Maine PUC Seeks Supplier for Time of Use Default Service Option at Central Maine Power

The Maine PUC has issued an RFP to select a supplier or suppliers for an optional Time of Use Standard Offer generation product at Central Maine Power for the period March 1, 2013 through February 28, 2014.

Provisions of the optional TOU default service program were previously reported by Matters after a March PUC order adopting such terms.

Under the optional Time of Use (TOU) Offer program, which is open to residential and small commercial customers, customers will enroll between December 1, 2012 and January 31, 2013, after the TOU Offer Service and Standard Offer Service prices for the March 2013 term are known.

Customers will be enrolled for an initial one-year term but may elect to drop from TOU Offer Service at any during the year.

If a customer elects to drop from the TOU Offer service prior to the end of the initial term, that customer may not re-enroll until the next enrollment period that is at least 12 months from time of drop. New customers that did not enroll during the enrollment period and begin taking service from CMP after March 1, 2013 are not eligible for the program until a subsequent enrollment period.

Enrolled customers who have a change in service location or who are seasonal customers are not considered "new" customers for purposes of the program and may continue to be served under the TOU Offer service upon reconnection.

Customer enrollments and drops will be initiated/managed by CMP, and the TOU Offer Service provider will have access only to aggregate customer information. CMP is responsible for soliciting, enrolling, and un-enrolling customers. The TOU Offer Service supplier will not send or receive EDI transactions.

Billing and payment will be handled in the same manner as the regular Standard Offer, using similar customer billing and supplier payment processes, including the same uncollectible adder.

TOU prices will be set by the winning supplier's bid for each On-Peak and Off-Peak period for each month in the term. TOU period definitions are as follows:

• On-Peak: Monday through Friday, excluding CMP defined holidays from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

• Off-Peak: Monday through Friday, excluding CMP defined holidays from 8:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.; and all hours on Saturdays, Sundays, and CMP-defined holidays

TOU Offer Service bids may be "SO linked" (contingent on the bidder winning flat-rate Standard Offer service) or "independent" (for TOU Offer service only). Independent TOU Offer service bids may not be contingent on acceptance of Chapter 307 Auction bid.

In addition to soliciting TOU suppliers, the Maine PUC issued an RFP, consistent with prior solicitations, for 1/3 of regular Standard Offer supplies for residential and small non-residential customers at both CMP and Bangor Hydro-Electric, for the period beginning March 1, 2013 (bids may for 12, 24, or 36 months).

Link to PUC Standard and TOU RFP Information