Regulator Won't Consider Ban On Shopping For Hardship Customers As Part Of Investigation To Reduce Uncollectibles

The Connecticut PURA issued a notice that it will not consider a proposal from the Office of Consumer Counsel to ban electricity shopping for hardship customers as part of a docket investigating measures to manage uncollectibles (Docket 18-04-25)

In the uncollectibles docket, PURA said, "The Authority also hereby gives notice that it will not be addressing certain issues in the proceeding contained in OCC’s Supplemental Filing in Docket No. 17-01-33, OCC Petition to Investigate Abusive Electric Supplier Marketing Practices. Specifically, the Supplemental Filing request [sic] the Authority, pursuant to Conn. Gen. Stat. § 16-245o(m), examine the feasibility, costs, and benefits of placing on standard service all customers of all electric suppliers (i) who are hardship cases, (ii) who are on payment plans, (iii) who receive other financial assistance from an electric distribution company, or (iv) who are otherwise protected by law from shut-off of electricity services. Conn. Gen. Stat. § 16-245o(m) provides that the Authority may, in a final decision, order all such customers to be placed on standard service."

PURA said that, "The Authority intends to conduct a full review of issues identified in Conn. Gen. Stat. § 16-245o(m) in a separate docket," but that such issues will not be addressed in the uncollectibles proceeding