she told me point blank that my bill WOULD NOT GO UP. I feel that the Respond Power company knew EXACTLY how the billing system would work and that my bill would go up 500% in 30 days and I feel this is fraud on the part of Respond Power, when I was told I WOULD SAVE 10% on my next bill, I have NEVER saved a penny from the very first day of using this electric company.

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

Sincerely,

Review: In July of 2012, a sales representative of Respond Power knocked on my door offering better rates than the electric provider I had at the time. They offered me electric at the rate of 8.49 cents per kWh. Before I agreed to anything, I specifically asked the the sales rep if the price was variable or fixed. They told me that it was fixed, I asked permanently and they said yes. This month, February 2014, I received my bill and my rate jumped to 14 cents per kWh. It is completely absurd to almost double their rates, especially when their employees are going around and telling us that the rates won't change . I have read the other complaints on the Revdex.com's website for this company and it's clear that the sales reps of this company are misinforming their potential customers. I do not know if this is something they are told to do by the company, or something they do on their own, but it is something that needs addressed. I called the company about an hour ago, 10:00 A.M, and when I wanted to know what was going on, the woman on the phone acted like she couldn't hear me and then hung up. Also, the sales rep was completely rude to my neighbor who did not want to change their provider.Desired Settlement: I want to have 5.50 cents per kWh removed from my bill for this month, which would have me paying the 8.49 cents per kWh that I was promised. I also want to pay the 8.49 next month, since it will take [redacted] Light a month to change my provider. After that my provider will be switched.

Business

Response:

We would like to apologize to [redacted] for the difficulty she had having her concerns addressed when she attempted to contact us. While the energy market did allow her to receive a fairly stable rate around .0849 for over a year, recently the energy market skyrocketed and the cost of electricity increased 400-500% on average around the country. The agreement she signed in 2012 was for a variable rate contract, and unfortunately for [redacted] and millions of others across the country, she experienced a rate shock due to massive demand due to one of the coldest January's on record coupled with a shrinking national supply of electricity mainly due to EPA regulations on the coal industry. Sadly companies are forced to pass on these costs to consumers as the cost of electricity raises. We see that her account is scheduled to be switched back to [redacted] on March ** and we wish her well.

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:

The company has not given me an answer to my request for a refund. I requested that my bill, last months and the upcoming month, be adjusted to to the $0.0849 per kWh that was promised and guaranteed to me by their sales representative. Also, they have not addressed as to why their sales reps continue to go around and tell blatant lies to us, their potential customers. In not one of the complaints I have read, has this company addressed this issue. Is this the type of business that their company practices and conducts? To have their sales reps tell us one thing, and in their contracts they have something completely different written. Also, as I have recently seen on [redacted] the company charges a $100.00 termination/cancellation fee. If this fee applies to me I would like to have it waived.

Please, also note that on the provided website, their price structure is listed as "fixed" and not "variable".

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

Sincerely,

Stefanie Star

Business

Response:

We are sorry the customer feels that our company has done something wrong. We are not refunding for the commodity that was provided, but we have looked into our independent marketers to ensure they follow proper guidelines.

Cancellation fees are only charged to customers who cancel a fixed rate.

Please see the below article to learn about the recent market fluctuation.

Review: My wife was contacted via a telemarketing call that they could guarantee us a low rate for 12 months on our electric bill. The first two months they honored that then increased slowly over the next 8 months and then jumped the cost of electricity by almost double in two month. Which when compared to other companies offering they are still more than double the cost. When I called and talked to the [redacted](very [redacted]person) they said we were on a variable rate which and that is simply what the market is charging. However I can’t find anyone else charging that high of rate. Most if not all are half of what they are charging. So my bill at this time is more than double what I should be paying.Desired Settlement: I feel they should refund me the difference of what the original rate promised and what they have been charging me over the past 10 months.

Business

Response:

We have reviewed the verification call from the telemarketing sale and have determined that [redacted] agreed to a variable rate contract. No rate was stated or guaranteed.

Unfortunately, the market rate has experienced a tremendous spike due to demand far outstripping supply. We invite the [redacted] and [redacted] to review the attached press release from the PUC about the increases in the wholesale energy market. (attached)

The account is canceled and will return to PPLs default rate (or a different supplier) on March [redacted].

Thank you

Respond Power

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]

If they have the recording I would like them to send it to me with my wife agreeing to it. If she did then this can be resolved.

Thanks

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

Business

Response:

First, the agent on the phone never guaranteed savings for every or any specific month. Second, the customer has changed his argument from stating that his wife did not sign up for a variable rate to the fact the his wife is not the named person on the account. His wife verified that she was authorized to make changes on the account.

Regards

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]

You hear on the recording the representative stating that the rate will always be 15% below the [redacted] rate. My wife specifically asked that question which is why she was swayed from the fixed rate. It is all right there in the call. Respond Power did not keep it 15% below the rate so at this time I guess we will agree to disagree. I am dissatisfied with Respond Power as a business by not standing by what they had committed to. If Respond power as a business states they are going to be 15% below the [redacted] rate than they should have stood by that.

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

Sincerely,

Review: The multiplier used to calculate charges for my current electric bill increased 43% from the previous month. My initial contact was made with a rude, caustic and argumentative CSR named"Nancy". After multiple requests and an inordinate wait, I was finally transferred to "Dee", her supervisor. "Dee's" interpersonal skills were a vast improvement over "Nancy's", however, I was told I had opted for their flex rate program. Had I been on the fixed rate program, my bill would have been $70.44 instead of $314.36. ( I am assuming the additional customer and distribution charges were not included in the $70.44 quote as they were in the $314.36 figure.) I ask if there was any way my current bill could be reduced. The only way would be to switch to the fixed rate program going forward, then they could send me a reimbursement check for $25 for the current bill. When I asked if anything else could be done, the check amount was increased to $50. I feel the multiplier used to calculate this month's bill is unreasonable and unfair and the compensation offered to me does not make up for it.Desired Settlement: I would like my bill adjusted to $178.15. (previous month's multiplier of 0.16852 X current bill's KWH of 751 +customer charge of $7.09 +distribution charge of $44.61 -state tax adjustment $0.11.)

Business

Response:

Good Morning,

We are sorry the customer has had a bad experience. The customer enrolled in a variable rate plan, meaning that the rate would be determined by the energy market. As the customer notes, the rate was different the previous month. We cannot, however, arbitrarily offer a previous month's rate for this month. If the customer is interested in savings, we encourage her to enroll in a fixed rate plan. I have included some additional information about how rates are determined and why they have risen so steeply this year.

Regards,

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]

My bill is disproportionately higher than what other providers are charging.

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

Sincerely,

Business

Response:

Good Morning,

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,

Review: Respond power had come to my house telling me that my electricity bill could be lower if I switch to them as my supplier. After a few months they have jacked the price to quadruple the amount that PPL my distributor rate is. As well all other suppliers that are available in my area. I am understanding of commodity pricing changes and fluctuations but these charges are absurd. My rate for this months bill was 39.999 cents a kWh. The average rate right now is 8.057 cents per kWh.Desired Settlement: I would like my rate to be adjusted and refunded.

Business

Response:

Good Evening,

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 [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:

Not only had I researched all other energy providers rates for the months that the "price spike" happened that I found none of the other energy suppliers rates went up at all. This is a price gouge to all of their customers. I called and left messages to end the service with response energy and emailed them as well. Nobody at any time called me or emailed me back to end the service back in December. They ignored my calls to change energy providers. This entrapped me to their rates for another 2 months until I could get another provider and get out of this price gouging mess. The company is currently under a class action lawsuit from customers that were taken advantage of by response energy. Not being able to transfer providers unless you get in contact with the company ties the hands of the customer that they cannot change their provider.

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

Sincerely,

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 Answe

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

Yes it is correct that I had to go with another supplier to get out from the price gouging that I was being held at for two months straight due to the fact that response energy would not return any phone calls or emails regarding this matter. This to me is poor business practice. What kind of company can not return a simple phone call or email. As well the average rates throughout the time I was overcharged was 4 times lower than response charges. This response to me does not change the fact that I was overcharged for a utility. The fact is that it was irresponsible on response energy to not forward any media that prices were going to be high or so they say for electric generation.

Sincerely,

Business

Response:

We are sorry the customer remains dissatisfied with our responses.

Regards,