Staff Supports April End for Columbia Choice Program

Maryland PSC Staff has recommended that the Columbia Gas choice program cease with the April 2012 billing cycle, as proposed by Columbia.

Although the PSC terminated the choice program, the PSC did not establish a specific date for its cessation, and had directed Columbia to file a transition plan.

Washington Gas Energy Services argued that since the PSC did not set a specific deadline, and directed a "transition" plan, it indicated that the PSC intended for existing choice contracts to continue during a transition period where new customers could not elect choice, but where existing contracts would not be abrogated and would continue until their end date.

WGES noted that the deadline proposed by Columbia will cause retail suppliers economic harm as their upstream supply payment obligations will remain but without the retail contracts being hedged.

Nevertheless, Staff recommended that the Commission approve Columbia Gas' proposed customer transition plan effective with the April 2012 billings.