Pennsylvania Initiates Review of Changes to Natural Gas Disclosure Requirements, Contract Renewals

As part of its natural gas retail market investigation (I-2013-2381742), the Pennsylvania PUC has immediately commenced a review of changes to the natural gas disclosure requirements related to residential and small business customers.

To start the proceeding, the PUC directed stakeholders to address:

• Enhanced disclosure concerning variable prices; explanation and disclosure of any limits or caps.

• Explicit statement of no limits if there are no limits to a variable price.

• The price charged for the first billing period (a “starting price” if the price is variable).

• Explanation of when the customer becomes aware of their variable price for the billing period (before the billing period, at the time of billing, etc.).

• The provision of historical pricing information for variable products. If so – how much history and how should it be made available to consumers?

• The use of a contract summary that includes, in a simple, easy-to-read format the key contract provisions. If so, what format is needed and what provisions should be included – keeping in mind that a summary, to be effective, has to be brief, in plain language, and prominent?

• What changes, if any, are needed to contract expiration notices and the rules that should apply if a consumer fails to respond to the notices? Please refer specifically to 52 Pa. Code § 62.75(g)(1) and (2). Are additional rules needed for those consumers that are rolled onto variable-priced products upon expiration of their original contract similar to what is now in place for the electric industry, such as prior notice of price changes?

See Related Story Today: Pennsylvania Moves Up Review of Natural Gas Customer Referral Programs, in Final Order Setting Retail Market Investigation Priorities