Regulator Says Five Suppliers Not In Compliance With Renewal Rules, Opens Investigation of All Suppliers

The Connecticut PURA said that five retail electric suppliers are not in compliance with the currently effective renewal notice regulations, and opened an investigation of all suppliers' compliance with the renewal rules.

Conn. Gen. Stat. §16-245o(f), as amended by Public Act 13-119, provides: "Between thirty and sixty days, inclusive, prior to the expiration of a fixed price term for a residential customer, an electric supplier shall provide a written notice to such customer of any change to the customer's electric generation price."

PURA said that five suppliers have informed PURA of non-compliance with this provision. PURA's statement regarding each supplier was not a formal finding of wrongdoing.

PURA said that: "Constellation's letter dated May 9, 2014, reported that Constellation had failed to provide the required notices to a group of 1,548 customers. Direct Energy Services stated in Docket No. 13-07-18 (Response to AD-3) that it was aware of instances that notice was not provided to customers. Energy Plus Holdings stated in Docket No. 13-07-18 (Response to AD-3) that 'in instances where EPH has not timely provided notice to customers, those customers have been placed back onto their original contract price for 60 days and notice has been sent.' Discount Power and Liberty Holdings provided (Responses to AD-3 in Docket No. 13-07-18) a copy of the notices they sent to customers; however, such notices do not meet the intent of §16-245o(f), as they do not even inform the customer of the expiration of their fixed price contract."

Constellation's failure to provide the notice to 1,500 customers had been first reported by EnergyChoiceMatters.com

"Based on the foregoing, PURA is initiating this docket to (a) investigate whether every electric supplier doing business in Connecticut has complied with Conn. Gen. Stat. §16-245o(f), and (b) determine the appropriate remedies for customers and/or penalties for any electric supplier that has failed to comply with §16-245o(f)," PURA said in opening docket 14-05-38