|
|
|
|
Utility Would Convene Taskforce To Examine Potential Exit From Merchant Function For Non-Residential Customers, Under Rate Case Settlement
The following story is brought free of charge to readers by EC Infosystems, the exclusive EDI provider of EnergyChoiceMatters.com
Columbia Gas of Ohio has agreed to convene a collaborative to discuss a potential exit from the merchant function for non-residential customers, as part of a non-unanimous stipulation in a rate case
Signatories to the stipulation include Columbia, PUCO Staff, the Office of the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel, Interstate Gas Supply, the Retail Energy Supply Association, and several large customers and industrial groups, among other parties. Nonsignatory parties include the Ohio Partners for Affordable Energy, Citizens Utility
Board, and Environmental Law and Policy Center
The stipulation provides that, "Columbia shall convene a Non-Residential Customer Exit the Merchant Function Taskforce with participation open to the parties and interested
stakeholders to discuss the specific details of a filing regarding a potential modification or exit by Columbia from the merchant function for non-residential customers (i.e., non-residential customers that consume 300 Mcf or more on an annual
basis)."
"In no event shall the Taskforce address an exit of the merchant function for
residential consumers, regardless of the rate class in which these residential customers are served," the stipulation notes
The Taskforce would convene within 90 days of an order
approving the stipulation and would continue to meet on a regular basis until a
filing, as described above, is made.
"The Taskforce discussion will include a potential transition of Columbia’s non-residential customers from the SCO," the stipulation provides
"Within one year from the approval of the Stipulation, Columbia agrees to
make a filing regarding a potential modification or exit by Columbia from the merchant function for non-residential customers. Columbia’s filing will endeavor to
incorporate discussions from the Non-Residential Customer Exit the Merchant
Function Taskforce. The Signatory Parties shall reserve all substantive and due
process rights to support, oppose, or take any other action with regard to Columbia’s filing pursuant to this Stipulation section," the stipulation provides
Additionally, the stipulation provides that Columbia will withdraw its proposal to implement a Carbon Reduction Rider, which was a proposed carbon offset program to be offered by the utility (see details here). Columbia agrees not to file
for approval of a similar rider prior to the filing of its next base distribution rate
case, unless the Commission orders otherwise
Furthermore, the stipulation provides that Columbia also will not adopt Staff’s
recommendation to implement a carbon offset program as a non-regulated service
under its existing "Optional Services" tariff (see details on Staff's proposal here). The Signatory Parties therefore
agree that Staff’s recommendation to implement a carbon offset program should
not be implemented in the current proceeding.
The stipulation provides that Columbia will cease its Regulatory Assessment Rider. Columbia had proposed recovering parts of the PUCO and OCC assessment costs under this rider, but all such costs would be recovered through base rates
The stipulation does not address proposal to remove the Columbia Gas switching fee
The stipulation provides that Columbia agrees to implement by August 31, 2023, after consultation
with Signatory Parties, "a reasonable electronic online means to allow its consumers
to opt out of Columbia’s eligible customer list for disclosing Columbia consumers’
contact information to certified retail natural gas suppliers for their marketing."
For
consumers who change their minds, the electronic online means will allow consumers to opt into Columbia’s eligible customer list, the stipulation notes.
The opt out/opt into shall be
visible to consumers and accessible through Columbia’s website without requiring
customers to sign into their accounts. The costs of this provision shall not be borne
by consumers, the stipulation provides.
The online process established shall be similar to the current opt-out/opt-into process offered by Ohio Power Company d/b/a AEP Ohio
Case 21-0639-GA-UNC et al.
ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Copyright 2010-22 Energy Choice Matters. If you wish to share this story, please
email or post the website link; unauthorized copying, retransmission, or republication
prohibited.
Utility Withdraws Proposed Carbon Offset Offering
November 16, 2022
Email This Story
Copyright 2010-21 EnergyChoiceMatters.com
Reporting by Paul Ring • ring@energychoicematters.com
NEW Jobs on RetailEnergyJobs.com:
• NEW! -- Pricing Manager -- Retail Supplier
• NEW! -- Pricing and Operations Analyst
-- Retail Supplier
• NEW! -- Sales Director
• NEW! -- Market Operations Analyst -- Retail Supplier
• NEW! -- Accounting Manager -- Retail Supplier
• NEW! -- Sales Development Representative
• NEW! -- Operations Analyst/Manager - Retail Supplier
• NEW! -- Customer Success
• NEW! -- Operations Manager - Retail Supplier
• NEW! -- Marketing Associate - Retail Supplier
• NEW! -- Supervisor-Commercial Operations
• NEW! -- Market Operations Analyst
• NEW! -- Customer Data Specialist
• NEW! -- Director, Regulatory Affairs, Retail Supplier
• NEW! -- Account Manager Project Manager
• NEW! -- Retail Energy Policy Analyst
• NEW! -- Incentive Specialists
• NEW! -- Utility Rates Specialist
• NEW! -- Customer Onboarding Specialist
• NEW! -- Energy Performance Engineer
|
|
|