Retail Suppliers Propose Considerations For Pilot For Electric Choice In Arizona; "Start" With Small to Large C&I Customers

The Retail Energy Supply Association (RESA) filed with the Arizona Corporation Commission, "some considerations in developing a proposed pilot program," for electric choice

As previously reported, there are still not three apparent votes on the Arizona Corporation Commission in favor of moving forward with retail electric choice in Arizona. Generally, ACC Chair Bob Burns and Commissioner Justin Olson favor moving electric choice forward, having drafted rules for implementation.

Commissioner Sandra Kennedy has stated that she is open to exploring a pilot project with community choice aggregation (CCAs) and/or community solar, but would not pre-judge electric choice, and criticized being "pushed" on the electric choice issue during a meeting related to APS rate and customer education issues (see story here)

RESA listed considerations for an electric choice pilot as follows:

• Start with small to large commercial & industrial customers

• Stated eventual goal is for all customers to have choice to include specific deadlines and implementation dates for full roll-out

• Have target dates with program goals

• Application process -- structure after other states

• Finalize consumer protection rules which will promote transparency and protection to consumers

• ACC to develop licensing and administrative authority over the suppliers, and

• Reporting requirements to track progress of the program