While attempting to use powertochoose.org to sign up for Reliant Energy, I had some problems registering for an account. (This happened on July 6th). I saw a link that said "Do you want to be contacted by a Customer Service representative?" I said yes.
Later, I got a call from Save on Energy. I don't know how they got my contact information, so I assumed he was affliliated with powertochoose (which lent him legitimacy he didn't have). He knew that I'd tried to sign up for Reliant and was having problems. He said he could help me sign up for Reliant, but that probably wasn't best. They would charge a base fee (i.e. if you don't use X amount of kWh, they charge you a $10 fee). He said he could sign me up for Just Energy a plan that would NOT charge a base fee. He told me I had the option to enroll in the green energy plan which would apply to 20% of the energy I consumed for an extra 1c per kWh. Lastly, he took my debit card information for a $150 deposit. All goes well. I get an email from JustEnergy saying my power will turned on 07/15. I will be charged 8.7c/kWh, with a 1c addition for the green energy plan. Here I found out that the green energy plan applies to 100% of my bill even though it only gives me 20% green energy. That strikes me as a bit of a misrepresentation, but I decide to just take that cost.
Then I get my bill. It's twice what it should have been. I'm charged a reasonable $59.33 +$ 6.82 for the 682 kWh used. BUT there's an extra $50 deposit (even though my account says I've been credited for the first $150). There's also a $9.95 base charge. I call and find out, yes, my contract has a minimum base for less than 1000 kWh (the very thing this rep said there wouldn't be) and the deposit is actually $350. I will be charged $50 until I reach $350. These details weren't just left out, they are literally the exact opposite of what this rep said. How they even got my contact information is suspicious. I did get a call from Reliant after the SaveonEnergy rep called. He did want to help me set up an account, but I'd already set up an account with Just Energy. So how did that company know I was trying to sign up with Reliant? How did they get my phone number? This is all very disturbing. read more