PUC Grants Retail Supplier Waiver Of Certain TPV Requirements

The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio has granted AEP Energy, Inc.'s petition for a waiver of the current rules concerning third-party verification for door-to-door electricity and natural gas sales

As exclusively reported by EnergyChoiceMatters.com, AEP Energy sought partial waivers for its process that would generally rely on the customer using a personal electronic device to receive and consent to various disclosures, including specific product information, and enrollment. AEP Energy would then conduct a shortened telephonic TPV which would not include the more granular information disclosed and affirmed by the customer through the electronic device, but would still record, among other things, the customer's personal information, and confirmation that the individual is the account holder or is authorized to switch the account

See additional details on AEP Energy's process here

"The Commission finds that the Applicant has shown good cause for the requested waiver. The Applicant’s request for a waiver of the provision of Ohio Adm.Code 4901:1-21- 06(D)(1)(h) and Ohio Adm.Code 4901:1-29-06(D)(6)(b) requiring TPV of the enrollment by telephone, and for approval to instead use a combination of telephonic and electronic TPV, is intended to ensure substantial compliance with the rules, while complying with all other consumer protection requirements," PUCO said

"As noted by the Applicant, the customer will verify, acknowledge, and confirm certain specified information through yes or no questions on the customer’s personal communication device and, once the customer submits the completed disclosure statements, an independent TPV call will be initiated, and the employee will leave the property of the customer. The Commission also emphasizes that a shortened TPV will still occur through an audio recording of the customer’s responses to the questions in the TPV script. Additionally, the Applicant must continue ensuring that the other specific items listed in the rules are verified with the customer in clear, plain language," PUCO said

The waiver is granted only until the Commission issues an order addressing the TPV requirements in the pending five-year rule review in Case No. 17-1843-EL-ORD and 17-1847-GA-ORD

Case 18-0371-EL-WVR