Utility Selects Retail Supplier To Serve Low-Income Customers, Reports Bids

Duke Energy Ohio petitioned the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio for authority to enter into an agreement with LE Energy LLC d/b/a Utility Gas and Power (UGP) to provide competitive natural gas supply to Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP) customers.

Duke issued an RFP for an adder to the monthly NYMEX closing price, which would be used to determine the rate charged to the PIPP customers

Duke Energy Ohio said that it received the following bids for the adder:

Bidder              Term            Adder 
                                  (per mmbtu)
Utility Gas & Power   4/20 - 3/23   $0.63
Utility Gas & Power   4/20 - 3/22   $0.66
Utility Gas & Power   4/20 - 3/21   $0.68
Infinite Energy       4/20 - 3/21   $0.782

Duke Energy Ohio recommended that the Commission approve the Utility Gas & Power bid for a three-year term.

"Based on an analysis of the past five years of Duke Energy Ohio's GCR rate, this bid will almost certainly result in lower costs for customers in the PIPP program. Whether or not these savings are actually realized will depend on the actual GCR rate experienced over the term," Duke said

Utility Gas and Power is currently serving Duke's PIPP customers, having previously been awarded a contract for a three-year period starting in April 2017.

Case No. 20-0569-GA-UNC