PUC's Coleman: Pennsylvania Utilities Rumored to Be Considering Filing to Implement Alternative Default Service Provider

Pennsylvania PUC Vice Chairman John Coleman suggested during remarks at Platts' Northeast Energy Markets Conference that a Pennsylvania electric distribution company or companies are rumored to be considering the possibility of petitioning the Pennsylvania PUC to implement an alternative default service provider.

"In the current law in Pennsylvania, there is the ability for the EDCs to petition the Commission for an alternative default service provider, and rumor has it that there are some that are actually entertaining that," Coleman said [emphasis added].

Based on sentence construction, "some" as used in this sentence implies some EDCs, or electric distribution companies, are considering the petition, as opposed to some other stakeholder making such a petition (e.g. a retail supplier).

Coleman also reported that Connecticut's proposal to auction off Standard Service customers to retail suppliers is attracting, "a lot of attention," including in Pennsylvania.

The Connecticut proposal, "is getting a lot of play," in discussions with lawmakers and policymakers that, in Coleman's words, are well-above the pay-grade of the PUC Commissioners.

Connecticut Gov. Dan Malloy has proposed the retail auction to raise an estimated $80 million and help fill a state budget gap. A budget bill relying on such auction revenue recently advanced from committee, which means any change to the auction as proposed would have to account for the $80 million now expected to be raised from the auction (see related story today)

Coleman reported that there is a group of retail suppliers in Pennsylvania that are approaching policymakers with this topic.