Regulator Opens Investigation Of Retail Supplier Offers, May Condition Access To Utilities' Systems Based On Such Findings

The Connecticut PURA has expanded a periodic review of the placement of all utility hardship customers on default service to include a review of retail electric supplier offers under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 16-245(a)

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 16-245(a) provides, in part, that the Authority, "shall have the authority to condition an electric supplier's license and access to the systems and billing of the electric distribution companies on terms the authority determines to be just and reasonable, including, but not limited to, proof that the electric supplier's products are not overpriced or harmful to residential customers."

As exclusively first reported by EnergyChoiceMatters.com, The Office of Education, Outreach, and Enforcement (EOE) of the Connecticut PURA and the Connecticut Office of Consumer Counsel (OCC) had requested that PURA open a proceeding to investigate whether retail electric suppliers' offers are overpriced or harmful to residential customers

EOE and OCC had asked that PURA stay a periodic review of whether to keep hardship customers on standard (default) service, under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 16-245o(m), pending the sought broader investigation

The Authority agreed that an investigation of supplier offers permitted pursuant to Conn. Gen Stat. § 16-245(a) is needed. PURA also agreed that the investigation of supplier offers and the Authority’s two-year review of placing hardship customers on standard service, required pursuant to Conn. Gen. Stat. § 16-245o(m), are, "intertwined."

Accordingly, the Authority expanded the review of placing hardship customers on standard service to include, "an investigation of supplier offers."

"The Authority also bifurcates the proceeding into two phases, Phase 1, which is the investigation of supplier offers permitted pursuant to Conn. Gen Stat. § 16-245(a), and Phase 2, which is the Authority’s two-year review required pursuant to Conn. Gen. Stat. § 16-245o(m)," PURA said

The Authority directed EOE to submit a proposed schedule for Phases 1 and 2 on or before February 3, 2022

Docket No. 18-06-02RE01