|
|
|
|
Retail Supplier Objects To Utility's Proposed Tariff Language That Would Allow EDC To Suspend Utility Consolidated Billing If Supplier "Not Following" State's Administrative Code Rules
The following story is brought free of charge to readers by EC Infosystems, the exclusive EDI provider of EnergyChoiceMatters.com
Constellation NewEnergy, Inc. has filed objections to a Public Utility Commission of Ohio Staff Report on the rate case of AEP Ohio (Ohio Power), including objections to proposed tariff language that would allow AEP Ohio to terminate "Company consolidated billing services" in the event that a competitive retail electric service (CRES) provider is not following the, "Ohio Administrative Code rules."
AEP Ohio's proposed tariff language had been exclusively first reported by EnergyChoiceMatters.com (see story for full details)
Constellation said in a filing at PUCO that, "AEP proposes tariff language that would allow it to terminate its consolidated billing
service to a supplier if the supplier is 'not following the Ohio Administrative Code rules' and AEP
has provided notice to the supplier. Tariff Sheet 103-52. Termination could occur three months
after AEP’s notice. Id. AEP described this proposed change as a 'three strikes' policy that is
consistent with its supplier-consolidated billing program. Application Schedule E-3 at 8; Moore
Prefiled Testimony at 10-11. The Staff Report failed to address AEP’s proposal; rather, by
omission, Staff recommends approval of the change. Staff Report at 27."
"Constellation objects to the Staff’s recommendation. AEP’s proposed language does not
say that the supplier must be noncompliant three separate times or for three consecutive months before termination. Additionally, AEP’s proposed language is vague as to what 'not following
the Ohio Administrative Code rules' means. A strict interpretation could allow AEP to terminate
utility-consolidated billing based on its opinion of noncompliance, which could be unrelated to
competitive service, be unrelated to billing or be a minor act of noncompliance. The proposed
language omits the concept of materiality. Importantly, AEP’s language unreasonably establishes
strict liability – noncompliance will result in notification and then AEP 'will terminate' three
months after the notice. There is nothing allowing a supplier the opportunity to be heard, to dispute
the alleged noncompliance or to attempt other redress. This proposed tariff provision could result
in termination from utility-consolidated billing for something that the supplier is actively
attempting to correct if, for example, a correction takes more than three months to fix. Altogether,
the provision is unjust and unreasonable. Constellation objects to Staff’s recommendation to
approve this unjust and unreasonable tariff language," Constellation said
Constellation also filed the following objections to AEP Ohio's applications:
• AEP failed to address its supplier-consolidated billing program. (Tariff Sheet
103-43)
• AEP failed to address access to customer consumption data by competitive
retail electric service suppliers who have the necessary customer
authorization. (Tariff Sheet 103-38)
• AEP failed to propose changes to its tariff to allow access to AMI data,
including bulk extraction, by competitive retail electric service suppliers who
have the necessary authorization. (Tariff Sheet 103-38)
Case No. 20-586-EL-ATA et al.
ADVERTISEMENT Copyright 2010-20 Energy Choice Matters. If you wish to share this story, please
email or post the website link; unauthorized copying, retransmission, or republication
prohibited.
December 21, 2020
Email This Story
Copyright 2010-20 EnergyChoiceMatters.com
Reporting by Paul Ring • ring@energychoicematters.com
NEW Jobs on RetailEnergyJobs.com:
• NEW! -- Retail Energy Account Executive -- Texas
• NEW! -- Supply and Pricing Analyst -- Retail Supplier -- DFW
• NEW! -- Lead Data Analyst
-- Retail Supplier
• NEW! -- Senior Energy Pricing Analyst
• NEW! -- Senior Energy Advisor
• NEW! -- IT Billing Project Manager
• NEW! -- IT Billing Business Analyst
• NEW! -- Financial Analyst -- Retail Supplier -- DFW
• NEW! -- Sr. Energy Intelligence Analyst
• NEW! -- Channel Partner Sales Manager -- Retail Supplier
• NEW! -- Sr. Billing Analyst -- Retail Supplier
• Director of Regulatory Affairs -- Retail Supplier -- Houston
|
|
|