Pa. PUC Says EDC-Affiliated Suppliers Showing Up at Customer Doors Right Before Switches

The Pennsylvania PUC "is hearing anecdotally" that customers who call their electric distribution company for a meter read, in preparation for starting competitive supply, are being visited by the EDC's competitive affiliate in a last-ditch effort to win the customer.

PUC Chairman Robert Powelson said during yesterday's retail markets hearing that, "we're hearing anecdotally that a wires and poles customer will call in to get a meter read and ... as [the customer is] ready to sign the term sheet to go with the XYZ Generation Supplier, we're finding out in some cases that the incumbent wires and poles company's non-regulated entity is showing up at the door, saying, 'Can I get a last look and see [] that term sheet.'"

Powelson said that the PUC has heard this anecdotal concern from Constellation.

Powelson did not mention the EDC or affiliate involved. Dick Webster, Director of Rates & Regulatory Affairs for PECO Energy, was on the panel during which Powelson raised this issue and said that PECO has a very strict code of conduct and its affiliated supplier has no information about data requests or customer requests that come in through other suppliers.

Chris Kallaher, Senior Director of Government & Regulatory Affairs for Direct Energy, who was also on the panel, said that Direct has heard similar reports anecdotally as well.

Powelson said that the PUC has "zero tolerance" for such code of conduct issues.