New York Considers "Standard" Product Required To Be Offered By ESCOs

The New York PSC issued a discussion document drafted by Staff in advance of a previously reported technical conference on ESCO eligibility requirements (licensing), and one of the considerations is the development of a standard product or products required to be offered by ESCOs

The Staff list of issues for the technical conference states under "Certain Standard Products":

"ESCOs that offer a fixed price product could be required to offer one or more products which conform to a standard product definition. A standard fixed price product would make it much easier for consumers to compare products and services, thereby facilitating vigorous competition. Should consideration be given to a proposal requiring ESCOs that offer fixed prices to residential and small non-residential customers to structure an offer in a standardized product? If so, should the product include:

a. A fixed term, and if so, how long?

b. A single per unit rate?

c. A specific early termination fee, and if so, how much?

d. No additional supply products or requirements bundled into the price? and/or

e. Unless the customer agrees in writing to an extension, at the end of the term the contract reverts to a variable priced product with no early termination charge?

What other standardized products should also be considered? Note that ESCOs would continue to be encouraged to offer additional products and services, including innovative services with energy management and other distributed energy resources (DER) attributes."

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Case 15-M-0127