Utility Proposes Rule That "All" Retail Supplier Charges Should Be "Readily Comparable" To The Price To Compare

In a Public Utility Commission of Ohio proceeding reviewing the rules applicable to electricity billing, AEP Ohio suggested that all competitive retail electric service (CRES) charges, "should be readily comparable to the price-to- compare."

AEP Ohio proposed the following rule language, "All CRES provider charges shall be itemized on the bill with explanation for each item. CRES charges shall be totaled, summarized in one price per kWh presentation such that the customer can readily compare the competitive service costs with the price-to-compare. The only fees which should be excluded from this one price CRES charges presentation are fees associated with a separate product or service."

AEP Ohio further proposed language stating that consolidated bills with retail supplier charges shall show, "To the extent applicable, itemization for each charge including, for fixed-price offers, the unit price per kWh for competitive service which is to be displayed in the same numeric format as the price to compare format and for all other offers for electric generation service, an explanation of how the rate is derived, as well as any other information the customer would need to recalculate the bill for accuracy. The unit price per kWh for competitive service shall include all costs associated with providing the customer completive [sic] service including any fixed charges, administrative fees (billing, mailing, etc.), service fees, and all additional fees passed along associated with the generation or transmission of service. The only fees which are to be excluded from this cost are those involved with a separate product or service."

Case No. 17-1842-EL-ORD