PSC Opens Review of New Utility Billing System, Impacts on Retail Suppliers

The District of Columbia PSC has opened an investigation into the implementation of Washington Gas Light Company’s new billing system and its impact on customers, on the approval process for natural gas suppliers, and on competition in the natural gas retail market in the District of Columbia

"Based on the Commission’s recent experience with the implementation of a new billing system for electric distribution customers, the Commission knows that a new billing system has the potential to offer additional functionalities that over time could prove beneficial to customers and competitive energy suppliers; however, the initial testing and implementation process can also adversely impact a company’s ability to timely and accurately distribute customers’ bills in the format approved by Order No. 17361. A new billing system also offers the opportunity to enhance competition in the energy retail market by providing additional billing options for competitive energy suppliers and the opportunity to expedite the implementation of the requirements already imposed by the Commission pursuant to Order No. 12709 by allowing for the incorporation of competitive energy suppliers into the system in a more timely and equitable fashion," the PSC said

"To address these issues that can potentially impact natural gas customers and suppliers and the level of competition in the retail gas market in the District, the Commission is initiating an investigation into the implementation of WGL’s new billing system and its impact on customers, on the approval process for natural gas suppliers, and on competition in the natural gas retail market in the District of Columbia," the PSC said

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