Pennsylvania Directs Office of Competitive Markets Oversight to Study, Report On Retail Supplier Data Access Issues

The Pennsylvania PUC has directed that its Office of Competitive Markets Oversight (OCMO) investigate and report on issues related to the provision of customer data by electric utilities to retail suppliers.

Retail suppliers had raised customer data access issues during the FirstEnergy electric distribution companies' default service proceeding. Retail suppliers specifically noted that certain customer information is available in other EDCs' service territories, and proposed that the FirstEnergy EDCs investigate implementing a secure, web-based system to provide retail suppliers with electronic access to key customer usage and account data.

An ALJ had recommended delegating this issue to the Retail Markets Investigation (RMI) working groups.

However, the PUC found that deferring the issues of customer data availability and EGS access to a statewide stakeholder group, "is neither an efficient nor reasonable way to improve the status of the competitive market in the short-term."

"Accordingly, rather than defer this issue to an RMI working group, RESA's request will be referred to the Commission's Office of Competitive Markets Oversight ('OCMO')," the PUC said.

"Further, in an effort to have this investigation resolved in a timely manner, we will require that OCMO provide a report to the Commission on this issue by no later than February 15, 2013," the PUC directed.

Related Coverage:

Today: Universe of Customers Eligible for Pennsylvania Retail Market Jump-start Programs Expanded

Today: Pennsylvania PUC's Witmer Encourages Study of Bypassable Adders to Default Service Price

Yesterday: Pennsylvania to Adopt More Market-Reflective Default Service at FirstEnergy EDCs, Versus ALJ Proposal

Yesterday: Pennsylvania Modifies Terms for Retail Opt-in Auction