How to Verify an Electricity Supplier Is Legitimate 2025 License Check Guide

Why Verify Electricity Suppliers?

Verifying an electricity supplier's license protects you from scams and ensures you're dealing with a legitimate company. In deregulated states, any company meeting regulatory requirements can sell electricity. While state regulators (PUCO, PA PUC, and MA DPU) license and monitor suppliers, some fraudulent actors still try to deceive consumers. What unlicensed "suppliers" may do:

Collect payments and disappear
Use your account information for slamming
Sign you up for services that don't exist

The easy solution: Using trusted comparison services like ElectricRates.org eliminates this risk — they only display offers from state-licensed suppliers. Bottom line: Taking 5 minutes to verify credentials before enrolling can save you from financial loss and billing disputes.

Verifying Suppliers in Ohio (PUCO)

The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) maintains a database of all Certified Retail Electric Service (CRES) providers authorized to sell electricity in Ohio. How to verify in Ohio:

Visit energychoice.ohio.gov
Click on "Certified Suppliers" to view the complete list
Or use PUCO's Apples to Apples comparison tool (only shows certified suppliers)

Verify by phone: Call PUCO directly at 1-800-686-7826 to confirm any supplier's certification status. When a representative contacts you:

Ask for their PUCO certification number
Legitimate suppliers will provide this immediately

🚩 Red flag: If someone claims to represent a supplier not found in PUCO's database, do not provide any personal information or account details.

Verifying Suppliers in Pennsylvania (PA PUC)

Pennsylvania's Public Utility Commission licenses Electric Generation Suppliers (EGS) to sell electricity in the state. How to verify in Pennsylvania:

Visit papowerswitch.com — the state's official electricity shopping website
Only licensed suppliers appear on PAPowerSwitch
Or visit the PA PUC website directly and search their licensed supplier database

Each EGS has a unique license number you can request and verify. Verify by phone: Call the PA PUC Bureau of Consumer Services at 1-800-692-7380 to confirm any supplier's license status. Important: Pennsylvania law requires suppliers to identify themselves clearly and provide licensing information upon request. 🚩 Red flag: Refusal to provide licensing information is a major warning sign.

Verifying Suppliers in Massachusetts (DPU)

The Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities (DPU) licenses competitive electric suppliers operating in the state. How to verify in Massachusetts:

Access the DPU's list of licensed suppliers through Mass.gov
Search for "licensed competitive suppliers"
The DPU maintains detailed records including supplier names, license numbers, and contact information

Important difference: Unlike Ohio and Pennsylvania, Massachusetts doesn't have a state-run comparison website — making direct DPU verification especially important. Verify by phone: Contact the DPU Consumer Division at 1-877-886-5066 to verify any supplier's licensing status. ⚠️ Special caution: Massachusetts consumers should be particularly cautious about door-to-door salespeople. The DPU has issued warnings about aggressive marketing practices by some competitive suppliers.

Questions to Ask Before Enrolling

When evaluating any electricity supplier, ask specific questions to verify legitimacy: Essential questions:

State license or certification number — Verify it independently
How long have they operated in your state?
Physical business address — Not just a P.O. box
Written rate information including all fees — Before providing personal info
Better Business Bureau rating or references

✓ Good sign: Legitimate suppliers welcome these questions and provide clear, documented answers. 🚩 Red flags:

Companies that become evasive
Pressure you to decide immediately
Can't provide basic business information

Trust your instincts — if something feels wrong, it probably is.

Checking Reviews and Complaints

Beyond license verification, research a supplier's reputation before enrolling. Where to check:

Better Business Bureau at bbb.org — Ratings and complaint history
Google search: "[supplier name] + complaints" or "[supplier name] + reviews"
State regulator complaint databases — PUCO, PA PUC, and DPU all publish complaint information

🚩 Warning signs:

High complaint volumes or patterns of similar issues
Billing problems
Rate disputes
Difficulty canceling

Context matters: Consider company size when evaluating complaints. A large supplier serving millions of customers will naturally have more complaints than a small one. Focus on: Complaint resolution and patterns rather than raw numbers.

Red Flags and Warning Signs

Several warning signs indicate a potentially fraudulent or problematic supplier: 🚩 Major red flags:

Only accepts cash, wire transfers, or gift cards
Demands immediate sign-up decisions — Legitimate suppliers never do this
Extremely low rates significantly below market prices — Often indicates scams or hidden fees
Won't provide written materials
Can't answer basic questions about rates and terms
Becomes aggressive when you ask for time to decide

Extra scrutiny needed for:

Companies without physical addresses
Companies not found in state databases
Companies with no online presence beyond a basic website

Golden rule: When in doubt, don't enroll.

Verifying After Enrollment

After enrolling with a new supplier, verify everything is correct. Immediately after enrolling:

You should receive written confirmation within a few days
Confirmation should detail your rate, contract terms, and start date
Verify the supplier name and rate match what you agreed to

Cooling-off periods (cancel without penalty):

Ohio — 7 days
Pennsylvania — 3 days
Massachusetts — 3 days

When your first bill arrives:

Verify charges match your contract
Check the supplier name on your bill matches who you enrolled with

⚠️ Warning: If the supplier name or rate is different, contact your utility immediately — you may have been slammed. Keep all enrollment documentation throughout your contract.

Reporting Fraudulent Suppliers

If you encounter a fraudulent or problematic supplier, report them to protect yourself and other consumers. File complaints with your state regulator:

Ohio — PUCO at 1-800-686-7826
Pennsylvania — PA PUC at 1-800-692-7380
Massachusetts — MA DPU at 1-877-886-5066

Additional reporting options:

State Attorney General — Consumer protection division
Better Business Bureau — bbb.org
Federal Trade Commission — ReportFraud.ftc.gov

If you provided financial information:

Contact your bank immediately
Monitor your accounts closely

Why reporting matters: Your reports help regulators identify patterns, investigate bad actors, and take enforcement action to protect the public.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I find the official list of licensed suppliers in my state?

Ohio: energychoice.ohio.gov (PUCO's Apples to Apples). Pennsylvania: papowerswitch.com (PA PUC). Massachusetts: Mass.gov DPU licensed suppliers page. You can also call your state regulator directly to verify any supplier.

What information should a legitimate supplier provide upon request?

A legitimate supplier should provide their state license or certification number, full company name and physical address, written rate and contract information, customer service contact details, and clear answers to questions about terms and conditions.

How do I check if a supplier has complaints against them?

Check the Better Business Bureau (bbb.org), your state regulator's complaint database, and online reviews. Search the company name plus "complaints" or "reviews." Consider complaint patterns and resolution rather than just complaint counts.

Can I trust door-to-door electricity salespeople?

Be very cautious with door-to-door sales. While some legitimate suppliers use this method, it's also common for scams. Verify the company independently before providing any information. Never show your electric bill or sign anything on the spot.

What should I do if I enrolled with a company that turns out to be fraudulent?

Contact your utility immediately to report the situation. File complaints with your state regulator and the FTC. If you provided payment information, contact your bank. You may be able to reverse charges and return to your previous supplier.

Are all suppliers on state comparison websites automatically trustworthy?

Being licensed means a supplier met regulatory requirements and is monitored, but it doesn't guarantee good service. Even licensed suppliers can have poor customer service or billing issues. Research reviews and complaint history before enrolling with any supplier.

Does ElectricRates.org only show licensed suppliers?

Yes. ElectricRates.org only displays offers from suppliers licensed by PUCO in Ohio, PA PUC in Pennsylvania, and MA DPU in Massachusetts. This verification is built into the platform, so you don't have to manually check each supplier's credentials.

About the author

Enri Zhulati

Consumer Advocate

Enri has spent years helping Texans navigate the deregulated electricity market at ComparePower. He knows what confuses people about energy shopping and what actually helps them save. At ElectricRates.org, he brings that same expertise to Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts.

Electricity deregulationOhio Energy ChoicePennsylvania Power SwitchMassachusetts competitive suppliersPUCO regulations

Topics covered

verify supplier supplier license CRES certification EGS license legitimate supplier energy company verification

Sources & References

PUCO - Certified Electric Suppliers (Public Utilities Commission of Ohio): "PUCO maintains a database of all Certified Retail Electric Service (CRES) providers authorized to sell electricity in Ohio"Accessed Jan 2025
PA PUC - Licensed Electric Generation Suppliers (Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission): "Pennsylvania PUC licenses Electric Generation Suppliers (EGS) to sell electricity in the state"Accessed Jan 2025
Massachusetts DPU - Licensed Competitive Suppliers (Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities): "Massachusetts DPU licenses competitive electric suppliers operating in the state"Accessed Jan 2025
Federal Trade Commission - Energy Scams (Federal Trade Commission): "FTC provides guidance on identifying and reporting energy-related scams"Accessed Jan 2025

Last updated: December 10, 2025