Maryland PSC to Hold Rulemaking Session on Switching Rules

The Maryland PSC will conduct a rulemaking session on January 9, 2013 to consider whether to finally adopt the proposed revisions to COMAR 20.52.03 relating to conforming changes to the electric switching period.

As previously reported, the changes largely harmonize the rule with the prior changes to COMAR 20.53 which established that enrollments with a competitive electric supplier may be completed on the next scheduled meter read if submitted 12 days, or earlier, before such read (as opposed to the former deadline of 17 days).

The latest proposed revisions to COMAR 20.52.03 also provide, at 20.52.03.02B, that, "A customer establishing a new service, after the service periods specified in COMAR 20.52.02, shall receive SOS until the customer affirmatively selects a competitive electricity supplier" [emphases added]

A prior proposal from Staff had, perhaps inartfully, said that the customer shall receive SOS at service initiation "unless" the customer affirmatively selects a competitive electricity supplier.

Although likely not Staff's intent, the use of the term "unless" suggested the potential that the customer could receive competitive supply at service initiation. In contrast, the use of the term "until" suggests that any request for competitive supply would be subject to the current enrollment process deadlines.

See the latest proposed rules in the Maryland register (use Ctrl-F to search for "Title 20" without quotes)

Docket RM40