PUC Authorizes Utility's Motion To Terminate Retail Supplier's Participation In Choice Program, Disposition Of Customers

The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio granted Dominion Energy Ohio's application to terminate Gasearch LLC’s participation in Dominion’s Energy Choice program.

PUCO in an order directed that, "Gasearch and Dominion should work together to effectuate an orderly transition of Gasearch’s customers to Dominion or another natural gas supplier."

As exclusively first reported by EnergyChoiceMatters.com, Gasearch had stated an intent to sell/close Gasearch and Dominion alleged that it received communication from a third party that Gasearch would cease supplying customers. Gasearch subsequently informed PUCO that it received an M&A solution to continue to supply customers (story here)

"Dominion should delay the termination of Gasearch’s participation in the Energy Choice program until all existing customers have been transitioned and the operational and financial obligations associated with Gasearch’s supply pools have been resolved," PUCO said in the order

PUCO in a news release said that, "Customers of Gasearch will be automatically transitioned to Dominion’s standard choice offer or monthly retail rate (with annual usage over 200 mcf) or another natural gas supplier of their choice."

EnergyChoiceMatters notes that the news release is explicit that the "another natural gas supplier" to which the customer may be transferred shall be one, "of their [the customer's] choice". In contrast, EnergyChoiceMatters notes that the language in the order merely states Gasearch and Dominion should work together to effectuate an orderly transition of Gasearch’s customers to Dominion, "or another natural gas supplier." This less explicit language could be read as still allowing for a book sale of the Gasearch customers to another supplier, though the PUCO news release suggests that such a scenario is no longer a possibility. However, the statement in the news release should not at this time be seen as dispositive pending confirmation (we've reached out to PUCO's press manager)

PUCO Authorizes Drop Of Switch Energy, LLC Customers To Default Service

In a separate action, PUCO authorized the four investor-owned electric utilities to drop the customers of Switch Energy, LLC to default service, as had been directed by PJM (and first reported by EnergyChoiceMatters.com)

Switch Energy was serving customers at all four EDCs in Ohio. As previously reported, Switch was serving 1,680 customers at Duke Energy Ohio. Switch was serving 3,062 customers at AEP Ohio (2,940 residential, 119 commercial and 3 industrial)