Energy Choice
                            

Matters

Archive

Daily Email

Events

 

 

 

About/Contact

Search

Ohio to Hold Workshop on Retail Supplier Financial Security Requirements, PUCO Tweaks Other Recently Adopted Rules

February 27, 2014

Email This Story
Copyright 2010-13 EnergyChoiceMatters.com
Reporting by Paul Ring • ring@energychoicematters.com

The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio has directed Staff to convene an informal workshop to review the financial security requirements applicable to retail suppliers, as PUCO addressed rehearing requests regarding recently adopted changes to the electric market rules.

FirstEnergy Solutions had petitioned for rehearing of an unchanged rule which allows the financial security required of retail electric suppliers to determined by each utility.

The Commission denied rehearing on this issue, but, "acknowledges ... that a review of the financial security requirement, including whether it presents a barrier to CRES providers and/or benefits to customers, may be helpful."

PUCO therefore directed Staff to hold an informal workshop to review the financial security requirement, as it pertains to electric and natural gas, "to ensure that the requirement does not present obstacles to competition and that the requirement benefits customers."

PUCO also either granted rehearing or clarification on several issues.

For example, the rule as approved in December provided that residential terms and conditions must be provided on printed paper. On rehearing, PUCO ruled that customers may be provided with terms and conditions via electronic copy if: (1) the customer agrees to receive an electronic copy rather than a paper copy; (2) the customer is offered an unsigned paper copy with a version number identical to the electronic copy; and (3) receipt of the e-mail can be verified.

Additionally, regarding a requirement in the December rules to send a singed copy of the contract to customers enrolled via direct solicitation, the Commission said that, for direct mail solicitations, a signed copy need not be sent if the customer already received a full copy of the contract with his or her enrollment materials

PUCO's rules now require that, "[a]n itemized list and explanation of all prices and all fees associated with the service," be provided.

The Retail Energy Supply Association had sought clarification that this is not a requirement that all cost components, such as postage, account handling, etc., be included, unless any of those charges are variable.

In response, PUCO clarified, "that the change to Ohio Adm. Code 4901:1-21-12(B)(7) was made to require disclosure of all fees including those by brokers, governmental aggregators, etc., and does not require disclosure of cost components such as postage."

ADVERTISEMENT
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

Search for more retail energy careers:
RetailEnergyJobs.com


Email This Story

HOME

Copyright 2010-13 Energy Choice Matters.  If you wish to share this story, please email or post the website link; unauthorized copying, retransmission, or republication prohibited.

 

Archive

Daily Email

Events

 

 

 

About/Contact

Search