PUC Refers Presentation of Generation Pricing to Office of Competitive Market Oversight

The Pennsylvania PUC has referred the question of how electric generation prices should be presented, and uniformity in such formatting, to its Office of Competitive Market Oversight.

During its review of a joint EDC-supplier bill (see related story today), stakeholders noted that generation rates are varyingly quoted in $/kWh and ¢/kWh.

"Lastly, although not making it a requirement for the Shopping Information Box, we understand and agree with PULP's concern that PTC and EGS rate information should both be provided in the same format on the utility-consolidated bill. PULP proposes the use of a cents-per-kilowatt-hour (kWh) format: 'X.XXX cents per kWh.' This format is used in the OCA's Electric Shopping Guide. However, the Commission's PAPowerSwitch website provides the PTC and EGS offers in a dollars-per-kWh format: '$X.XXXX per kWh.' While we do not necessarily propose amending the formatting of PAPowerSwitch, nor do we necessarily recommend that OCA amend its Shopping Guide, we do see a benefit in the utility-consolidated bill providing rates in a consistent format," the PUC said.

"Therefore, we will refer this issue to OCMO for review and potential discussion through the CHARGE process. OCMO is directed to provide to the Commission its recommendations regarding whether or not changes are required to utility-consolidated bills regarding the presentation of EDC and EGS rates and, if so, the manner of presentation. OCMO shall provide its recommendations in a timely enough fashion to allow any potential modifications, should they be approved by the Commission, to be implemented by the June 1, 2015 deadline outlined in this Order," the PUC said.