New York Dept. of State Seeks to End Dual Billing, Supplier-Consolidated Billing for ESCOs

The Utility Intervention Unit (UIU) of the New York State Department of State's Division of Consumer Protection has recommended to the New York PSC that ESCOs be compelled to use utility consolidated billing, with no alternatives.

UIU's comments came in the New York PSC's investigation of the retail market (12-M-0476 et. al.).

Specifically, UIU recommended that the PSC should, "Modify the UBP to allow for only consolidated billing."

UIU continued, "If customers choose an ESCO for energy supply, their bills should be distributed by the full service utility," making it clear that UIU's earlier reference to "consolidated billing" means only utility consolidated billing.

In other words, ESCOs would no longer be permitted to dual bill customers or use supplier consolidated billing under UIU's recommendation.

UIU did not expand on its recommendation or offer an argument for its necessity.

Note that the UIU's recommendation was also not explicitly limited to any specific customer class, such as residential or small commercial customers, meaning, as written, dual billing for large, sophisticated C&I customers would be prohibited as well.