Pennsylvania to Skip Mailing of PAPowerSwitch Postcard in 2013

The Pennsylvania PUC has proposed to dispense with the mailing of an annual PAPowerSwitch.com postcard to customers in 2013, and to resume with the mailing of the postcard in 2014.

The Commission-endorsed postcard is mailed by the electric distribution companies and encourages customers to shop for a competitive electric generation supplier, and promotes the Commission's website for electric shopping, www.PAPowerSwitch.com

The proposal to dispense with the mailing of the annual postcard in 2013 results from the delayed mailing of other electric choice education materials, which are now to be sent out in 2013, and the Commission's desire not to overwhelm customers with mail, which could lead to a negative perception about electric choice.

Specifically, the Commission previously delayed the mailing of the tri-fold flyer on electric choice from May 2012 until November 2012, but no later than February 2013, and an EDC letter/FAQ on electric choice from October 2012 until 2013.

"Given the delay of these two educational mailings, which moved the mailings into late 2012 and 2013, and the Commission's continued desire to avoid overwhelming consumers for reasons stated above, the Commission proposes to dispense with the mailing of the annual postcard in 2013 and resume with the mailing of the postcard in 2014. While the annual postcard is viewed as a cost-effective way of educating consumers, we firmly believe that the mailings will be more effective in promoting competition if they are circulated over a longer period of time," the PUC said in a secretarial letter proposing the change.

"The Commission recognizes that the expense of production and mailing of the annual Commission-endorsed postcard will likely be recoverable costs for EDCs. This is consistent with the cost recovery of the three educational mailings directed in the Final Order and Intermediate Work Plan of March 2, 2012. The Commission advises EDCs not to seek cost recovery for the annual Commission-endorsed postcard through filing new consumer education plans, or extending the existing five-year consumer education plans. EDCs may seek cost recovery through other avenues, including, but not limited to, inclusion as part of an EDC's base-rate case pursuant to 66 Pa. C.S. § 1308(d)," the PUC said.