Noble Americas Energy Solutions LLC encouraged the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio to, "investigate the representations and actions of the few CRES [competitive] providers attempting to pass through charges to Fixed Rate customers."

In comments to PUCO, Noble said, "Many CRES providers would say this winter was a challenging winter. With that said, by and large most CRES providers have performed on the obligations they made to their customers who purchased a fixed price product."

"Unfortunately, a small number of CRES providers are claiming that the events that took place this winter give them the right to pass-through increased costs to customers that purchased energy and/or other related components at a fixed price (Fixed Rate). Based on public and private reaction by customers in response to these assertions, as well as a review of marketing materials and sample contracts made publicly available, there is little doubt that an investigation of the CRES providers that are attempting to pass-through charges to Fixed Rate customers is warranted to determine if these CRES providers are, or have been, engaged in misleading, unfair, deceptive and/or unconscionable marketing practices," Noble said.

"As one of the largest retail suppliers in the country Noble believes this is not an industry-wide problem, but rather a problem with a few CRES providers. The actions taken by the few CRES providers have, and will, negatively impact the consumers, other CRES providers, and the industry as a whole if they engaged in misleading or deceptive marketing. We encourage the Commission to investigate the representations and actions of the few CRES providers attempting to pass through charges to Fixed Rate customers," Noble said.