Alpha Gas and Electric

Review: My electric bills for the last 3 months have been exorbitant. I reviewed the statements and realized that there was a new extra charge for Alpha Gas & Electric which I NEVER requested or authorized. I have contacted [redacted] via telephone to convey this information around 2 months ago. I was told that it would be cancelled and the charges would be reversed. The cancellation number I was given is [redacted]. Despite these facts, my new bill just received for $308.87 includes these erroneous charges again.Desired Settlement: A credit was ALL unauthorized charges pertaining to Alpha Gas & Electric.

Business

Response:

According to our records your account was removed your energy supplier, Alpha Gas & Electric LLC on April *, 2015. [redacted] does not regulate [redacted] (ESCOs) nor do we control or reverse their charges. If you still have questions regarding the reversal of the charges from Alpha Gas & Electric you can contact them directly at ###-###-####. You may also contact the [redacted] (PSC) regarding your experience with the ESCO by calling ###-###-####.

Review: HERE’S MY MAIN ISSUE: My last bill for 29 days of service is more than $350. That’s for a 1000 square foot house where I live alone and nearly all of my appliances are hi-energy efficient models. I keep the gas heat at 65 during the day and 60 at night. Rarely do I have more than two lights on at any one time. Never before have I had a gas and electric bill that was over $200. Most hover around $120 in the winter; less in summer.

I called to cancel service and to ask what they could do about this issue. I was told I could wait a couple months when a program they have will give back one month’s payment or I could cancel my account. I cancelled the account because god only knows what the next bill would be. Then I was told I would have to wait not only until the next bill but the one after that before my service could be switched over. That is unacceptable and I will be asking my bank to cancel autopay for this account.Desired Settlement: Rereading meter. IMMediate cancellation of my service with them. An apology for misrepresenting themselves when they got me to sign on by saying they were working in partnership with [redacted] and by their advertising that their rates are low cost when they aren't. I'd like them to lower my bill because I think $350 is gouging. Barring a financial adjustment, I would settle for an investigation into their practices of billing (possibly gouging) and of the way they solicit new customers.

Business

Response:

Dear [redacted],

This letter is being sent to you in response to the complaint you filed with the Revdex.com.

Alpha sincerely apologizes for any inconvenience that may have been caused.

The Alpha Quality Control Group has reviewed the instant Complaint and provides the following response.

The Customer complains of the price charged by Alpha during the month January 2014, contending that it is higher than the rate charged previously for commodity service.

Alpha has complied with its obligations to the Customer. The Customer agreed to enroll with Alpha for monthly variable rate service. Under this type of service, the customer's price each month is modified to reflect the current market costs associated with electricity and gas commodity service. Thus, the price charged by Alpha for electricity and gas used in January reflects the actual market costs experienced in January. Order Granting Request For Waiver (Issued January **, 2014) during the month of January have increased significantly due to a variety of market factors over which Alpha has no control. In the Hudson Valley Region the NYISO has reported that electricity in the real time market was selling in the range of $250 to in excess of 500 per MW.. Also, natural gas prices have also significantly increased in recent months. Thus the prices charged by Alpha are consistent with the January market conditions and costs.

In addition, when an account is canceled with alpha it takes [redacted] between 1 and 2 billing cycles to process the switch over.

Your account has been canceled with an end date from [redacted] of 3/**/14.

Your Alpha cancelation number for electric is [redacted], and for gas [redacted].

Please feel free to contact me directly should you have any more questions.

###-###-####

Consumer

Response:

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID# [redacted], and have determined that my complaint has NOT been resolved because:

No resolution was offered. What they told me in a phone conversation is that their rates have now gone down to a lower level!

I don't think my being on the variable plan entitles Alpha to gouge me. Yes, I do believe that's what they are doing. From my research, their rates are higher than any other company that services this area and as I said in my original letter, my bill is nearly three times higher than any bill I've ever received. That's for one person, in an approx. 1200 sq. foot house.

I am not happy about this company or their response to my complaint.

Sincerely,

Consumer

Response:

At this time, I have been contacted directly by Alpha Gas and Electric, LLC regarding complaint ID [redacted], however my complaint has NOT been resolved because:

[After going back and forth over many days with no resolution, they called and asked me what it would take to resolve this...how much money. I told them I was looking more fore an act of good faith than a large settlment, so I didn't know ... maybe $50. They offered $75. I said OK. They asked me to notify the Attorney General (who I also copied on the original letter sent to them that you were copied on) and I said that after I got the check, I would do that. That was March **or **, just a few days ago. I haven't received the check yet, but I have no reason to think they won't follow through.

In order for the Revdex.com to appropriately process your response, you MUST answer the question above.

Sincerely,

Review: THIS COMPANY CALLED MY HOME AND STATED THEY ARE NOT ASKING ME TO GET SERVICES FROM THEM HOWEVER THEY CALLED TO INFORM ME THAT MY CURRENT GAS AND ELECTRIC COMPANY RECEIVES SERVICES FROM THEM AND THEY ARE ONLY OFFERING ME A CHECK OF MY HIGHEST BILL I ASK THEM SEVERAL TIMES IS THIS A TELEMARKETING CALL OFFERING ME SERVICES THEY AGAIN STATED AND CONFIRMED THAT THEY ARE NOT OFFERING OR GIVING ME SERVICES THEY JUST WANTED ME TO GET THIS CHECK THAT CENTRAL HUDSON DOESN'T TELL CONSUMERS ABOUT ON NOV * 2013 I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM CENTRAL HUDSON SAYING THAT ALPHA GAS AND ELECTRIC ARE MY CURRENT SUPPLIERS SO THEREFORE THEY LIED. THEY WILL NOT ANSWER THEIR BUSINESS NUMBER AND I BELIEVE THEY ARE A FRAUD COMPANY THEIR NUMBER IS [redacted]Desired Settlement: I ONLY WANT THE ALPHA GAS AND ELECTRIC COMPANY TO STOP THE SERVICES ON MY CENTRAL HUDSON ACCOUNT

Business

Response:

To Whom It May Concern:

This letter is in response to Revdex.com complaint # [redacted] .

Alpha Gas & Electric wishes to express its empathy for any inconveniences that [redacted] may have experienced, when initiating service with our company. We understand that sometimes, we can misinterpret, and/or misunderstand when doing business over the phone.

Alpha Gas & Electric would like to assure [redacted] that we have taken appropriate measures to ensure that the representative that enrolled her is retrained on the company's platform, and how it should be presented.

Additionally, Alpha Gas & Electric has enclosed a copy of the cancellation number given to [redacted] on November *, 2013, for her records.

Thank you,

Alpha Gas and Electric Customer Care Team

Review: My Mother, [redacted] uses NY State Electric and Gas to deliver her power and Alpha Gas generates it. Alpha offers a 1 month free program after one year with them. I contacted Alpha 12/**/13 and finally connected with [redacted] Felton, [redacted] ###-###-#### X601 on 12/**/13. I had to submit a copy of my Mom's current NYSEG bill and a letter from NYSEG showing my Mother's name as the name on the account. On 1/*/14 [redacted] said to fax these items to her office in order to process the rebate. The rebate amount was calculated by [redacted] at $369.94 and a check was to be issued to my Mother. On 1/**/14 [redacted] said she received the info and a refund should be approved by 1/**/14. 1/**/14 I sent an email asking [redacted] for an update and no response. I called her on 1/**/14 twice and no answer. 1/**/14 I left a message and no answer from [redacted], at 4:25PM I spoke with [redacted] who works for [redacted] and he said I had to refax the info. 1/**/14 I refaxed it to [redacted] and he said the fax machine is not compatible with their computer. I then had the info scanned and emailed to [redacted] and on 1/**/14 [redacted] said a check for $369.94 would be issued in 1 to 2 weeks and made out in my Mother's name. 2/**/14 I called to check with [redacted] and he was not available and I called again 2/**/14 and I was told that [redacted] no longer worked for Alpha Gas. I was transferred to [redacted] and she said she would call me in 5 minutes with a status of the check. She never called just like the 5 previous telephone calls. I left a message for [redacted] that I was being scammed and that I would be contacting the Revdex.com to get help to get my Mother her check and to switch my Mother back to NYSEG for her total energy bill. [redacted] always gives me excuses for not responding to me. Something isn't right here.Desired Settlement: I want the check issued in my Mother's name Florence B. Foster for $369.94 now with no delay and I want her power service switched back to NYSEG NOW. My Mother's house is all electric and the energy costs are very high with this winter weather. NYSEG has a better $KWH rate than Alpha Gas. We started this process in December!

Consumer

Response:

This afternoon, 2/**/14 my Mother called and said the rebate check arrived in the mail from Alpha Gas. She will deposit the check tomorrow and I will consider this case closed. I will not ask for any further action to be taken. I appreciate the assistance of the Revdex.com.

Sincerely,

Review: We received a telemarketing call from this Alpha advising us that we were paying "too much" for our gas and electric and that they offer competitive rates that save at least 3% or more compared to what we currently pay. In addition, the marketing video on Alpha's website also insinuates that by switching to them to be our supplier we would experience substantial savings, so much so that our friends and neighbors would want to switch. Here is a link to their video: [redacted]. The video says "why pay higher prices when you don't have to" even and that "they just pay less with Alpha...". "Up to 10%".

Well, we switched in February and between our March and April statements we have overpaid by $250 what [redacted] would have billed us. This is the exact opposite of what we were guaranteed over the phone and what they have advertised on the video on their website. Their rate for April electric was 27 cents per KWH when our existing rate was only 11 cents per KWH. This is a fraud that needs to be exposed. It should be clearly advised to consumers that they risk more than doubling their existing rates if they switch to Alpha.

We have also filled a complaint with the NJ Board of Public UtilitiesDesired Settlement: We want the amount we got over billed to be refunded to us in full. This amount is based on our April and May [redacted] bills on the 'compared to' section of the bill.

This amounts to a refund request of $250.78.

Business

Response:

In response to complaint number [redacted], the customer placed a complaint with the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities on 5/*/2014.

Upon receipt of the complaint, Alpha conducted an internal investigation into the customer’s concern of high rates.

Alpha explained to the customer that we have no control over the market factors that determine our prices. The pricing portrayed by Alpha reflects the current market costs of energy.

In communicating with the customer, [redacted] and [redacted] asked for assistance with the last two bills, which Alpha agreed to do in good faith.

As stated in this complaint, the customer would like $250, which Alpha agreed to prior to this complaint.

To our understanding, when the customer placed a complaint with the local regulatory body they were very satisfied with the resolution we had to offer and the case was closed.

Consumer

Response:

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me and the matter has been resolved.

Sincerely,

Review: Alpha Gas and Electric refuses to stop contacting me. They have called me twice so far. I asked both callers to take me off their list and stop calling me, but they said they were unable to do so.Desired Settlement: I would like Alpha Gas and Electric to stop contacting me.

Consumer

Response:

At this time, I have not been contacted by Alpha Gas and Electric, LLC regarding complaint ID [redacted].

Sincerely,

Business

Response:

[redacted]

It has just come to my attention that Alpha has an unresolved case with the Revdex.com.

In response to case Number [redacted] Alpha Gas and electric has placed [redacted] on our internal DNC list back in Feb 2014.

Since [redacted] was placed on the DNC list, he has not received any phone calls from us.

Thank you,

Consumer

Response:

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me and the matter has been resolved.

Sincerely,