NY PSC Denies Request To Extend Compliance Deadline for "Full Stop" Retail Markets Order

The Secretary of the New York PSC has denied a request to extend a March 4 deadline for ESCOs to comply with the PSC's February 23 retail mass market order.

Related: NY PSC Staff Guidelines Answer Key Questions on ESCO Service During "Full Stop" Period (Treatment of Non-Month-to-Month Variable Customers, Consent for Compliant Product Switches, Renewable Compliance Details)

As was first reported by EnergyChoiceMatters.com, the PSC on Feb. 23 has banned ESCOs from enrolling or renewing mass market customers, unless the product guarantees savings versus the utility rate over an "annual" period or the product includes at least 30% renewable electricity ("compliant product").

Moreover, ESCOs that currently serve mass market customers through "month-to-month variable rate agreements" must enroll those customers in a compliant product at the end of the current billing cycle or return the customers to utility supply service, the PSC ordered on Feb. 23.

The February 23 order established a March 4 deadline for compliance

ESCOs sought an extension of the March 4 deadline, citing ambiguities in the order, as well as logistical challenges to compliance within 10-days.

The Secretary denied such requests

"The changes required in the Order are intended to immediately address the harms experienced by mass market customers ... The Commission provided clear justification for the urgent action taken and I decline to postpone the pressing and imperative changes directed in the Order," the Secretary said

"Therefore, the Requestors’ requests for an extension are denied in order to promote the fair, orderly and efficient conduct of these proceedings," the Secretary said

The Secretary noted that Department Staff issued a Guidance Document on March 2, which was first reported by EnergyChoiceMatters.com yesterday, and has conducted an informational meeting with interested companies to review the requirements of the Order.