Electricity Maine Class Action Settlement

Energy Maine has agreed to pay up to $14,000,000 to compensate residential and small business customers affected by the company’s allegedly deceptive pricing.

Class Members include all of those residential and small business customers who purchased electricity from Electricity Maine between Jan. 1, 2011 and Nov. 30, 2019.

The Energy Maine false ad class action lawsuit was filed in 2016 by customers who claimed that the company used deceptive marketing tactics to take hold of a greater share of Maine’s electricity market.

The customers claimed that Energy Maine pulled this off by luring in customers with a strikingly low promised rate, and then hitting them with monthly rates that were much higher than advertised. Allegedly, many customers were trapped into paying the higher rates because they faced a $100 cancellation fee if they ended their service.

The customers explain that, until 2000, Maine’s electricity market was controlled by regulated utilities. This allegedly gave those regulated entities close to a monopoly over the market. However, in 2000, a new law was passed that allowed private, non-regulated companies into the market.

According to the Electricity Maine class action lawsuit, Electricity Maine first saw the market as unprofitable, as competitive electricity providers only had 0.5% of the residential supply electricity market. However, two years later Electricity Maine was able to attract almost 200,000 new customers, giving it almost one third of Maine’s small business and residential supply market, say the customers.

The customers argue that this was achieved through dishonest and deceptive means. Allegedly, Electricity Maine said that it would charge less than utility providers’ prices, offering extremely low rates.

However, these low rates did not last, say the customers. They argue that in reality, Electricity Maine then unlawfully raised its prices without sufficiently informing its customers. The company also supposedly made it hard for customers to get out of paying these higher rates, by charging a $100 fee for early termination.

The Electricity Maine class action lawsuit argues that the electricity provider violated the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, the Maine Unfair Trade Practices Act, and argues that the company should be held liable for negligence, negligent and fraudulent misrepresentation, breach of contract, and unjust enrichment.

Class Members are eligible for compensation in the amount of $0.023565 per kilowatt hour purchased between Jan. 1, 2011 and Nov. 30, 2019. The settlement website explains that no Class Member will receive less than $2.50.

As compensation from the Electricity Maine false ad class action settlement, those residential and small business customers who purchased electricity from Electricity Maine between Jan. 1, 2011 and Nov. 30, 2019 are also eligible to to have payments waived.

Specifically, they can have payment amounts owed for electricity purchased between Jan. 1, 2011 and Nov. 30, 2019 that were more than 120 days overdue as of Nov. 30, 2019.

Claims must be filed by Thursday, Sept. 10, 2020. Class Members also have the option to opt out from or object to the settlement, and must do so by Thursday, Sept. 10, 2020.

Class Members are invited but not required to attend a final approval hearing. The date for the hearing has yet to be established.

Who’s Eligible

Class Members include all of those residential and small business customers who purchased electricity from Electricity Maine between Jan. 1, 2011 and Nov. 30, 2019.

Potential Award

Class Members are eligible for compensation in the amount of $0.023565 per kilowatt hour purchased between Jan. 1, 2011 and Nov. 30, 2019. The settlement website explains that no Class Member will receive less than $2.50.

As compensation from the Electricity Maine false ad class action settlement, those residential and small business customers who purchased electricity from Electricity Maine between Jan. 1, 2011 and Nov. 30, 2019 are also eligible to to have payments waived. Specifically, they can have payment amounts owed for electricity purchased between Jan. 1, 2011 and Nov. 30, 2019 that were more than 120 days overdue as of Nov. 30, 2019.

Proof of Purchase

N/A

Claim Form

CLICK HERE TO FILE A CLAIM »

NOTE: If you do not qualify for this settlement do NOT file a claim.

Remember: you are submitting your claim under penalty of perjury. You are also harming other eligible Class Members by submitting a fraudulent claim. If you’re unsure if you qualify, please read the FAQ section of the Settlement Administrator’s website to ensure you meet all standards (Top Class Actions is not a Settlement Administrator). If you don’t qualify for this settlement, check out our database of other open class action settlements you may be eligible for.

Claim Form Deadline

9/10/2020

Case Name

Katherine Veilleux, et al. v. Electricity Maine LLC, et al., Case No. 1:16-cv-00571-NT, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maine

Final Hearing

TBD

Settlement Website

www.VeilleuxSettlement.com

Claims Administrator

Heffler Claims Group
PO Box 34727
Philadelphia, PA 19101-4727
(844)-484-0405

Class Counsel

Thomas F. Hallett
Benjamin N. Donahue
HALLETT WHIPPLE WEYRENS

Robert P. Cummins
THE CUMMINS LAW FIRM

Defense Counsel

John J. Aromando
Katherine S. Kayatta
Sara A. Murphy
PIERCE ATWOOD LLP

Melissa A. Hewey
Amy K. Olfene
Adrianne E. Fouts
DRUMMOND WOODSUM

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