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Recent charges against Direct Energy under Alberta’s consumer protection laws come in the wake of a marked increase in complaints about the Houston-based company to a provincial watchdog agency.

Statistics from the Utilities Consumer Advocate show the number of complaints each month involving both the regulated and competitive sides of the gas and electricity retailing giant have quadrupled during the past year.

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More than 270 consumers have asked the advocate’s office to mediate over the past 12 months in their disputes with Direct Energy companies about billing, contracts and other issues.

Those complaints represent more than 80 per cent of the concerns about energy marketers that the consumer advocate investigated during that period.

By comparison, Just Energy Alberta — the only other retailer who employs door-to-door sales staff in the province — accounted for 19 complaints, or about six per cent of cases opened.