Ohio Utilities Seek Comment Period on Staff Recommendations for Retail Supplier Warm Transfer Process

The four Ohio investor-owned electric distribution companies jointly asked the Public Utility Commission of Ohio to set a comment period for a Staff report on retail electric market improvements which recommended that EDCs implement a Warm Transfer process, which is the ability of the EDU to complete a three-way call with the CRES provider and customer to initiate CRES enrollment

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The utilities said that while they may not necessarily oppose "some form" of transfer as the option chosen by Staff, the EDCs said that Staff also made specific recommendations of items that should be included in the warm transfer process. Many of the recommendations were not significantly discussed, if discussed at all, during the working group, the EDCs said.

"The Ohio Electric Utilities respectfully request that the Commission or Attorney Examiner order a comment period so that the Ohio Electric Utilities and interested parties may provide more information regarding these specific recommendations," the EDCs said

"For example, the Ohio Electric Utilities each have different systems and technologies whereby Staff’s specific recommendations may not work or the cost of implementation may be significantly higher than originally anticipated by the Staff. Also, because the Ohio Electric Utilities have expertise in their own systems and technologies, they may have recommendations that would enhance or improve Staff’s specific recommendations," the EDCs said