Maryland Defers Permanent Action on Accelerated Switching Timeline

The Maryland PSC has deferred adopting on a permanent basis an acceleration in the customer switching timeline, finding that the matter should be addressed in the Commission's generic review of retail market customer protections (PC 35).

The PSC had originally directed an acceleration in the switching timeline to five days in April, but its action was subject to a sunset date of July 31, 2014.

However, due to utility logistics, only an acceleration in returns to SOS, rather than switches to retail suppliers, were implemented at certain EDCs.

The PSC, in a Friday order, declined to adopt the prior changes in the switching timeline on a permanent basis, instead stating that, upon a review of the options and discussion contained in a workgroup report, "these topics will be more appropriately addressed in the context of Public Conference ('PC') 35."

Specifically, the topics of expedited customer switching and the inclusion of supplier commodity charges in utility-designed budget billing programs shall be addressed in the context of PC 35, the PSC said.