My gas bill!

[President skroob]

Last year about this same exact time I notice an increase in my bill along with my new carrier (Direct Energy). At the time I was unaware of the automatic changes that were being made. Direct energy was charging more per unit than Dominion and an additional distribution charge of about $80 to $90 dollars. So I was told that a letter was sent out and if YOU DID NOT RESPOND THE CHANGE WAS MADE FOR YOU! So I dropped Direct Energy.I complained to both companies for making changes with out my approval and asked for reimbursement. (which never happened).

Fast foward to present day........The same bs happened AGAIN!!!!!!!!

Current Dominion mcf is $8.40 per unit
Direct energy mcf is $9.88 per unit with a distribution charge of about $90.
I will be calling PUCO (I doubt it will help though)

I wonder how many people in Stark that did not want to switch got caught up in this and how much money Direct energy made out with.(as if gas isn't high already)
Its the perfect scam!
I'm done venting.
Moral of the story -----read your mail!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[DAWGH8R]

What about the people that didn't somehow receive this letter ???

[Indiana95]

I smell a class action. They have an obligation to prove that notification to customers took place.

[WoodyHayes]

I donk know what my gas carrier charges per unit. My gas bill usually runs around $55 in the winter and my electric bill around $80. I talked to my mom and she lives in Ohio and her gas bill was over $300!!! Now I have had some electric bills over $200 when it was over 100 degrees for 34 days. A lot of people do not understand that when you switch providers on any utility, the first 12 months will be good for you and it is a catch, to get you in the door. After the first 12 months, its "Katy bar the Door" There will be no class action suit because people never look at the fine print when they sign up. They just look at the savings

[President skroob]

I didnt sign up for any thing. It supposedly was voted on. I was switched to a higher cost and company automatically - twice! (everybody in stark was.)

[President skroob]

just a note- Direct energy is a fixed charge per unit and Dominion has the ability to fluxuate. But as far as I know dominion so far has been lower.

[Seeker]

Exactly, you don't "sign up" for anything.

They passed a law to stop long distance phone companys from doing this. It is called "slamming."

I remember that last year the county made some kind of agreeement with an alternate supplier. The deal was that they would send out letters, and if you DID NOT respond, you were automatically swithced to the higher cost supplier.

Someone called me and warned me about it, and I put a thread up here warning everyone.

Just from what I'm reading here, it sounds like it may be an annual thing?

I don't recall getting that letter this year. Did anyone else?

There is no way what Stark County did with this could be legal, but it sure as heck isn't moral.
It's wrong, plain and simple.

I really wonder sometimes how these people sleep at night!

[Seeker]

I just checked my bill, and it does not appear that I have been swithced.
I'm still paying the lower rate from Dominion.

Did you move this year?
I was just thinking that it may trigger another need to "opt out".

Would some of the rest of you folks check your bills and weigh in on this one?

[Kamd50]

Ours has not been switched either.

[Seeker]

This is from Direct Energy's website. It desrcibes the plan with Stark County:

What is a Governmental Aggregation (Opt-Out) aggregation program?

An opt-out aggregation program enables the Municipal government to endorse a certified natural gas marketer. The Municipal government will contract with that marketer for a preferred natural gas program for their Municipal residents and small businesses. The residents and small businesses will receive a letter that contains the program details. If any resident or small business does not respond to the Opt-Out letter, their current gas supply will be included in the exclusive aggregation program and they will become a Direct Energy customer on their next applicable billing cycle. If any resident or small business does not want to become a member of the aggregation then customers must affirmatively contact the natural gas marketer (like Direct Energy) in order to not be included in the aggregation.



I guess this is the good news:

Are there any early cancellation penalties?

As an exclusive enrollment benefit, Direct Energy will not assess Endorsement or Governmental Aggregation customers early cancellation fees!

Here's a place to complain and learn more:

http://www.pickocc.org/


I serched all over the Stark County website and couldn't find reference to this situation anywhere.
Maybe someone else can help.

BTW, the first year such alternative supplier offers came out, lots of people locked in a low rate and made out pretty well.

For the past couple of years, I have tracked the situation, and I have concluded that you might as well stay with Dominion and ride the rates up and down.
In the end, its pretty much a wash, and if you sign up with the wrong alternative supplier, you could get hosed pretty bad.

[President skroob]

Thanks for the info.


I bought my house in 05 and now i'm truly baffled as why some people did not get switched.