RESA Seeks Extension Of Effective Date For Revised New York Uniform Business Practices

The Retail Energy Supply Association requested a sixty (60) day extension of time of the effective date of the revised Uniform Business Practices (UBP) requirements adopted by the New York PSC in January

Among other things, the revised Uniform Business Practices now require ESCOs, for residential and small non-residential customers, to conduct, "an independent third party verification," for any sale resulting from a scheduled appointment, in addition to door-to-door and telephonic sales

See our prior story for more on the UBP changes

The PSC's January 19 order adopted the revised UBP requirements effective 30 days from the effective date of the order

"Although the requirements apply prospectively, to comply with the Order, Energy Service Companies ('ESCOs') must institute significant internal operational changes, including but not limited to, implementing and testing new transaction processes and the adoption of new or modified document management and/or information technology systems. A thirty (30) day compliance period is not sufficient to enable ESCOs to make the changes necessary to meet the detailed obligations set forth in the UBP amendments promulgated by the Commission," RESA said

"Additionally, pursuant to 16 NYCRR § 3.7, RESA intends to submit a Request for Rehearing of the Order to the Commission with respect to several of the amendments. As a consequence, certain of the obligations will be subject to potential modification. Thus, postponement of the effective compliance date is also appropriate to allow for disposition of RESA’s rehearing request. Accordingly, for all the foregoing reasons, RESA requests the Commission extend the effective date of the UBP Amendments by 60 days to April 19, 2018," RESA said