Regulator Says It Has Recovered Over $9 Million From Customers Overbilled By Retail Electric Suppliers

May 19, 2021

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Copyright 2010-21 EnergyChoiceMatters.com
Reporting by Paul Ring • ring@energychoicematters.com

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The Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) said that it has recovered more than $9.4 million for customers, "following an investigation that found dozens of electric suppliers failed to abide by existing customer protection regulations."

As first reported by EnergyChoiceMatters.com, PURA created an amnesty program under which participating retail electric suppliers could refund to customers amounts which were overbilled as the result of not providing customers with timely Next Cycle Rate information, in lieu of a civil penalty

PURA said, "The Authority’s investigation stems from complaints that several suppliers had not met their requirement of providing current Next Cycle Rate information to the electric distribution companies (EDCs), resulting in the over billing of certain customers at rates higher than the last amount displayed on the customer’s monthly electric bill as their Next Cycle Rate."

"In a draft interim decision issued today, the Authority announced its completion of the initial phase of the proceeding (Docket No. 18-12-22) resulting in bill credits of more than $9.4 million at a time when many Connecticut households continue to struggle with the affordability of essential services, like electricity," PURA said

Twenty-five suppliers elected to participate in the amnesty program by the deadline of February 20, 2019, and 22 submitted amnesty plans regarding violations concerning the timely display of Next Cycle Rate information on customer bills.

"After receiving initial amnesty plans offering approximately $4 million in credits to customers, PURA audited the data and worked with suppliers to increase the customer bill credits to $9,412,918," PURA said

The Authority has now approved the 22 final amnesty plans spanning from January 2016 to January 2019. Bill credits for affected customers have been in the process of being applied to monthly electric bills since mid-2020, and will continue through the rest of this calendar year.

Suppliers were ordered to submit final costs for review

"Suppliers that did not participate in this review may be subject to an investigation and possible fines," PURA said

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