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In Living Color? Here's What New Pennsylvania "Joint EDC-Supplier" Bill Will Look Like
While Pennsylvania has ordered the electric distribution companies to include the logo of a customer's electric supplier on utility consolidated bills by June 1, 2015, that logo may not necessarily be in color, under a final order published Friday.
While the PUC ordered the inclusion of the retail supplier logo on bills, the order is not overly prescriptive on its placement.
"The Commission believes it is practical to place the EGS logo near the EGS's charges. While the Commission suggests putting the EGS logo next to the EGS's charges, we will allow the individual EDCs to determine the exact location of the logo on the utility-consolidated bill," the PUC said.
In light of this discretion, the PUC is requiring EDCs to submit proposed bill formats to the Office of Competitive Market Oversight for approval prior to use.
The PUC also did not mandate the use of color for retail supplier logos.
"While we encourage EDCs to seriously explore the feasibility of including EGS logos in color in order to grab the customer's attention, we also recognize the difficulties of such an endeavor. We also recognize the increased costs of such a billing change when compared to black and white presentation. Accordingly, and in order to minimize costs for EDCs and their ratepayers, the Commission will give EDCs the flexibility to determine whether the EGS logo on the EDC bill should be in black and white or in color based on its own system capabilities and the projected costs of one option versus the other," the PUC said.
The PUC also clarified that suppliers are not required to include their logo on the utility consolidated bill.
The PUC declined to order the use of a supplier's logo on the envelope for utility consolidated bills
In addition to the inclusion of the supplier logo, the PUC is requiring EDCs to expand messaging space on their bills for use by EGSs. The Commission directed the EDCs to work with EGSs in implementing any necessary changes to double the amount of available space from two to four lines on each EDC's bill.
While not a mandate, the PUC "strongly encourage[d]" retail suppliers to use the new messaging space to list the expiration date for the customer's contract.
"Furthermore, the Commission acknowledges the benefit to including expiration dates for customer contracts on the bill and specifically supports the recommendation of FirstEnergy and PECO to do so in the newly expanded messaging space. We believe the inclusion of such information is most appropriate for the expanded EGS messaging space, as the contract expiration date is known by the EGS, not the EDCs, and is best suited in the area of the bill where EGS charges and other EGS information is already located. Therefore, the Commission strongly encourages EGSs to utilize a portion of this additional space to include contract expiration dates for their customers," the PUC said.
The PUC is also requiring implementation of a "Shopping Information Box" on the bill that includes a customer's account/customer supplier ID number (whichever is applicable to effectuate a switch), the customer's Rate Schedule, and an indication that this information is needed when shopping with an EGS.
The Shopping Information Box is to also include language reminding a customer who has already shopped to be aware of whether or not their current generation supply contract has an expiration date and, if so, when the expiration occurs (though the box will not list any specific information regarding such date).
"We agree with comments of the EAP and others who indicate that the Commission should remain flexible regarding the size and location of this information on the EDC bill, and, as a result, we will not dictate where this information should be included. However, we do require that the Shopping Information Box be conspicuous and separate and apart from other charges and include the specific language provided below. We also will not dictate the font size or type utilized to present this information. As indicated later in this Order, EDCs must supply to OCMO, for its review and approval, and to OCA and OSBA for informative purposes, samples of revised bills before dissemination. As a result, the Commission will have an advanced opportunity to review and approve the placement of the Box and alert EDCs of any concerns prior to the bills being produced in final form. However, we encourage EDCs to consider the comments of Park Power, who suggests that the Box be presented in a prominent place on the bill and in the same location every month, preferably near the top of the bill," the PUC said.
The PUC said that the Price to Compare should not appear in the shopping information box since this information is presented elsewhere.
The PUC will not require the inclusion of retail supplier bill inserts with EDC bills at this time. "We understand the desire of EGSs to strengthen their relationships with customers and to provide various messaging in conjunction with the bills. However, we are not persuaded that these benefits outweigh the potentially significant costs and difficulties associated with implementing this proposal," the PUC said.
The PUC will also not, at this time, direct the EDCs to include additional line items for EGS value-added services charges.
"We recognize the benefit of such services and commend the EGSs for providing a variety of offerings to customers in Pennsylvania's competitive retail market. However, based on the feedback provided by the EDCs and PULP, we do not believe we have enough information, at this time, to require EDCs to include the charges and to bear the responsibility of recovering the payments for such services. Additionally, if this proposal were adopted, the Commission has concerns that would need to be resolved regarding the application of customer bill payments, such as to what portions of the bill a customer's payment would first be applied, and the effect of non-payment of such charges. While these concerns are not insurmountable, we have not been provided with enough information to warrant the pursuit of such a mechanism through this proceeding. The Commission may, at some point in the future, reconsider this request as customers become more adept at navigating the competitive retail electric marketplace. As always, we suggest that any recommended improvements to our retail market from stakeholders be provided to OCMO for review and for potential discussion during CHARGE meetings," the PUC said.
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May 27, 2014
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Copyright 2010-14 EnergyChoiceMatters.com
Reporting by Karen Abbott • kabbott@energychoicematters.com
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