Pennsylvania Standard Offer Customer Referral Programs to be Delayed

The implementation of the Standard Offer customer referral program at most of the Pennsylvania electric distribution companies will be delayed, according to updated compliance filings filed by the utilities.

Although the delay is minimal -- the programs are now proposed to begin in August rather than June at the FirstEnergy EDCs and PECO -- the August start again raises questions of whether the presence of the Standard Offer referral programs would have really caused confusion with the now-shelved opt-in aggregation programs, which were to be offered under a one-time marketing effort this spring, with service beginning in June.

The sole reason the Pennsylvania PUC gave, in reconsidering approval of the opt-in aggregation programs on its own motion, was potential confusion with the Standard Offer programs. While other policy reasons may have justified delay in the opt-in aggregation programs, none of these were cited by the PUC in its decision to shelve the programs; customer confusion regarding the similar but distinct referral and opt-in programs was the only reason cited.

See prior story on shelving of opt-in aggregation programs

Specifically, Met-Ed, Penelec, Penn Power and West Penn Power propose to extend the commencement date for the Standard Offer customer referral program from June 1, 2013 to August 1, 2013, due to the additional time which has been required for final approval of program design and cost recovery mechanisms.

Similarly, due to the extended proceedings, PECO now proposes to commence the Standard Offer Program for both residential and small commercial customers on August 19, 2013, instead of June 1, 2013 for residential customers and August 14, 2013 for small commercial customers.