New Hampshire Opens Proceeding to Address Electric, Gas Purchase of Receivables

The New Hampshire PUC has officially opened Docket DE 12-097 to investigate the merits of instituting purchase of receivables, customer referral, and electronic interface programs for both electric and natural gas distribution utilities in New Hampshire.

As only reported by Matters, the investigation was contemplated in a prior PUC order, and the Retail Energy Supply Association recently asked the PUC to open the docket in light of that prior order.

The investigation will examine issues, "related to whether a purchase of receivables, customer referral and electronic interface programs will promote customer choice consistent with the restructuring principles of RSA 374-F:3; and whether the resulting rates associated with the programs are just and reasonable pursuant to RSA 378:5 and 7."

In the new investigation, "[t]he Commission will solicit comment from utilities and interested parties regarding the benefits and customer impacts of such programs, including the impact on customers who remain on supply offered by the applicable distribution utility."

"In addition, the Commission will seek comments from utilities and interested parties regarding the operation of such programs in other states, the levels of payments by competitive suppliers to distribution utilities for any additional costs incurred by the distribution utilities in connection with offering the programs, the essential elements of each program, and recommendations regarding program initiation and implementation."

A prehearing conference and technical session was scheduled for May 31.