Briefly

Direct Energy Intends to Serve Residential Customers at Peoples Natural Gas
Direct Energy, "has made a firm commitment to file an application for a [natural gas supplier] license in the Peoples [Natural Gas Company] service territory [in Pennsylvania]," and, "intends to service residential and small commercial customers in the Peoples service territory." Direct's statement came in a motion for intervention in Peoples Natural Gas' Purchase of Receivables docket (see 11/3). Currently, Direct Energy's residential natural gas offers in Pennsylvania are limited to Columbia Gas.

NetGain Energy Advisors Receives Ohio Electric Broker License
The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio granted NRGing, LLC d/b/a NetGain Energy Advisors an electric broker license to serve all sizes of non-residential customers in all service areas (11/30).

Arc Energy Receives Ohio Broker License
The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio granted start-up Arc Energy, Inc. an electric broker license to serve all customer classes in all service areas (11/24).

Met-Ed/Penelec to File Revised Supplier/POR Tariff
Met-Ed and Penelec have advised parties that they will be filing revised supplier coordination tariffs, which contain the terms of the utilities' Purchase of Receivables program, in order to resolve outstanding issues in a complaint brought by the Retail Energy Supply Association against the original filing (P-2009-2093053, P-2009-2093054, C-2010-2178216 & C-2010-2178227).). The utilities' intention to file the revised tariffs was reported by the Office of Consumer Advocate in a December 30 filing with the Pennsylvania PUC, but the revised tariffs were not yet available. OCA said that it has reviewed the revisions and has no objections to them. As previously reported (12/29), Met-Ed and Penelec previously delayed the tariffs' effective date until January 15, 2011. RESA's complaints relate mostly to customer information, data access, and enrollment issues, rather than the terms of the new POR program.

Verizon Home Automation Pilot to Include Energy-Related Products
Verizon announced this week that it will begin a pilot program for its Home Monitoring and Control product in New Jersey, starting in January. While much of the services relate to home automation, the pilot will include an energy reader, smart appliance switches and thermostats, and a smart power strip. Customers will be able to control the devices by using a smartphone, computer, or through FiOS TV.