October 4, 2023
PUC Directs Utility To Consider Using Retail Suppliers To Assist In Distribution Of Smart Thermostats
A PUC has directed…
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Low-Income & Assistance
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September 26, 2023
Texas REPs Say CenterPoint-TDU's "Vague" Low-Income Discount Proposal, Proposed To Be Administered By REPs, Not Feasible
In testimony before the Texas PUC, the Texas Energy Association for Marketers (TEAM) said that a proposal from CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric (CEHE or CenterPoint) for a special low-income customer rate (discount) under Rider TEEEF, with the program administered by retail electric providers, is not feasible
September 18, 2023
CenterPoint-TDU Further Discusses Envisioned Operation Of Enrolling Customers Onto New Low-Income Discount Rate, New REP Responsibilities
CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric (CEHE) has provided further information, via a response to an RFI from the Texas Energy Association for Marketers (TEAM), concerning its proposed low-income customer rate (discount) under Rider TEEEF, which collects the costs of Temporary Emergency Electric Energy Facilities used by CEHE
September 1, 2023
Retail Suppliers Seek Declaratory Ruling On Regulator's Rate Cap Authority
The Retail Energy Advancement League (REAL), the NRG Retail Companies, and Constellation NewEnergy, Inc., have filed a Petition for Declaratory Ruling at the Connecticut PURA seeking a determination of the applicability (i.e. to what customers) of a statutory provision authorizing PURA to impose…
August 18, 2023
Regulator Directs Workgroup Concerning Implementation Of Retail Supplier Rate Cap
Group To Consider, "Potential Legal Considerations Associated With Changing The Customer’s Rate To A Rate That Is Different From The Rate In The Contract Between The Customer And The Supplier"
August 17, 2023
Texas REPs' Shares Of Low-Income Matching List Cost To Be Set
Texas PUC Staff have issued a proposed allocation of costs to retail electric providers electing to participate in the matching process to receive a list of their low-income customers for the next fiscal year (fiscal year beginning on September 1, 2023.)
July 26, 2023
Texas Consumer Groups Seek Moratorium On Disconnections For Non-Payment
The Texas Consumer Association and AARP Texas filed a petition at the Texas PUC to, "immediately suspend the current provisions of Substantive Rule §25.29(i), pertaining to disconnection of electric service during extreme weather," and to, in the current rule's place, instead, "impose a total…
July 24, 2023
PSC Moves To Prohibit Municipal Aggregation From Charging Variable Rates
During a further Maryland PSC rulemaking session concerning creating rules for the community choice aggregation (CCA) pilot, the PSC appeared prepared to adopt a specific regulation prohibiting a CCA from charging variable rates
July 1, 2023
Regulator Opens Proceeding To Determine "Appropriate Limitations" For ALL Retail Supplier Contracts
On July 3, 2023, the Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (Authority or PURA) initiated Docket 18-06-02RE02 to determine the "appropriate limitations" with which all customer contracts with electric suppliers, entered into on and after a determined date, must comply.
June 27, 2023
PSC Adopts Mechanism For Cost Recovery Of Supplier Consolidated Billing Implementation Costs
Directs That SCB Implementation Shall Proceed
The Maryland PSC today issued an order on the cost allocation for implementation and related costs under supplier consolidated billing (SCB)
June 1, 2023
PSC Provides Guidance That Municipal Aggregation (& CCA Supplier) Won't Be Subject To Low-Income Customer Rate Cap Applicable To Retail Suppliers
"Not Fair," PSC Chair Says PSC Discusses Advertising Limits, Offers Guidance On Opt-outs
During a Maryland PSC rulemaking session concerning creating rules for the community choice aggregation (CCA) pilot, the PSC provided guidance to a workgroup on several key disputed issues, after it became clear there were still too many remaining disputes to go through the regulations for final…
May 31, 2023
PSC Clarifies Grandfathering Of Existing Retail Supplier Contracts To Energy Assistance Households, Given New Price Cap & Rules
Final Rules For Service To Energy Assistance Households Adopted
The Maryland PSC adopted final regulations to implement a 2021 law [Chapter 637; amending the annotated code Section 4-308] that prohibits retail electric and gas supplier service to energy assistance customers outside of a PSC-approved plan whose price is less than SOS
May 26, 2023
Texas TDU Floats New Obligation On Retail Electric Providers As Part Of Low-Income Discounted Rate Proposal
CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric ("CEHE", "CenterPoint", or the "Company") has floated a mechanism which would impose new obligations on retail electric providers as part of a potential program to provide low-income customers rate relief from Rider TEEEF, which collects the costs of Temporary…
May 10, 2023
PUC Discloses Retail Suppliers Selected To Serve Low-Income Customer Load
The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio has disclosed the winning retail suppliers selected to serve the electricity load of Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP) customers for the one-year period June 1, 2023 through May 31, 2024
May 2, 2023
AG Report Says Massachusetts Residential Customers Paid $100 Million More On Retail Supplier Service Versus Default Service In Most Recent Year
Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell released a report that, as stated by the AG's office, "found that in the last six years, individual residential customers who received their electric supply from competitive suppliers paid $525 million more on their electric bills than they would…
April 24, 2023
Google, Renewable Marketer Partner on 500 MWAC "Environmental Justice Program"
Google and EDPR NA Distributed Generation LLC (EDPR NA DG), the distributed generation (DG) business unit of EDP Renewables North America (EDPR NA), announced, "the signing of a framework agreement supporting more than 80 distributed solar PV projects totaling 500 MWAC."
April 20, 2023
Pa. PUC Withdraws Proposal Requiring EDCs To Develop Program To Allow CAP Customers To Shop
Says Evidence Shows Both CAP & Other Customers Suffered Harm Under CAP Shopping Programs
The Pennsylvania PUC today withdrew a proposed policy statement concerning the eligibility of Customer Assistance Program (CAP) customers to shop for a competitive electric supplier
April 12, 2023
PSC Approves Retail Supplier, Utility Communications To Energy Assistance Customers Whose Shopping Will Be Restricted To PSC-Approved Products This Summer
The Maryland PSC approved the consensus recommendations of the PC 44 workgroup for communications that retail suppliers and utilities will send to customers due to a recent law in Maryland that limits customers who receive energy assistance through a program administered by the Office of Home Energy…
April 12, 2023
PSC Approves Delay In Supplier Consolidated Billing, Holds Hearing On Cost Recovery
The Maryland PSC has approved a delay in the implementation of supplier consolidated billing
March 29, 2023
Workgroup Reaches Consensus On Retail Supplier, Utility Communications To Energy Assistance Customers Whose Shopping Will Be Restricted To PSC-Approved Products This Summer
A PC 44 workgroup, addressing a recent law in Maryland that limits customers who receive energy assistance through a program administered by the Office of Home Energy Programs (OHEP) to retail supplier offers that have been approved by the PSC, has reached a general consensus on communications that…
March 28, 2023
Pa. PUC Considering Auto-Enrollment Of Customers Onto CAP (Would Lose Shopping Eligibility)
The Pennsylvania PUC has initiated a review of the Customer Assistance Programs (CAPs) at all utilities.
March 3, 2023
Texas REP Files Complaint Against TDU, Seeks Disconnection Of Critical Care Customer & Payment By TDU Of Customer's Unpaid Energy Charges
Spark Energy, LLC (Spark) filed at the Texas PUC a formal complaint against CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric LLC ("CEHE" or "CenterPoint") for what Spark alleged, is CEHE's, "refusal to disconnect a critical care customer served by CenterPoint."
March 1, 2023
Texas REPs To Pay $193,000 & Contribute $120,000 To Payment Assistance To Resolve Alleged Violations Resulting From Alleged Disconnections During Term Of Second COVID Relief Program
Direct Energy, LP, CPL Retail Energy L.P., and First Choice Power, LLC (collectively, Companies) would collectively pay a $193,200 penalty, and would collectively contribute $120,750 to Direct Energy's bill payment assistance program, under a settlement with Texas PUC Staff to resolve alleged…
February 17, 2023
Utility Seeks Approval For Alternative Supplier To Serve PIPP Customers
Duke Energy Ohio sought approval to select, from the results of an RFP, LE Energy LLC d/b/a Utility Gas and Power as the alternative supplier to serve Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP) customers for the term April 2023 to March 2025
December 20, 2022
Texas PUC To Form Working Groups On Energy Efficiency Rulemaking Including Role Of Demand Response & REP Participation / Market Structure
A publicly filed memo from the Director of the Texas PUC's Infrastructure Division states that the PUC will form working groups in January 2023 to address the future energy efficiency rulemaking topics listed below: