N.J. BPU Creates Working Group on POR, Price to Compare

The New Jersey BPU has formed a working group to address Purchase of Receivables and the Price to Compare, for both electricity and natural gas.

The initial working group meeting will be February 8.

Several New Jersey distribution companies offer a form of POR; however, the POR includes a reversion to dual billing if the customer is delinquent for 60 days.

Board Staff is seeking input on the following specific issues:

Purchase of Receivables:

• Drop to dual billing: when this is done, how and when information on delinquent accounts is reported to third party suppliers, differences between gas and electric industry operations, etc.

Price to Compare:

• Calculation and components of each distribution company's Price to Compare for each customer class;
• Presentation of the current Price to Compare on customer bills;
• Presentation of the Price to Compare data (current, historical and pending requests for changes) on distribution company websites.
• Possible future amendments to the Board's Energy Competition Rules at N.J.A.C. 14:4-7.4 (a)4 and (b)2. These sections require that marketing materials targeting residential customers must include certain information. If the Price to Compare data on distribution company websites is expanded, should the Board consider modifying these requirements so that the marketing materials could include a link to these websites rather than the actual information?