March 18, 2020
Illinois Opens Notice Of Inquiry Regarding "Energy Affordability"
Formal Disconnection Moratorium Adopted
The Illinois Commerce Commission has opened a Notice of Inquiry regarding "energy affordability"
HomeNews By TopicLow-Income & Assistance
Low-Income & Assistance
Narrow these results by state, topic, company or docket — filters stack, and every story shown carries all of them.
March 16, 2020
Reliant Pausing Payment-Related Disconnections
Reliant announced a series of actions to support customers during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) global pandemic, including a pause on disconnects for non-payment
March 16, 2020
TXU Energy Announces Customer Assistance Actions During Coronavirus Pandemic
Austin Energy, CPS Energy Suspend Disconnections
TXU Energy announced a series of steps it has taken to help customers that may incur economic hardship related to the coronavirus pandemic
March 11, 2020
Utility Selects Retail Supplier To Serve Low-Income Customers, Reports Bids
Duke Energy Ohio petitioned the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio for authority to enter into an agreement with LE Energy LLC d/b/a Utility Gas and Power (UGP) to provide competitive natural gas supply to Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP) customers.
February 13, 2020
Update: PUC Approves Awarding Of 100% Of PIPP Load At FirstEnergy Ohio Utilities To Retail Supplier
PUCO approved the results of the auction described below.
February 7, 2020
New York PSC Authorizes Renewal Of Three ESCOs' Ability To Serve Low-Income Customers With Guaranteed Savings Plans
The New York PSC has approved the renewal of waivers for three ESCOs to allow such ESCOs to serve low-income (assistance program participant) customers with a guaranteed savings plan
January 17, 2020
Regulator Provisionally Orders Earlier Utility Provision Of Sync Lists Of Hardship Customers, Who May No Longer Be Served, To Retail Suppliers
The Connecticut PURA denied reconsideration of its previously reported decision which requires all hardship electricity customers to be returned to Standard Service no later than July 1, 2020, including those on existing contracts with retail suppliers, but did provisionally modify a schedule…
January 3, 2020
Virginia Lawmakers To Unveil Legislation To End Monopoly Control Of Virginia's Electricity Market
Bill Would, "Increase Consumer Choice By Establishing A Competitive Market"
On January 7, Virginia Delegate Mark Keam and Delegate Lee Ware will announce what is described by proponents as, "bipartisan legislation to eradicate the current system of monopoly utilities controlling the electricity system in Virginia."
December 18, 2019
Regulator Orders All Hardship Customers To Be Returned To Default Service, Including Those On Existing Contracts (Final Order), Extends Effective Date
Retail Suppliers Prohibited From Serving Hardship Customers
The Connecticut PURA issued a final decision under which PURA ordered that all hardship electricity customers shall be returned to standard service (default service), and the EDCs shall implement system programming to prevent hardship customers from enrolling with an electric supplier.
December 10, 2019
State Agency Proposes Tracking Impact On Arrearages From Customer's Participation In Retail Electric Choice
The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, Bureau of Energy and Technology Policy (BETP) said in comments to the Connecticut PURA, in an energy affordability proceeding (Docket No. 17-12-03RE01), that the impact, on the customer's arrearage status, from a customer's…
December 3, 2019
Proposed Decision Would Require All Hardship Customers To Be Dropped To Default Service, Including Those On Existing Retail Supplier Contracts
Draft Order Would Prohibit Retail Suppliers From Serving Hardship Customers
The Connecticut PURA issued a proposed decision which would require that all hardship customers be dropped to Standard Service (default service) by March 1, 2020, with suppliers prohibited from serving hardship customers
October 31, 2019
Utility Says Evaluation Of Current Retail Choice Should Be Considered As Part of Regulator's New Energy "Affordability" Investigation
AARP Seeks To Limit Retail Supplier Service To Low Income Customers
United Illuminating and AARP have both cited retail electric choice as an issue in the Connecticut PURA's new investigation into, "energy affordability."
October 24, 2019
Pennsylvania Utility Seeking To Offer Community Solar, Legislation Filed
Legislation (House Bill 1970) has been filed in Pennsylvania to allow the electric distribution companies to offer community solar (local solar) to their customers under a subscription program
October 10, 2019
Retail Choice Regulator Opens Proceeding On "Energy Affordability"; Part Of Modern Grid Investigation
The Connecticut PURA has opened a number of specific proceedings as part of a larger grid modernization docket, including a new proceeding on energy affordability for all customer classes in Connecticut
September 26, 2019
Another New York ESCO Seeks Extension Of Waiver To Continue Serving Assistant Program Participant Customers With Guaranteed Savings Product
Zone One Energy LLC filed a request at the New York PSC to renew its currently effective waiver of the prohibition on service to low-income customers by energy service companies (ESCOs) so Zone One Energy may continue to offer its guaranteed savings plan product (GSP) to its customers in New York
September 25, 2019
ESCO Seeks Extension Of Waiver To Continue Serving Assistant Program Participant Customers With Guaranteed Savings Product
Ambit New York, LLC requested from the New York PSC an extension of the waiver of the prohibition on service to low-income customers by energy service companies (ESCOs) so Ambit may continue to offer its guaranteed savings plan product (GSP) to its customers in New York, to which the PSC previously…
September 17, 2019
Connecticut Department Of Energy & Environmental Protection Recommends Placing All Hardship Customers On Default Service, Adoption Of Prohibition On Shopping
Connecticut's Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, Bureau of Energy and Technology Policy (Bureau) said in a brief that the Connecticut PURA should, "exercise its discretion and order hardship customers to be placed on standard service."
August 30, 2019
Texas PUC Sets Costs Assigned To Individual Retail Providers For Provision Of Low-Income Sync List
The Public Utility Commission of Texas adopted an order setting the specific individual amounts which will be allocated to individual retail electric providers for provision of the low-income customer identification service for the State fiscal year beginning on September 1, 2019 (FY2020).
August 27, 2019
Pennsylvania Utility: Some Retail Suppliers, "Are Not Putting Customers First"
Consumer Group: Retail Supplier Pricing During Polar Vortex Shows Need For Default Service
In reply comments in a Pennsylvania PUC proceeding concerning potential changes to electricity default service, including a potential move away from a "plain vanilla" default service product, PPL Electric Utilities said that, "some retail suppliers are not putting customers first"
August 22, 2019
Texas PUC Staff Propose Cost To Be Allocated To Individual Retail Providers For Provision Of Low-Income Sync List
Staff of the Texas PUC have proposed the individual amounts to be allocated to individual retail electric providers for provision of the low-income customer identification service for the State fiscal year beginning on September 1, 2019 (FY2020).
August 19, 2019
Regulator Directs Retail Suppliers To Report On Customers Served Via Auto-Renewal, Fixed Vs. Variable, Low-Income
Invites Revised Proposals On Marketing Scripts, Contract Summary, Renewal Notice
A hearing office at Massachusetts DPU directed retail suppliers to submit information concerning their numbers of customers served under auto-renewals, and the nature of such service
August 5, 2019
Additional Texas Retail Electric Providers Request Low-Income Customer Sync List
Several more Texas retail electric providers have filed separate requests with the Public Utility Commission of Texas for the provision of the low-income customer identification service for the State fiscal year beginning on September 1, 2019 (FY2020).
August 2, 2019
PSC Denies OPC Request For Utilities To Provide Aggregate Costs For Retail Supply Customers Versus Shadow-Billed Default Service
The Maryland PSC has again denied a request from the Office of People's Counsel for the utilities to provide OPC with the total aggregate amounts that shopping customers paid in retail supply charges and the total aggregate amount such customers would have paid for default service from the utility.
August 1, 2019
PPL Suggests Consideration of Requiring All Customer Assistance Program (CAP) Customers To Be Served Under Default Service
RESA Proposes Alternative Pricing Benchmark To Allow CAP Shopping
Parties have filed comments on a proposed Pennsylvania PUC policy statement that would restrict shopping for electric Customer Assistance Program (CAP) customers to a product whose rate does not exceed the default service Price to Compare at any time
August 1, 2019
Massachusetts AG: Residential Customers On Retail Supply Paid $76 Million More Than Default Service From July 2017 to June 2018 (New Report)
Says Shopping Low-Income Customers Pay 25% Higher Rates
A report released today by Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey says that Massachusetts individual residential electric customers who switched to a competitive electric supplier paid $76.2 million more than if they would have remained with default service during the one-year period from July…