Connecticut PURA: Original Customer Verification Cannot Be Used to Enroll Customer Dropped Due to Default

A customer's original authorization to switch to competitive supply cannot be used to return the customer to competitive supply after a default has placed the customer on utility Standard Service, the Connecticut PURA said in a letter to People's Power & Gas.

The letter was addressing a notice proposed to be sent to People's Power & Gas customers dropped to default service due to PP&G's default at ISO New England in December. The default has since been cured.

The filed PP&G notice stated, "As a consumer, you have the right to choose. So, if you wish to remain with your utility on its Standard Offer Service, please email us at info@PeoplesPower.com within 30 days of receiving this letter, so we can ensure that you stay with your utility. Otherwise, we are working tirelessly to bring you back."

"Embodied in PPG's letter is the presumption that it can effectuate a change in a customer's electric supplier if a customer returns to Standard Service by way of financial default. This is a question of first impression in Connecticut, and is an issue in this proceeding," PURA said.

"In any other setting, it is clear that the General Statutes of Connecticut (Conn. Gen. Stat.) §16-245s requires a customer's affirmative choice to effectuate a change in electric supplier. Other states have already concluded that a customer must make an affirmative choice in electric supplier after a financial default at ISO-NE. Based upon the foregoing, the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority will adopt the presumption that PPG is required to obtain affirmative customer consent, in accordance with Conn. Gen. Stat. §16-245s, for every customer PPG resigns after the financial default," PURA said.

"PPG is free to submit evidence and argument in this proceeding to support its proposition. However, at this point, the Customer Notice expresses customers' rights incorrectly, and should not be issued. PPG is also advised that its compliance with Conn. Gen. Stat. §16-245s will be reviewed in this proceeding," PURA said.