|
|
|
|
|
State Ends Retail Supplier Customer Referral Programs
The New York PSC has ordered the utilities to cease offering ESCO referral programs, as part of its retail markets order.
"When these programs were established, they were explicitly conceived of as an interim, near-term strategy to expand the market. The programs appear to have outlived their usefulness," the PSC said.
"[W]e have found that the vast majority of mass market ESCO customers experience higher bills than they would have as full service utility customers and the programs have provided little or no competitive pressure or other value-added benefits to these retail markets. Under these circumstances, we will not continue to endorse these referral programs, which, as structured, create an expectation that the customer will save money in comparison to what they would have paid the utility," the PSC said.
"Accordingly, utilities should cease their ESCO referral programs within 60 days of issuance of this Order. We may reconsider the use of ESCO referral programs in the future, if new circumstances suggest such programs will bring benefits to consumers and the market in general. We may also consider re-designed referral programs to encourage the availability and use of energy related value-added services," the PSC said.
See our related story today for discussion of the PSC's consideration of potential alternative customer referral programs to support enrollment on value-added ESCO products.
The PSC said utilities shall continue to inform new and moving residential and small business customers of their option to select an ESCO and how to obtain information on ESCO products.
Related New York Stories Today:
Black Tuesday: New York Adds Recourse to Purchase of Receivables; Will Adopt ESCO-Specific Discounts
Here's What ESCOs Will Be Required to File, and What New York Will Disclose, in Reporting ESCO Historic Pricing
New York Bans Teaser Rates from Power to Choose; Requires ESCOs to "Guarantee" Customers Pay No More Than Power to Choose Pricing, Expands Site to Small Commercial
Here's How All ESCO Mass Market Sales Pitches Must Start in New York, and What TPVs Must Cover
State: Large Number of Retail Suppliers, "Generating Revenues By Offering Consumers Little More Than Higher Prices"
New York Asks If ESCOs Should Pay Annual Fee, Whether Eligibility Requirements Should Be Changed
New York to Develop Standard ESCO Contract Renewal Notice, Requires Additional Notice If Renewal A Fixed Rate
Case 12-M-0476
ADVERTISEMENT Search for more retail energy careers: Copyright 2010-
February 25, 2014
Email This Story
Copyright 2010-13 EnergyChoiceMatters.com
Reporting by Karen Abbott • kabbott@energychoicematters.com
NEW Jobs on RetailEnergyJobs.com:
• NEW! -- Manager, Channel Sales -- Retail Provider
• NEW! -- Operations Specialist – Market Transactions -- Retail Provider -- Houston
• NEW! -- Regional Sales Manager -- Retail Provider -- PA, NY, IL, Various
• NEW! -- Regional Sales Manager, Texas -- Retail Supplier -- Houston
• NEW! -- Vice President of Operations -- Retail Supplier
• NEW! -- Senior Business Analyst -- Retail Supplier
• NEW! -- National Accounts, Sales Advisor – Commercial -- Retail Supplier
• NEW! -- Energy Analyst (aka Pit Crew Member) -- DFW
• NEW! -- Sales Representative -- Retail Supplier -- Houston
• NEW! -- Energy Sales Manager -- Retail Provider
RetailEnergyJobs.com
|
|
|
|