PUC Directs Supplier's Concerns With Customer List Data Quality to OCMO

The Pennsylvania PUC has directed to its Office of Competitive Market Oversight several issues regarding the electric utilities' customer lists raised by several NRG Energy suppliers.

As only reported by EnergyChoiceMatters.com, the NRG Energy retail suppliers reported that the "shockingly low" success rate seen by retail electric suppliers using PECO's remote account number look-up tool is due to the poor data quality of PECO's customer list, and PECO's insistence on a 100% character-for-character match (click here for full story)

In addressing implementation of an account number look-up tool in the natural gas market, the PUC declined to adjudicate the issues raised by NRG, but directed several of the issues to OCMO for further review

"We recognize NRG’s frustration with the exact matching requirements of PECO’s electricity mechanism and the variations in customer data inputs. However, we do not have enough information at this time to direct PECO, or any other EDC or NGDC, to make customer database changes. Therefore, we refer this matter to OCMO for its review," the PUC said.

In PECO's electric account number look-up tool, if a customer is on the eligible customer list (ECL) and the supplier uses the account number look-up tool to obtain the account number, the tool provides a response that the customer is on the ECL and the look-up tool does not provide the account number. NRG had requested that any mechanisms developed for the natural gas marketplace include the account number, regardless of whether or not it is on the ECL, to allow for the most efficient solution

The PUC responded that, "With regard to the 'ON ECL' response, we do not believe it appropriate to direct PECO, in this proceeding, to amend its electric account number access mechanism to provide the account number with such a response. We refer this matter to OCMO for its review."

The NRG companies also expressed concern with the FirstEnergy utilities' account look-up mechanism which requires suppliers to attest that, "I have and will return a signed LOA from the customer." NRG said that this requirement goes beyond the PUC requirement that suppliers only attest that they have a signed LOA from the customer

"[W]e recognize NRG’s concern regarding FirstEnergy’s LOA attestation language. However, we do not have enough information at this time to require FirstEnergy to make a change to its mechanism, nor is this the appropriate proceeding to provide such a directive. Therefore, we refer this matter to OCMO for its review," the PUC said.

Additionally, NRG took issue with the FirstEnergy utilities' look-up mechanism which requires a supplier to indicate via a drop down menu, whether either a “driver’s license” or “passport” was provided by the customer. There is no “other” option, "despite the Commission’s clear guidance that alternative forms of identification are permitted," the NRG companies said.

"We recognize NRG’s concern regarding FirstEnergy’s photo ID attestation options. However, we do not have enough information at this time to require FirstEnergy to make a change to its mechanism, nor is this the appropriate proceeding to provide such a directive. Therefore, we invite NRG to submit an informal request to OCMO for its review," the PUC said.