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PSC takes assignment of Tomorrow Energy contracts under advisement, will require reporting from Major Energy
Summary
The Maryland Public Service Commission reviewed notices that Tomorrow Energy assigned customer contracts to Major Energy and discussed complaint history, with the commission saying an order will require reporting and other protections though no final vote was taken at the meeting.
The Maryland Public Service Commission on Jan. 8 reviewed notices that Tomorrow Energy Corp. assigned customer contracts to Major Energy Services LLC and said it will issue an order requiring post‑transfer reporting and other protections.
Staff told the commission the joint filings, dated Oct. 24, 2024, provided notice of the transfer and included the customer notice sent by the companies; staff recommended the commission note the filings. Andrew Schlicht, staff, said staff’s review showed a historical uptick in complaints against Major Energy but that no complaints had been filed against Major since February (staff’s most recent CAD query). "Staff is available for questions," Schlicht said.
The Office of People’s Counsel urged the commission to require additional safeguards before or as a condition of noting the assignment. "We ask the commission to require the asset purchase agreement be entered into the record, that Tomorrow Energy keep its license and bonds in place for at least three years, and that Major Energy file monthly reports for 24 months describing any new complaints and how they were resolved," Mila Ntekomikayo of OPC said. OPC said these measures would mirror recent commission precedent and help protect transferred customers and those with outstanding complaints.
Major Energy’s counsel, Eric Wallace, and Tomorrow Energy’s representative, Max Cook, told commissioners that Major Energy had taken actions to address past issues and preferred quarterly reporting rather than monthly. "The recent complaint record over the last year shows steps that have addressed those issues," Wallace said. Tomorrow Energy confirmed it will maintain its license and bonding for the three‑year period OPC requested.
Commissioners questioned staff and the parties about complaint counts and trends. Commissioner Sussman said roughly 80 cumulative complaints from January 2018 to early 2023 "seem like a lot" and said the commission should remain vigilant if Major Energy takes on additional customers. Commissioner Barbet asked staff and the companies for explanations of the spike; company representatives pointed to aggressive sales and marketing activity and subsequent remediation.
After discussion the commission said it would take the matter under advisement and issue an order specifying reporting and related conditions. The commission did not vote to deny or approve the assignment at the Jan. 8 administrative meeting; commissioners said an order will follow that is expected to require quarterly complaint reporting and incorporate elements of OPC’s recommendations.
The notice of the assignment appears twice on the Jan. 8 agenda (electric and retail supplier/case references). Staff and OPC agreed the asset purchase agreement may be filed into the record; staff said it does not object to that filing. The commission asked parties to propose appropriate reporting detail and timelines for the forthcoming order.
Next steps: the commission will issue a written order spelling out reporting requirements and any bond or licensing conditions. No formal final decision was recorded on Jan. 8; the transfer was not implemented by a recorded approval at the administrative meeting.
Votes at the meeting on related administrative items included separate actions on other agenda items (see a separate Votes at a glance article for items that were routine approvals).
