Overview
The Department of Public Utilities (DPU):
- licenses electric and gas competitive supply companies, electricity brokers, and gas retail agents (we refer to them as competitive supply companies);
- ensures that competitive supply companies comply with the Commonwealth’s consumer protection laws (G.L. c. 164, §§ 1A-1F, 102C), DPU regulations (220 CMR 11.00; 220 CMR 14.00), and DPU rules established pursuant to DPU Orders (D.P.U. 14-140; D.P.U. 16-156; D.P.U. 19-07); and
- investigates consumer complaints made against a competitive supply company.
The DPU can investigate a suspected violation through (1) an informal review or (2) a formal investigation.
Competitive supply companies that are noncompliant with consumer protection laws and the DPU’s rules and regulations may be subject to a revocation or suspension of their license, a remedial plan, monetary payments, or a combination of all three.
Informal reviews
The DPU's Delegated Commissioner (currently Elizabeth Anderson) opens informal reviews. An informal review can result in a settlement, also known as an Informal Remedial Plan, between the Delegated Commissioner and the competitive supply company. Informal Remedial Plans are public documents and can be found through the links in the table below.
| Company's informal remedial plan | Date finalized | Alleged behavior | Monetary refund to customers or donation to a non-profit | Other stipulations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Direct Energy | 12/19/2025 | Direct Energy did not recite the marketing script at the beginning of 407 telemarketing calls between July 2024 and June 2025 | donation of $101,750 to Boston Medical Center’s Clean Power Prescription program | no outbound telemarketing for 1 year |
Formal investigations
The DPU dockets formal investigations, also known as Notices of Probable Violations, which are opened by Commissioner Anderson. Formal investigations are adjudicatory proceedings that may include intervenors, discovery, and hearings and can be resolved via settlement or a final order issued by the Presiding Commissioners. Jeremy McDiarmid and Staci Rubin are currently the Presiding Commissioners. Links to the formal investigations for competitive suppliers are listed in the table below.
| Case number | Description |
|---|---|
| D.P.U. 25-138 | Notice of probable violation to CleanChoice Energy, LLC |
| D.P.U. 20-48 | Notice of probable violation to Palmco Power MA, LLC d/b/a Indra Energy |
| D.P.U. 20-47 | Notice of probable violation to Mega Energy of New England, LLC |
| D.P.U. 19-18 | Notice of probable violation to Union Atlantic Electricity, LLC |
| Date published: | January 5, 2026 |
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