Beware "Just Energy"

By Jessie Seigel/January 7, 2024

Consider this article to be a public service announcement.

About a month ago, my brother, who lives in Michigan, received a letter from the natural gas retailer Just Energy, claiming that he had a contract with them ostensibly transferring his provider from the regulated company DTE to them, although--they wrote--he would still be billed through DTE. The letter did not state when my brother had agreed to a contract, but nevertheless purported to give him 30 days from that unknown, unstated date to cancel. Fortunately, my brother does not receive that particular service through DTE, and so DTE refused to accept the transfer that Just Energy attempted to perform. And after some effort, we managed to get the so-called contract cancelled.

However, my brother had not signed any document. So far as he knew, he had not agreed to a contractual relationship by telephone either. At this writing, how the attempted transfer came to pass is still a mystery to be solved. Out of concern and outrage over the nature of the Just Energy letter--along with a statement on the internet that they generally charge $175 for cancellations--I did some research on this company. What I discovered is appalling.

Just Energy representatives reportedly go far beyond just a hard sell. What they do, at a minimum, amounts to deceptive sales practices and, at a maximum, should be treated as criminal fraud.

The Better Business Bureau (BBB) states that, since the beginning of 2018, Just Energy has been the subject of a great many complaints concerning door-to-door sales representatives misrepresenting themselves as the consumer's current energy or gas company--while also failing to be transparent about cancellation fees that may be charged by the consumer's current provider for switching services." The BBB has set out innumerable examples. It is worth clicking on the the link above to read them all. But, among some of the worst examples the BBB has posted:

In January 2023, a door-to-door rep showed up at a consumer’s door telling her they were sent by her apartment complex because she had to switch to Just Energy. When she said the complex typically sends out email notifications, the rep told her they sent one out to everyone already, did she not get it?  She signed up but then received a letter from the apartment complex denying they had anything to do with the guy. When her husband called Just Energy and asked to speak to a supervisor, he was denied.

In February 2023, a door-to-door rep told a consumer a government banned her current provider’s delivery charges because he knew seniors like her didn’t know about it. He asked to see her bill and told her the delivery charges would be removed. When she told him she didn’t want to switch, he told her he was with the government. She kept telling him she didn’t want to switch but she received a bill from Just Energy with a cancellation fee from her current company as they had switched her without her permission...

In a [another] negative customer review, a door-to-door representative pretended to be from the City asking to see a copy of their bill stating they worked with state agency TDEE to be sure consumers are being charged correctly.

While visiting a local warehouse club, a consumer complaint stated they were tricked by a Just Energy rep who checked boxes and signed for her claiming her rate wouldn’t change if she switched service but unfortunately, the rate went up.

Understandably, Just Energy is not BBB accredited and has a BBB rating of F. Furthermore, the average of 179 customer reviews on its site give Just Energy a rating of only 1.04 out of 5.

This company currently operates in markets across North America, including natural gas in Quebec, Ontario, and Saskatchewan in Canada, as well as Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Michigan. And it handles electricity in Texas.

If you live in one of those provinces or states--BEWARE. And especially, if you are a senior or care for seniors--Just Energy apparently targets them, so--BEWARE.

In relation to my brother's situation, I contacted the Michigan Public Service Commission. Its representative offered to start an investigation, but also suggested said that if my brother and I contacted the company, we should ask for a copy of any contract. And if Just Energy claimed the contract was made over the phone, we should ask to hear the recording, which they are required to keep. However, since it appears that we have succeeded in cancelling, we have not asked to hear the recording.

If you have a problem with Just Energy--or any other private, unregulated energy company to which you are switched by trickery and/or without your consent, contact your state's Public Service Commission (if it has one).

If you have a problem with Just Energy in Michigan, contact the Michigan Public Service Commission to find out in what way they can help. Their phone number is: 1-800-292-9555.