RESA Seeks N.H. Action on Generic Retail Market Proceeding, POR

The Retail Energy Supply Association has requested that the New Hampshire PUC open a generic proceeding investigating the state's retail electric and natural gas markets, as contemplated by a July 2011 PUC order.

As only reported by Matters, the July order denied Public Service of New Hampshire's request for a nonbypassable charge to recover fixed costs of default service, but declined to address several retail market enhancements, including purchase of receivables, raised during the case. The PUC instead said that a generic proceeding would be opened to address Purchase of Receivables, a customer referral program, and an electronic interface to access customer information.

To date, no such proceeding has been formally opened.

In an April 12 letter to the PUC's executive director, RESA requested, "that the Commission open the above-referenced generic proceeding to conduct an investigation into these and other retail electric market enhancements as soon as possible."

"RESA further requests that, once the proceeding is open, as a first step, that the Commission schedule a technical conference to allow the parties to discuss each of these retail market programs, including the key elements necessary for the success of each program and how properly implemented programs can provide significant benefits to consumers."