The Maryland Public Service Commission on May 7, 2025 voted to suspend the broker license of Charity Plus Power Inc., authorize a claim on the company's surety bond for a $100 outstanding assessment and direct staff to contact the company and require a formal license-cancellation filing.

The action addresses a notice from Travelers Casualty and Surety Company that Charity Plus Power’s surety bond was being cancelled and follows staff testimony that the company had not responded to repeated Commission outreach. Staff told the Commission Charity Plus Power owed a $100 assessment for failing to timely submit its 2023 gross operating revenues form and that the company was not in good standing with the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation.

Why it matters: commissioners and the Office of People’s Counsel (OPC) said the case raises broader policy questions about how the commission preserves customer protections when a supplier or broker ceases operations and whether bonds can be relied on to cover future consumer claims. The Commission directed staff to file a bond claim for the outstanding assessment and to suspend the license so the company remains subject to the Commission’s jurisdiction while it is not permitted to broker business in Maryland.

What the record shows
- Staff presentation: Charles Herbert, representing Commission staff, said staff attempted to notify Charity Plus Power of the bond cancellation by email on March 20, 2025, received no response and later learned by phone that the company did not wish to remain licensed. Herbert said Charity Plus Power had no active customers in Maryland, no outstanding renewable portfolio standard obligations and no consumer complaints on file. He said the company owes a $100 assessment for failure to file its 2023 gross operating revenues form.

- Staff and counsel discussed mechanics and timing for bond claims. Herbert told the Commission, "The bond remains in effect until the end of the business day today." Kenneth Alpert (staff) and other counsel explained that surety companies typically give the Commission 60 days' notice of cancellation and that a claim must be filed while the bond is in effect.

- Office of People's Counsel position: Milan Teclimikayo, representing the Office of People’s Counsel, opposed automatic revocation and recommended the Commission require Charity Plus Power either to file a replacement bond or to file a formal cancellation request and demonstrate it has no outstanding liabilities to Maryland customers before allowing license relinquishment. OPC highlighted Charity Plus Power’s licensing history in Maryland (licensed since November 2018) and said the Commission should guard against a precedent that allows suppliers to leave the market without satisfying obligations.

Commission action and practical effect
- After discussion about reachability, bonding mechanics and customer-protection tradeoffs, the Commission voted to suspend Charity Plus Power Inc.'s broker license, authorize staff to file a claim against the Travelers surety for the commission's $100 assessment, and direct staff to contact the company and demand that it file the proper paperwork to relinquish its license or otherwise demonstrate that it has satisfied outstanding obligations.

- Commissioners voted unanimously in favor of the suspension-and-claim motion. The suspension leaves the license in effect for jurisdictional purposes while prohibiting the company from acting as a broker in Maryland.

Other business: consent items and minutes
- The Commission approved minutes for its April 30, 2025 meeting. Vote: Commissioner Linton — Aye; Commissioner Sussman — Aye; Commissioner Barbay — Abstain; Commissioner Richard — Aye. Outcome: minutes approved with one abstention.

- Consent agenda votes: the Commission approved or noted the following staff-recommended consent items (motions summarized):
• Item 2: Grant operating authority to PB Maryland Asset Entity LLC and grant requested COMAR waivers. Vote: unanimous Aye.
• Item 3: Note new financing arrangements filed by GC Pivotal LLC. Vote: unanimous Aye.
• Item 4: Grant Harborlite Energy LLC a license to supply electricity (limited broker services) for requested customer classes and territories and require notification to the Commission within 30 days of any application changes. Vote: unanimous Aye.
• Item 5: Grant Harborlite Energy LLC a license to supply natural gas (limited to broker services) for requested customer classes and territories and require 30‑day notice of changes. Vote: unanimous Aye.
• Item 6: Note notice of participation and financing arrangements from various telecommunications entities. Vote: unanimous Aye.

What the Commission did not decide
- The Commission did not adopt broad rule changes at this meeting to require multi‑year bonds or to bar bond cancellations; staff noted limitations in the Commission’s authority over surety companies and the practical limits of enforcement when principals do not respond. Commissioners discussed whether policy changes are warranted and suggested further consideration of enforcement tools, penalty structures and license‑withdrawal procedures in the future.

Next steps
- Staff is to file the discrete claim against the Travelers surety while the bond remains in effect, contact Charity Plus Power’s principal (identified in staff filings as founder Kevin McSpadden) and seek either a replacement bond or a formal written request to cancel the license accompanied by evidence that outstanding obligations have been satisfied. The Commission did not set a separate deadline in the motion.

Ending note: the administrative meeting adjourned after the votes and the Commission said it would reconvene in 10 minutes for a separate rule‑making session.