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Workgroup Leader Recommends Studying Additional Consumer Protections For Non-Residential Customers

Suggests Further Study Of Requiring Suppliers To Send Advance Notice Of Rate Changes Via Email

February 5, 2018

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Copyright 2010-17 EnergyChoiceMatters.com
Reporting by Paul Ring • ring@energychoicematters.com

The working group leader in PC44, a Maryland PSC process addressing several retail market enhancements and issues, has recommended a third phase of the process be initiated to study several more issues.

Notably, the Work Group leader suggested that the Commission endorse a third phase of the Work Group to consider additional non-residential customer protections

Furthermore, the Work Group leader requested that the PSC issue "guidance" on an issue related to suppliers' obligation to provide variable rate change notices in advance, and if such matter should be addressed in a third phase of the work group.

The notice issue relates to the advisability of requiring retail electricity suppliers to provide electronic advance notice, before any change in rate, to any customer who provides an email address to the supplier. Pursuant to existing regulations, electric and gas suppliers are required to make available to a customer his or her rate for the next billing period at least 12 days prior to the close of the customer’s billing period, and in a clear, easy to access format prescribed by the supplier.

While the supplier is also required to promptly provide the customer with written directions on how to access the rate at the time of contracting, in the contract summary, when sending any notice required by COMAR, upon request, or if the supplier changes the directions for accessing the rate, some members of the Work Group contend that customers who provide an email address to suppliers should also be proactively notified by email of an impending change in variable rates.

"After much debate, the CMCC Work Group was unable to reach resolution on whether this additional requirement should be levied on suppliers. Therefore, at this time, the PC44 CMCC Work Group Leader respectfully requests that the Commission provide guidance on this matter, and if so desired, tasks the Work Group with proposing regulations that would effectuate such a change as part of Phase III. The matter can most appropriately be framed as a policy decision regarding the balance between market transparency and customer accountability, and is not one that the Work Group is likely to resolve absent further Commission guidance," the work group leader said

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