PUC Approves Delay in Implementing Tools to Allow Suppliers to Remotely Access Account Numbers

The Pennsylvania PUC has extended the deadline by which electric distribution companies must implement programs allowing retail electric suppliers, with customer authorization, to remotely access customer account numbers to facilitate enrollment in environments in which the customer may not have their bill.

The PUC had originally intended for the programs to be operational in May 2014, but did not rule on compliance plans in time to permit such a start. In approving compliance plans for PECO (see related story today), PPL, Duquesne Light, and the FirstEnergy EDCs, the PUC ordered that the remote account number look-up mechanisms be implemented by November 1, 2014, with EDCs " strongly encourage[d]" to implement the mechanisms as soon as possible.

The PUC also approved such a program at UGI, to be implemented by December 31, 2014.

At all utilities except PECO, costs of implementing the account number look-up tool are to be recovered from customers on a nonbypassable basis, and/or deferred to a future base rate proceeding. Only PECO sought, and was granted, authority to recover costs of implementing the program from retail suppliers (see related story today).

The remote account number look-up tools approved by the PUC generally follow the parameters previously issued by the PUC, with some EDC-specific variations which were not contested by any party. Approval at PPL was conditioned on PPL including an input field, drop-down box, checkbox or some other instrument to permit the EGS to make the required attestation that their use of the tool stems from marketing activities occurring at a public venue or community event.

Click here for prior story for general parameters of the account number look-up mechanisms