Retail Supplier Power New England Petitions PUC for Review of PSNH Billing Charges

PNE Energy Supply LLC, d/b/a Power New England, has filed a formal petition with the New Hampshire PUC asking that the Commission review the reasonableness and appropriateness of Public Service Company of New Hampshire's approved charges for selection, billing, and payment and collection services provided to competitive electricity suppliers.

The relief sought by Power New England is essentially the same as it requested in an earlier petition which had been dismissed on procedural grounds. The new petition includes supporting testimony which the PUC found was required since the requested relief amounts to a request for a rate adjustment.

Power New England has specifically objected to the $5 Selection Charge applicable to each customer switch; the Billing and Payment Service Charge currently equal to 50¢ per bill rendered; and the Collection Services Charge equal to 0.252% of total monthly receivable dollars.

"The problem posed by PSNH's charges is that they impede the development of a competitive market for small customers, rather that enhancing the development of the market," Power New England said.

Power New England noted that the creation of a viable competitive market for small customers has been an important goal for the Commission in light of the migration of large volumes of larger customers to competitive supply, which increases the default service rates of small volume customers who do not have access to the same competitive options, because default service fixed costs must now be collected from a smaller customer base.

Power New England said that the incremental costs incurred by PSNH in performing the services described above are very low, and possibly zero. Moreover, Power New England said that to extent there are any incremental costs, they may be recovered in base rates.

Docket: DE 12-295