Pa. PUC Proposes Requiring Utilities To Offer Customers Ability To Designate Third Party Who Would Receive Copy Of Any Change In Supplier (Switch) Notice

Will Provide Opportunity For Third Party Individuals To "Intervene" For Those Customers For Which There Is Concern About Their Ability To Participate Effectively In The Market

In a proceeding on implementing various utility customer protection measures, the Pennsylvania PUC has proposed requiring electric and natural gas distribution companies to offer customers the ability to designate a third-party who would receive copies of change-in-supplier (switching) notices, similar to the current ability to designate third parties for other important notices (such as past due and termination notices)

Section 56.131 (and the identical Section 56.361) provides for a third party to receive copies of various collection notices, including past due and termination notices. The intent of these notices is to provide information to the third party that may aid the third party in assisting the customer with a collections-related problem. For example, an adult child may elect to receive the notices sent by a utility to their parent, who may have limited abilities to handle utility matters. The notices are also designed to assist customers that are hospitalized, away from home for extended periods of time or homebound. This notification is voluntary, and the notices are informational only and do not impose any obligation upon the receiver of the notice.

"It has come to the Commission’s Office of Competitive Market Oversight’s attention that this same mechanism may be of service in the context of energy supplier switching. A third party may want to be alerted as to a customer’s supplier selections to help the customer with the process of selecting an energy supplier. Some consumers may have difficulty navigating the competitive energy marketplace and may require the assistance of a third party," the PUC said

Pursuant to 52 Pa. Code §§ 57.173 (relating to Customer contacts the EGS to request a change in electric supply service.) and 59.93 (relating to Customer contacts with NGSs), anytime the customer has enrolled with a competitive supplier, the utility is to send the customer a confirmation notice. This confirmation notice alerts the consumer to the switch of supplier and provides the date the switch will be effective. The notice then advises the customer to contact the utility immediately if there is a problem, such as a possible unauthorized switch of supply service.

"We propose adding these supplier switch confirmation notices to the list of notices that a utility will provide under Sections 56.131 and 56.361," the PUC said

"We think this will assist those individuals concerned about a customer’s ability to participate effectively in the competitive market and will provide these individuals with the opportunity to intervene and assist the customer if needed," the PUC said

Docket L-2015-2508421