PUC to Examine Relying on Longer-Term Default Service Contacts, Whether Utilities Should Offer "Price Stability"

The New Hampshire PUC has officially noticed a new docket (IR 14-338) to review the design of the electric utilities' default service procurements.

"In the most recent default service proceedings for Liberty and UES, the Office of Consumer Advocate (OCA) suggested that default service customers may benefit from changing the term of default service procurement from a 6-month block to a 12-month block to mitigate the price spikes that occur in the winter months. The OCA also proposed that procuring power through a laddered portfolio could provide some rate stability. This docket will provide a forum to review these proposals and any other options recommended by stakeholders," the PUC said.

Issues to be addressed include:

• Whether price stability should be an option offered by electric distribution utilities as part of default service or otherwise

• Whether changes should be made to default service procurement methods to minimize cost shifting between long- and short-term customers of default service

• Potential effects on New Hampshire’s retail electricity market

The PUC intends to conclude its review in advance of the procurement of default service supply for the winter period 2015-2016.

An initial stakeholder discussion will be held January 14, 2015