ConEd Joint Proposal Includes Enhanced ESCO Service Portability, Other Retail Access Issues

A joint proposal in Consolidated Edison's electric and natural gas rate cases includes several provisions related to retail access, including ESCO service portability.

As noted in our related stories today, the joint proposal would require ConEd to propose an expansion of hourly default service pricing and to implement a calculator allowing customers to compare ESCO and default service costs.

See related story today on expansion of ConEd Mandatory Hourly Pricing

See related story today on ConEd ESCO vs. Default Service Cost Calculator

In addition to these major provisions, the joint proposal provides that ConEd will begin working with energy service companies on enhancing ESCO service portability for residential customers within 60 days of a Commission order adopting the joint proposal.

"The Company will implement enhanced ESCO service portability for residential customers no later than December 31, 2014," the joint proposal states.

The joint proposal also addresses New York ISO settlement, and as part of its NYISO reconciliation system upgrade, ConEd will modify its reconciliation method to be based on time-differentiated usage for non-interval metered customers taking service under a time of use rate. ConEd expects that this upgrade will be complete by December 31, 2015.

The joint proposal would also require ConEd to offer a new voluntary time of use (VTOU) generation rate in which the off-peak period will be midnight (12 a.m.) to 8 a.m. A VTOU delivery-only rate option, which allows customers to remain with their ESCO, will be offered as well.

Customers that elect the VTOU rate as retail access customers and then switch to full service must remain on the VTOU rate as full service customers for one year from the date of the switch. Customers that elect the VTOU rate as full-service customers must remain on the VTOU rate as full-service customers for one year from the date of the switch.

The rate will include a "price" guarantee for full-service or retail access customers registering a Plug-in Electric Vehicle (PEV) with ConEd. The guarantee will apply for a period of one year commencing with the first full billing cycle after the customer registers the PEV with ConEd.

Under the price guarantee, the customer will not pay more over the course of the one-year period than it would have paid under the SC1 Rate I rates. This comparison will be made on a total bill basis for full service customers and on a delivery-only basis for retail access customers. The delivery-related component of customer credits provided under the price guarantee will be recovered through the revenue decoupling mechanism (from SC1 customers). The commodity-related component of such customer credits will be recovered through the MAC.

The joint proposal was signed by, among others, ConEd, Department of Public Service Staff, and the Department of State's Utility Intervention Unit.

Case 13-E-0030