Connecticut AG, OCC Seek Listing of Standard Service Rate, Savings vs. Utility on Competitive Supply Bills

The Connecticut Attorney General and Office of the Consumer Counsel have asked the Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority to consider listing the utility Standard Service rate, as well as a shopping customer's relative savings versus the rate, on the bills of customers on competitive electric supply.

The request was made in a petition by the AG and OCC for an investigation into a specific retail supplier regarding the supplier's pricing, and disclosure of such pricing (see Related Story today regarding the petition).

"The Authority should also consider enacting new regulations requiring the utilities to disclose on customers' bills the standard service rate, as well as the customers' relative savings or additional costs customers incurred by enrolling with their competitive supplier," the AG and OCC said.

Such disclosure should occur in a "prominent" location, the AG and OCC said.

Many customers of the retail supplier subject to the AG and OCC petition, "did not notice they were being charged exorbitant rates for many months, compounding their losses," the AG and OCC said.

"Requiring the utilities to disclose the standard service rate on customer bills as a price-to-compare would promote transparency and make it easier for customers to compare their rate and to more quickly evaluate whether their electric supplier is saving them money," the AG and OCC said.

Docket: 12-07-13