Pa. PUC Issues Proposed Intermediate Work Plan for Retail Market Development

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) yesterday issued a proposed intermediate work plan as part of its Retail Electricity Markets Investigation designed to improve the state's retail electricity market.

A written order was not immediately published.

The PUC said in a news release that the Commission voted 5-0 to receive comments on the proposed intermediate work plan, which provides a framework for more specific action items pending before the Commission.

The PUC also said that the intermediate work plan provides recommendations and proposals regarding the:

• Expansion of consumer education to drive electric customers to www.PAPowerSwitch.com, the PUC's website dedicated to helping consumers shop for electricity, and to increase general awareness of competitive markets and how to shop (separately, the PUC directed [not proposed] EDCs to mail customers a postcard regarding choice and PA Power Switch, see related story))

• Acceleration of the switching timeframe when a customer shops for an alternative supplier;

• Initiation of a customer referral program;

• Initiation of a retail opt-in auction program;

• Inclusion of the EDCs' price to compare on customer bills; and

• Increase in coordination between EDCs and EGSs.

The proposal calls for all issues and goals included in the intermediate work plan to be implemented prior to or in conjunction with the expiration of the electric distribution companies' next round of default service plans.

Interested parties will have 30 days from the entry of the Order to comment, followed by a 15-day reply comment period.

The docket is I-2011-2237952.