EnergyGuide Violations Cost Online Retailer a $100,000 FTC Fine

An online appliance retailer agreed to pay a $100,000 penalty to settle Federal Trade Commission charges over its failure to comply with EnergyGuide requirements, while another online retailer faces a $540,000 fine for ignoring an FTC letter for similar violations.

Universal Appliances, Kitchens, and Baths Inc. of Ventura, Calif., which does business as Universal-akb.com, agreed to settle FTC charges that it failed to publish mandatory EnergyGuide information on its websites to educate consumers about the energy usage of the major home appliances it carries.