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Texas TDU Asks Whether Complaint Case Against Customer's Former REPs Extends to Customer's Current REP

March 30, 2015

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Copyright 2010-15 EnergyChoiceMatters.com
Reporting by Karen Abbott • kabbott@energychoicematters.com

CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric, LLC has requested that a Texas ALJ rule on whether the scope of complaint brought by a customer against the TDU and Ambit Energy regarding demand charges should extend to all of the demand charges billed by the CenterPoint TDU passed-through to the customer, including those charged by other REPs after the customer switched away from Ambit.

The case, involving service to Isa Cricket Club, results from the reclassification of a customer's delivery schedule after installation of an in-line pole to power a cricket field. The customer has disputed Ambit's pass-through of charges related to the reclassification, and the complaint has raised questions regarding what obligations, if any, REPs have to inform customers of such delivery rate schedule changes ahead of charging any change in their rates.

Ambit no longer serves the customer, but the customer continues to take service with the disputed demand charges. Though the customer has only filed a formal complaint at the PUCT against Ambit and the CenterPoint TDU, CenterPoint noted that, in pleadings, the customer has sought relief from all demand charges over the last 14 months, which would include time during which the customer took service from three other REPs in addition to Ambit.

CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric therefore asked the ALJ to determine, "Whether the scope of this case is limited to charges Ambit billed to the ICC in 2013 or whether parties must address issues related to all demand charges for which retail electric providers have billed the ICC since its electric service began."

CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric further asked whether a disconnection hold it placed on the account should be maintained (since the customer appears to be disputing the charges from the customer's current REP, TXU Energy, through the current complaint), or if CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric should honor a disconnect order sent by TXU.

Docket 42111

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