Briefly

BGE Enters Castlebridge Energy, Other Suppliers into XML Testing

Baltimore Gas and Electric has informed the Maryland PSC that on March 1 it entered pending electric and gas suppliers into its Extensible Markup Language (XML) testing program, including Castlebridge Energy Group, LLC, which had previously filed a motion for a show-cause order against BGE over a delay in XML testing. XML testing is required to enter the market, and had been suspended during a BGE billing system upgrade.

Sharyland Seeks Abatement to Finalize Settlement on Transition to Retail Choice

Sharyland Utilities, L.P. said that all parties, except Pioneer Natural Resources USA, Inc., in the PUCT docket (39592) concerning its proposed transition to retail competition for the former Cap Rock service areas have made substantial progress in settlement discussions and are close to an agreement in principle that would resolve all issues in this case. The parties, excluding Pioneer, sought an abatement in the case's procedural schedule, until March 22, to allow parties to reach a final agreement. Sharyland reported that Pioneer intends to oppose the abatement. Sharyland's proposed transition to retail choice for the Cap Rock divisions was first reported in Matters.

Ohio Sets Workshop on Dynamic Pricing, Retail Supplier Obligations

The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio has scheduled for March 28 a workshop on dynamic retail pricing (12-150-EL-COI). As previously reported, PUCO is considering whether electric distribution utilities and/or competitive retail electric service providers should offer pricing options for all customers with advanced or interval meters that reflect the time-varying prices in wholesale electricity markets and additional dynamic pricing options such as pre-paid, indexed, and other variable rates. The comment filing deadline has been pushed back to April 11 to accommodate the workshop.

NRG Installing Distributed Generation at Lincoln Financial Field

NRG will be the official supplier of grid power to Lincoln Financial Field and a major sponsor of the Philadelphia Eagles, under an agreement under which NRG will also install 3 MW of solar generation and 14 micro wind-turbines at the Linc.

Spark Energy Renews St. Baldrick's Affinity Program

Spark Energy has renewed its affinity program supporting the St. Baldrick's Foundation, and for the month of March will donate $25 for each new customer enrolling for electricity or natural gas, and $50 for each household enrolling for both commodities. Spark Energy also donated $5,000 to St. Baldrick's apart from enrollments.

New Retail Generation Rates for Pepco-DC Approved

The District of Columbia PSC has approved new retail generation rates at Pepco. The rates were first reported in Matters when initially filed (2/3). Pepco has made minor updates to its initial filing, the latest retail generation rates can be found below:
All Classes Except GT3B
Revised GT3B Rates