Briefly

TXU Affiliate Brighten Energy Looks Forward to Competing in Pennsylvania

TXU Energy and Brighten Energy CEO Jim Burke "look[s] forward" to competing in Pennsylvania, Burke said during a Pennsylvania PUC en banc hearing. Burke did not provide any additional details on Brighten Energy's plan or timeline for Pennsylvania electric market entry. As first noted by Matters last month, Brighten Energy is not yet active in Pennsylvania (5/26). The expansion of TXU to Pennsylvania, through its affiliate Brighten Energy, was exclusively broken by Matters back in October 2010 (see 10/6 and 11/18)

Abacus Resources Energy Seeking Bankruptcy Protection

Abacus Resources Energy, LLC informed the PUCT that it has been forced to seek bankruptcy protection due to the inability to come to an agreement with ERCOT and the TDSPs regarding unpaid amounts owed by Abacus, which previously resulted in Abacus' default on its ERCOT obligations, and the transfer of its customers to two other REPs through asset sales (and not the POLR process). Abacus had been seeking to develop an installment plan for the debt, with the intention of re-entering the retail market, but its installment plan was opposed by ERCOT and the TDSPs, prompting its bankruptcy. Mark Angell also informed the PUCT that he is no longer employed with Abacus.

FirstEnergy Solutions Refreshes Penelec Residential Pricing

FirstEnergy Solutions has refreshed its Penelec residential electric pricing, offering customers an introductory fixed price of 6.95 cents per kWh through the September 2011 meter read date, with the price increasing to 7.29 cents per kWh through June 2013. The product includes an early termination fee.

DPUC Draft Would Accept Starion Settlement

A Connecticut DPUC draft decision would accept without modification a settlement under which Station Energy would make a $20,000 donation to an energy assistancve fund in lieu of a civil penalty to resolve a notice of violation regarding customer enrollments and the rescission period. The settlement was first reported in Matters, and its terms are more fully discussed in our 5/20 story.

PUCO Staff Seek Delay in AEP Ohio ESP Hearing In Light of Remand

PUCO Staff has requested that the Commission extend the deadline for filing testimony regarding the proposed new electric security plan of Columbus Southern Power and Ohio Power, and to delay the hearing, so that such events occur after the submission of testimony and the hearing regarding the remand of the AEP companies' current electric security plan. The remand is examining issues related to POLR charges and environmental carrying costs, and testimony and hearing in the remand proceeding are currently scheduled to occur either after or only a few days prior to the deadlines in the new electric security plan proceeding. "[T]here can be little doubt that the proceedings in the Remand Case will affect the parties' analysis and positions in these [new electric security plan] cases," Staff said in support of its request, stating that its requested delay in the hearing date for the new electric security plan until August 15 (with testimony due in July) would afford parties a chance to fully develop their positions in both proceedings.