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Pennsylvania Utility Justifies Automatic Enrollment Of CAP-Eligible Customers Onto CAP (Triggering Drop To Default Service)
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In response to direction from the Pennsylvania PUC, Duquesne Light has filed justification for its proposed auto-enrollment, into the customer assistance program (CAP), of LIHEAP customers who are eligible for CAP
CAP customers may not shop for a competitive retail supplier at Duquesne Light, and shopping customers must return to default service in order to receive CAP benefits
As first reported by EnergyChoiceMatters.com (details here), Pennsylvania PUC Chair Stephen DeFrank recently expressed concern about the auto-enrollment of shopping customers onto CAP, and whether Duquesne Light was seeking affirmative consent from the customer for any switch
In response, Duquesne Light reported that, "Of the 4,182 CAP eligible LIHEAP recipients received between July 14,
2025 – June 29, 2026, 340 are EGS customers."
Duquesne Light reported that these 340 income-eligible customers in aggregate paid nearly $90,000 more for electricity supply due to being served by a retail supplier, versus the cost under default service, for the cited nearly one-year period, which Duquesne Light said averages to a higher bill of $263.98 per customer per year
Duquesne Light said, "Income-eligible customers should be provided as much help as possible to have
affordable energy costs and maintain utility service. Automatic enrollment provides the easiest
path to enroll in CAP and enjoy bill savings."
Duquesne Light said, "Income-eligible customers should not be overpaying for electricity when there is an easy,
automatic method to enroll customers in CAP."
Duquesne Light also noted that, under a prior PUC order, shopping customers who enroll in CAP may not be charged an early termination fee by a retail supplier as a result of leaving the supplier to take default service as a necessary condition to enroll in CAP
Duquesne Light also said that Duquesne Light has an established process to notify suppliers of the early termination fee prohibition for a specific customer leaving an EGS for CAP
Duquesne Light said, "The Company’s proposal to auto-enroll customers in CAP includes those enrolled with an electric generation supplier ('EGS'). Customers are provided with an opt-out period to review information about CAP and decide whether to opt-out of enrollment. After expiration of the opt-out period, if the customer has not opted out, the customer is enrolled in CAP and moved from
the EGS to default service. The pre-enrollment information provided to the customer will clearly
explain that should they proceed with auto-enrollment in CAP, their service will be transitioned
from their EGS to default service, and that termination fees due to CAP enrollment are
prohibited. Importantly, Duquesne Light’s approved supplier tariff prohibits EGSs from charging
termination fees to customers returning to default service due to CAP enrollment. Thus, auto-enrolled
customers are protected from any additional charges. Duquesne Light has an established
process to notify EGSs when a customer enrolls in CAP and returns to default service. These
notifications identify the customer as enrolling in CAP, which informs the EGS that cancellation
or early termination fees should not be assessed. In addition, Duquesne Light provides annual
communications to participating EGSs reminding them of this requirement and the protections
applicable to CAP customers."
Duquesne Light said, "During the opt-out window, there is no risk to the
customer; they have time to review the CAP program and can decide to take action to opt-out."
"For these reasons, Duquesne Light is not seeking
affirmative consent to automatically enroll the class of customers identified in its filing," Duquesne Light said
Docket P-2026-3061673, M-2019-3008227, R-2024-3046523
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Utility Reports Subset Of CAP-Eligible Shopping Customers Paid $264 More Annually Per Customer On Average Than Default Service
July 10, 2026
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Copyright 2026 EnergyChoiceMatters.com
Reporting by Paul Ring • ring@energychoicematters.com
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