On March 17, 2020, the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) directed all competitive retail electric service providers (CRES) and all competitive retail natural gas service suppliers (CRNGS) to suspend door-to-door and in-person marketing activities.

Citing the declared state of emergency, PUCO stated that marketing practices involving in-person contact by CRES and CRNGS suppliers create unnecessary risks of social contact. Such marketing could contribute to the spread of COVID-19 in Ohio, particularly to at-risk populations. Accordingly, PUCO reasoned that these practices are in conflict with the governor’s Executive Order.  

PUCO directs CRES providers and CRNGS suppliers to immediately suspend all door-to-door and in-store marketing to customers for all customer classes, as well as any other sales or solicitation practice that involves in-person contact for the duration of the emergency unless otherwise ordered by PUCO.

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