Attorney General Raoul Announces $8.4 Million Settlement with Alternative Retail Electric Supplier

Attorney General Kwame Raoul has reached a significant settlement with Clearview Electric Inc., an alternative retail electric supplier, resolving allegations of deceptive and unfair business practices that misled Illinois consumers into paying millions more for electricity. The $8.4 million settlement will provide restitution to eligible customers who received residential electricity supply services from Clearview Energy. This is the latest action in Attorney General Raoul's ongoing efforts to protect Illinois residents from fraudulent practices by alternative energy suppliers and their third-party vendors.

Key Takeaways:

• The $8.4 million settlement resolves allegations of deceptive and unfair business practices by Clearview Electric Inc., an alternative retail electric supplier.
• The settlement will provide restitution to eligible Illinois customers who received residential electricity supply services from Clearview Energy, with restitution amounts based on eligible customers' electricity usage during the period they purchased electricity from Clearview Energy.
• Attorney General Kwame Raoul's office obtained a permanent ban on Clearview marketing and selling electricity and gas in Illinois.
• The lawsuit and settlement are part of Attorney General Raoul's ongoing efforts to protect Illinois residents from deceptive practices by alternative energy suppliers and their third-party vendors.
• Since becoming Attorney General, Raoul's office has recovered over $25 million through litigation related to ARES' fraudulent and unfair business practices that deceived Illinois customers into paying millions of dollars more for electricity.
• Attorney General Raoul initiated the Home Energy Affordability and Transparency (HEAT) Act, which strengthens oversight of alternative energy suppliers and protects consumers from bad supplier contracts.

Statistics:

• $8.4 million: The amount of the settlement with Clearview Electric Inc.
• $25 million: The total amount recovered by Attorney General Raoul's office through litigation related to ARES' fraudulent and unfair business practices since becoming Attorney General.
• 2020: The year the Home Energy Affordability and Transparency (HEAT) Act went into effect, providing stronger tools for the Attorney General's office to shut down suppliers that engage in fraudulent and misleading conduct.

Sources:

• Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, "Attorney General Raoul Announces $8.4 Million Settlement with Alternative Retail Electric Supplier Over Deceptive and Unfair Business Practices"
• Illinois Attorney General's Office website, "Attorney General Raoul Announces $8.4 Million Settlement with Alternative Retail Electric Supplier"
• Original text here: https://www.illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/news/story/attorney-general-raoul-announces-84-million-settlement-with-alternative-retail-electric-supplier-over-deceptive-and-unfair-business-practices