Duquesne Light Seeks Approval for Modified Default Service Procurement Dates

Duquesne Light has petitioned the Pennsylvania PUC to approve revised procurement dates for residential and small commercial SOS in light of the PUC's recent order requiring that procurements occur no earlier than 5 months prior to the start of delivery.

See prior story for details on the PUC's order and default service plan

Specifically, Duquesne Light is requesting Commission approval to:

(1) Move the February 2013 residential procurement proposed in DSP VI to March 2013; and

(2) Move the February 2013 Small C&I procurement proposed in DSP VI to March 2013

These two procurements were originally scheduled for the later of November 2012 or one month after PUC approval of the POLR VI Plan. PUC approval of the POLR VI plan was issued in late January 2013.

The previously proposed April 2013 procurements for the residential and small C&I classes would not be affected by Duquesne Light's request.

Both the March 2013 and April 2013 residential procurements will seek 12-month contracts for the period June 1, 2013 to May 31, 2014.

The March 2013 small C&I procurement will seek 6-month contracts for the period June 1, 2013 to November 30, 2013, while the April 2013 small C&I procurement will seek 12-month contracts for the period June 1, 2013 to May 31, 2014.

Despite the compressed time during which procurements may be conducted, Duquesne Light still prefers that it hold two separate procurements for SOS supplies to mitigate against potential wholesale market price disruptions.

"Moving the Residential and Small C&I procurements to March 2013 will allow the Company to conduct two separate procurements (in March 2013 and April 2013) for both the Residential and Small C&I customer classes for default supplies to be delivered beginning June 1, 2013," Duquesne Light said.

Duquesne Light noted that additional procurement dates will need to be modified as a result of the PUC's order, but did not seek to modify such dates at this time in order to expedite consideration of the requested change in the February 2013 procurements. Duquesne Light will seek Commission approval for modifying the other procurement dates in its revised Default Service Plan to be filed by March 26, 2013.