Central Hudson to Provide Comparison of ESCO, Default Service Costs on Bills

A joint proposal by several parties in the New York PSC proceeding reviewing the acquisition of Central Hudson by Fortis Inc. would require Central Hudson to provide ESCO versus default service cost comparisons on retail access residential bills.

The joint proposal was signed by PSC Staff, Central Hudson, and Fortis, among other parties.

Specifically, the joint proposal provides that Central Hudson will set forth a total bill comparison, using the existing Central Hudson computer program that had been previously implemented, on all retail access residential bills using consolidated billing issued after 90 days following closing of the acquisition.

The joint proposal signatories agree that this total bill comparison is to provide information to retail access customers that should be made available by the utility as part of the Commission's retail energy markets initiatives.

Additionally, the JP requires Central Hudson to file a proposal to provide payment-troubled (i.e., subject to termination) customers with bill comparison information. The type of reporting and continued monitoring appropriate for this initiative will be developed as part of the resolution of Central Hudson's pending proposal.

The costs of these two initiatives will be funded from the existing Competition Education Fund. In the event that the costs of these two initiatives exceed the funding available from the existing Competition Education Fund, Central Hudson is authorized to defer the excess costs for future recovery with carrying charges.

The signatories anticipate that modifications to either initiative may become appropriate based on developments in the PSC's ongoing generic retail access investigation.