MONTPELIER – A consumer protection settlement between AmeriGas and the Attorney General’s Office will add $190,000 to the state’s LIHEAP emergency fuel assistance program, the state said Monday in a news release.
The Attorney General found that for many Vermonters, AmeriGas delayed in removing propane storage tanks or issuing refund checks after consumers terminated propane service, and charged a fee for reading propane meters without proper disclosure.
Under the agreement, AmeriGas will pay $254,986 to consumers, $190,000 to LIHEAP and $100,000 in civil penalties to the state, Attorney General Bill Sorrell said. AmeriGas said it has corrected the problem.
“The Company and its employees take great pride in our service; it was unfortunate that some of our customers were inadequately informed of fees for meter reading, or, did not receive timely refunds for unused propane fuel after the disconnection of service,” Bob Young, Vice President of the Eastern Region of AmeriGas, said in a news release. “We are no longer charging meter read fees, have taken steps to ensure updated Fee Disclosure Forms are provided to our customers, tanks are picked up as required by CF-111 regulations and refunds are issued on a timely basis going forward.”
Customers with questions regarding the settlement may call the Attorney General’s Office at 828-5507 or the Consumer Assistance Program at 649-2424.