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PSC defers decision on Marketing Systems Group LLC license cancellation pending company response
Summary
The commission deferred action on Marketing Systems Group LLC’s request to cancel its electricity supplier license after the Office of People’s Counsel urged the commission to require a three-year maintenance of license and bond; staff recommended approval but the commission requested more information from the company.
The Public Service Commission deferred action on Marketing Systems Group LLC’s (MSG) request to cancel its Maryland electricity supplier license, asking staff to seek clarification from the company before making a final decision.
The Office of People’s Counsel (OPC) urged the commission to require MSG to keep its license active and maintain its existing bond for three years to cover potential liability to former customers. OPC cited prior PSC decisions that required some suppliers to maintain bonds for three years to protect against future complaints and argued that uniform administrative practice benefits consumer protection. OPC told the commission it had not received a definitive reply from MSG when it sought confirmation about whether MSG had served residential customers within the past three years.
Staff reported that MSG filed a cancellation request on Feb. 6, 2025, and confirmed in that filing that MSG did not offer services to customers in Maryland and that it believed its only remaining obligations were regulatory assessments. Staff noted MSG had no complaints on file in nearly five years of licensure and that brokers and brokers’ operations differ from full suppliers; staff recommended approval of the cancellation.
Commissioners expressed concern about precedent if many brokers and suppliers seek to relinquish licenses and have bonds returned at once. Commissioner Sushman said the bond exists to protect customers and asked staff to ask MSG whether it had served residential customers and to alert the commission that denial or extension of the cancellation could be considered depending on MSG’s response. Staff also cautioned that any broad policy change (for example, requiring three-year maintenance of bonds/licensure for all companies) should be made by formal regulation and noted relevant case precedent referenced on the record.
On the record the commission did not approve MSG’s cancellation request; the matter was deferred pending a company response to staff’s follow-up questions.
