New York PSC Grants New ESCO Authority To Serve Low-Income Customers

The New York PSC granted NOCO Electric, LLC and NOCO Natural Gas, LLC a waiver that will allow NOCO to serve assistance program participant (APP, or EAP) customers with a guaranteed savings product

The PSC's order is notable because when the PSC issued an order prohibiting ESCOs from serving assistance program participant customers, except under a guaranteed savings plan, the PSC set forth a one-time election deadline for ESCOs to seek authority to serve APP customers, and did not explicitly contemplate that the PSC would consider future petitions to provide a guaranteed savings plan to APP customers

The PSC said that NOCO will offer the APP product in the National Fuel Gas Distribution Corporation, National Grid, New York State Electric & Gas Corporation, and Rochester Gas & Electric Corporation service territories

Consistent with prior APP waivers, the PSC ordered that, "While NOCO’s petition for a waiver is granted, the Commission finds that it is appropriate to place a time limit on all such waivers to err on the side of caution to protect vulnerable EAP customers. Thus, this waiver will expire 24 months from the date of this Order."