Texas PUC Staff Seeks Comment on Removing Usage Credits From EFL Average Pricing, Eliminating Shopping Component of Power to Choose Site

Staff of the Public Utility Commission of Texas have issued in Project 45730 a request for comments concerning the Power to Choose website, including changes to the computation of the Electricity Facts Label average pricing, and potential elimination of the shopping component on the Power to Choose site

Staff sought comment on the following:

1. How is the Power to Choose website in its current format meeting or not meeting its goal to assist customers in shopping for a retail electric plan?

2. What design changes could be made to the website to improve its usefulness to consumers?

a. Should the commission change how offers are sorted? If so, how?

b. What changes to the layout of the website and the shopping results would improve its functionality?

c. What other ways could plans be categorized or filtered?

3. Are there any changes to commission rules that would improve the process of shopping for a retail electric provider?

a. Should the commission expand the Energy Facts Label? If so, how?

b. Should credits and fees be removed from the total average price?

c. What are other criteria the website should use to compare different offers?

4. What impact would removing the shopping function from the website have on the retail electric market and consumers?

a. If the shopping function were removed from the Power to Choose website, are their sufficient alternatives in the private market?

b. How would the retail electric market and consumers be affected by replacing the shopping functions with a directory of retail electric providers and commercial shopping websites?