Commitments and Contingencies	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2024
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Commitments and Contingencies	12. Commitments and Contingencies From time to time, we may be involved in legal, tax, regulatory and other proceedings in the ordinary course of business. Liabilities for loss contingencies arising from claims, assessments, litigation or other sources are recorded when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount can be reasonably estimated. Legal Proceedings Below is a summary of our currently pending material legal proceedings. We are subject to lawsuits and claims arising in the ordinary course of our business. The following legal proceedings are in various stages and are subject to substantial uncertainties concerning the outcome of material factual and legal issues. Accordingly, unless otherwise specifically noted, we cannot currently predict the manner and timing of the resolutions of these legal proceedings or estimate a range of possible losses or a minimum loss that could result from an adverse verdict in a potential lawsuit. While the lawsuits and claims are asserted for amounts that may be material should an unfavorable outcome occur, management does not currently expect that any currently pending matters will have a material adverse effect on our financial position or results of operations. Consumer Lawsuits Similar to other energy service companies (“ESCOs”) operating in the industry, from time-to-time, the Company is subject to class action lawsuits in various jurisdictions where the Company sells natural gas and electricity. On January 14, 2021, Glikin, et al. v. Major Energy Electric Services, LLC, a purported variable rate class action was filed by a Maryland customer in the United States District Court, Southern District of New York, attempting to represent a class of all Major Energy customers (including customers of companies Major Energy acts as a successor to) in the United States charged a variable rate for electricity or gas by Major Energy during the applicable statute of limitations period up to and including the date of judgment. The Company moved this case to the United States District Court for the District of Maryland (Case No. 1:21-cv-03251-MJM) and in December 2023 filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit. The Company is vigorously defending this matter; however, given the current early stage of this matter, we cannot predict the outcome of this case at this time. On December 18, 2023, Foote v. Electricity N.H., LLC (“ENH”), a purported Telephone Consumer Protection Act (the “TCPA”) class action was filed in the United States District Court for the District of New Hampshire. Plaintiff claims that calls made to her violated the TCPA. Plaintiff purports to assert claims on her own behalf and a putative class of individuals to whom calls using a prerecorded or artificial voice message regarding ENH’s services were placed during the period of September 1, 2019 through September 1, 2023. ENH only operates in New Hampshire and no other states. The Company denies Plaintiff’s allegations and intends to vigorously defend against her claims. Corporate Matter Lawsuits The Company may from time to time be subject to legal proceedings that arise in the ordinary course of business. Although there can be no assurance in this regard, the Company does not expect any of those legal proceedings to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations, cash flows or financial condition. Regulatory Matters Many state regulators have increased scrutiny on retail energy providers, across all industry providers. We are subject to regular regulatory inquiries, license renewal reviews, and preliminary investigations in the ordinary course of our business. Below is a summary of our currently pending material state regulatory matters. The following state regulatory matters are in various stages and are subject to substantial uncertainties concerning the outcome of material factual and legal issues. Accordingly, we cannot currently predict the manner and timing of the resolution of these state regulatory matters or estimate a range of possible losses or a minimum loss that could result from an adverse action. Management does not currently expect that any currently pending state regulatory matters will have a material adverse effect on our financial position or results of operations. Maine. On February 9, 2023, Maine Commission’s Consumer Assistance and Safety Division (“Advocacy Staff”) filed a Request for Formal Investigation requesting that the Maine Commission open a formal, enforcement investigation to review whether Company’s subsidiary, Electricity Maine, LLC (EME), is in compliance with the Maine Commission’s Rules. During a special deliberative session, the same day, the Maine Commission announced it would proceed with a formal investigation of EME, which was noticed in a Notice of Enforcement Investigation issued February 10, 2023 (Docket No. 2023-00024). The Company met with Advocacy Staff over the course of several months to address concerns. As a result, the Company and the Advocacy Staff have agreed to a settlement in principle pursuant to which customers would receive certain limited refunds on their energy bill. This settlement is pending, and the Maine Commission is required to approve the settlement. The Company is working with the Commission and believes this matter will not have a material impact on the Company. Illinois. On July 26, 2023, Spark Energy, LLC received a demand letter from a law firm representing the Office of the Illinois Attorney General alleging that Spark Energy, LLC’s marketing and sales practices may have not been in compliance with Illinois law. The letter offered, in the interest of efficiency and minimizing litigation costs, a settlement demand to resolve the matter. The Company is voluntarily working with the firm, however, if settlement is unsuccessful, the Attorney General could commence a lawsuit in Illinois against Spark Energy, LLC. In addition to the matters disclosed above, in the ordinary course of business, the Company may from time to time be subject to regulators initiating informal reviews or issuing subpoenas for information as means to evaluate the Company and its subsidiaries’ compliance with applicable laws, rules, regulations and practices. Although there can be no assurance in this regard, the Company does not expect any of those regulatory reviews to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations, cash flows or financial condition. Indirect Tax Audits We are undergoing various types of indirect tax audits spanning from years 2020 to 2023 for which additional liabilities may arise. At the time of filing these consolidated financial statements, these indirect tax audits are at an early stage and subject to substantial uncertainties concerning the outcome of audit findings and corresponding responses. As of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, we had accrued $7.3 million and $6.3 million, respectively, related to litigation and regulatory matters and $0.7 million and $0.7 million, respectively, related to indirect tax audits. The outcome of each of these may result in additional expense.

From time to time, we may be involved in legal, tax, regulatory and other proceedings in the ordinary course of business. Liabilities for loss contingencies arising from claims, assessments, litigation or other sources are recorded when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount can be reasonably estimated.

Below is a summary of our currently pending material legal proceedings. We are subject to lawsuits and claims arising in the ordinary course of our business. The following legal proceedings are in various stages and are subject to substantial uncertainties concerning the outcome of material factual and legal issues. Accordingly, unless otherwise specifically noted, we cannot currently predict the manner and timing of the resolutions of these legal proceedings or estimate a range of possible losses or a minimum loss that could result from an adverse verdict in a potential lawsuit. While the lawsuits and claims are asserted for amounts that may be material should an unfavorable outcome occur, management does not currently expect that any currently pending matters will have a material adverse effect on our financial position or results of operations.

Similar to other energy service companies (“ESCOs”) operating in the industry, from time-to-time, the Company is subject to class action lawsuits in various jurisdictions where the Company sells natural gas and electricity.

On January 14, 2021, Glikin, et al. v. Major Energy Electric Services, LLC, a purported variable rate class action was filed by a Maryland customer in the United States District Court, Southern District of New York, attempting to represent a class of all Major Energy customers (including customers of companies Major Energy acts as a successor to) in the United States charged a variable rate for electricity or gas by Major Energy during the applicable statute of limitations period up to and including the date of judgment. The Company moved this case to the United States District Court for the District of Maryland (Case No. 1:21-cv-03251-MJM) and in December 2023 filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit. The Company is vigorously defending this matter; however, given the current early stage of this matter, we cannot predict the outcome of this case at this time.

On December 18, 2023, Foote v. Electricity N.H., LLC (“ENH”), a purported Telephone Consumer Protection Act (the “TCPA”) class action was filed in the United States District Court for the District of New Hampshire. Plaintiff claims that calls made to her violated the TCPA. Plaintiff purports to assert claims on her own behalf and a putative class of individuals to whom calls using a prerecorded or artificial voice message regarding ENH’s services were placed during the period of September 1, 2019 through September 1, 2023. ENH only operates in New Hampshire and no other states. The Company denies Plaintiff’s allegations and intends to vigorously defend against her claims.

The Company may from time to time be subject to legal proceedings that arise in the ordinary course of business. Although there can be no assurance in this regard, the Company does not expect any of those legal proceedings to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations, cash flows or financial condition.

Many state regulators have increased scrutiny on retail energy providers, across all industry providers. We are subject to regular regulatory inquiries, license renewal reviews, and preliminary investigations in the ordinary course of our business. Below is a summary of our currently pending material state regulatory matters. The following state regulatory matters are in various stages and are subject to substantial uncertainties concerning the outcome of material factual and legal issues. Accordingly, we cannot currently predict the manner and timing of the resolution of these state regulatory matters or estimate a range of possible losses or a minimum loss that could result from an adverse action. Management does not currently expect that any currently pending state regulatory matters will have a material adverse effect on our financial position or results of operations.

Maine. On February 9, 2023, Maine Commission’s Consumer Assistance and Safety Division (“Advocacy Staff”) filed a Request for Formal Investigation requesting that the Maine Commission open a formal, enforcement investigation to review whether Company’s subsidiary, Electricity Maine, LLC (EME), is in compliance with the Maine Commission’s Rules. During a special deliberative session, the same day, the Maine Commission announced

it would proceed with a formal investigation of EME, which was noticed in a Notice of Enforcement Investigation issued February 10, 2023 (Docket No. 2023-00024). The Company met with Advocacy Staff over the course of several months to address concerns. As a result, the Company and the Advocacy Staff have agreed to a settlement in principle pursuant to which customers would receive certain limited refunds on their energy bill. This settlement is pending, and the Maine Commission is required to approve the settlement. The Company is working with the Commission and believes this matter will not have a material impact on the Company.

Illinois. On July 26, 2023, Spark Energy, LLC received a demand letter from a law firm representing the Office of the Illinois Attorney General alleging that Spark Energy, LLC’s marketing and sales practices may have not been in compliance with Illinois law. The letter offered, in the interest of efficiency and minimizing litigation costs, a settlement demand to resolve the matter. The Company is voluntarily working with the firm, however, if settlement is unsuccessful, the Attorney General could commence a lawsuit in Illinois against Spark Energy, LLC.

In addition to the matters disclosed above, in the ordinary course of business, the Company may from time to time be subject to regulators initiating informal reviews or issuing subpoenas for information as means to evaluate the Company and its subsidiaries’ compliance with applicable laws, rules, regulations and practices. Although there can be no assurance in this regard, the Company does not expect any of those regulatory reviews to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations, cash flows or financial condition.

We are undergoing various types of indirect tax audits spanning from years 2020 to 2023 for which additional liabilities may arise. At the time of filing these consolidated financial statements, these indirect tax audits are at an early stage and subject to substantial uncertainties concerning the outcome of audit findings and corresponding responses.

As of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, we had accrued $7.3 million and $6.3 million, respectively, related to litigation and regulatory matters and $0.7 million and $0.7 million, respectively, related to indirect tax audits. The outcome of each of these may result in additional expense.