February 13, 2015
New York Issues Errata to New TPV Requirements, Strikes TPV Question
The New York PSC issued an errata which removes a third party verification requirement included in the PSC's recent rehearing order regarding TPV requirements.
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February 11, 2015
Pa. State Rep.: Accelerated Switching Not Sufficient Customer Protection Against Variable Rates
The Pennsylvania PUC's accelerated switching timeline, which allows a switch to be completed within three business days, does not provide customers with sufficient customer protection against variable rates, Pennsylvania State Representative Robert Godshall, Chair of the Consumer Affairs committee…
February 11, 2015
Final Decision Drops Proposal for Additional $100 Compensation to Slammed Customers
The Connecticut PURA issued a final decision adopting new standards for electric suppliers and a new disclosure statement required for advertisements.
February 10, 2015
PSC Proposes Requiring Retail Suppliers to File With Commission Photo IDs of Every Individual Conducting In-Person Sales for Supplier
The District of Columbia PSC has proposed new rules regarding the licensure of retail electric suppliers, which would impose new requirements for suppliers to file sales and marketing materials with the Commission prior to their sales activities.
February 9, 2015
Written Order Emphasizes "Reasonable" Requirement for ESCO Fixed Offers to Low-Income Customers, Provides Granular TPV Requirements
The New York PSC has issued a written rehearing order concerning the provision of ESCO service to low-income customers participating in utility administered low income discount programs and the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP), and which also provides granular details regarding new third-party…
February 6, 2015
New York Will Allow ESCOs To Offer Fixed Prices to Low-Income Customers, Sets Collaborative on Implementing General Prohibition on ESCOs Serving Such Customers
The New York PSC yesterday addressed certain rehearing requests related to its landmark February 2014 retail energy market order which, among other things, limited ESCOs' ability to serve low-income customers to certain situations.
February 3, 2015
Retail Supplier Seeks PUC Clarification Affirming Method of Verification Permissible Under Rules
IGS Energy has petitioned the Pennsylvania PUC for an order affirming that its use of a tablet to electronically verify customer consent to door-to-door sales conducted by its Home Energy Consultants complies with the Commission's regulations.
January 28, 2015
Maryland PSC Launches Redesigned Electric Supplier Price Chart
The Maryland PSC has launched a redesigned electric supplier price comparison website for residential customers (click here)
January 27, 2015
People's Counsel Seeks to Require Individual Door-to-Door, MLM Agents To Be Licensed by PSC
The Maryland Office of People's Counsel has requested that the PSC require retail supplier's independent representatives, including individuals engaged in multi-level marketing, to be licensed by the Commission.
January 26, 2015
Maryland Staff Drops Proposal for New Customer Consent for Any Rate Change; But Eliminates Use of TPV, Voice Verification For Contracting?
Filed comments by the Maryland PSC Staff concerning changes to the electric and natural gas customer protection rules (RM54) suggest that Staff is no longer seeking to require suppliers to obtain new customer consent for any rate change (maybe), but also suggest that Staff proposes to cease allowing…
January 21, 2015
Draft Contract Summary Statement Would Require Retail Suppliers to List Fee Paid to Broker
A draft Connecticut PURA decision establishing a new standard contract summary form of the material terms and conditions for residential electric contracts would require the supplier to list any fee paid to a broker or aggregator.
January 16, 2015
State Proposes Suppliers Pay $100 to Slammed Customers, in Addition to Refunds; Proposes New Standard for Suppliers
The Connecticut PURA has issued new draft standards for electric suppliers and a draft disclosure statement, stemming from Section 4 of Public Act 14-75.
January 15, 2015
PUC Drops Proposal That Variable Rates Be "Reasonably Reflective" of Market Conditions, And Only Based on Index or Formula
The Maine PUC issued a final order adopting revisions to its customer protection rules, and in doing so declined to adopt an earlier proposal that would have required variable rate changes to be "reasonably reflective" of market conditions, and which would have only allowed variable rates if they…
January 12, 2015
Massachusetts Directs Suppliers Circulate Straw Proposal On Shopping Website/Rate Board
The Massachusetts DPU has directed retail electric suppliers to circulate a straw proposal regarding the electric shopping website/rate board the Department is developing.
January 8, 2015
Retail Supplier Says Hold Message Branding Which Led to Removal From Rate Board Was Oversight
Public Power informed the Connecticut PURA that a hold message for customers calling Public Power that continued to reference Levco Energy was an oversight, and was promptly corrected.
January 6, 2015
Regulator Removes Retail Supplier From Rate Board
The Connecticut PURA has removed Public Power from the Energize CT rate board, alleging that a message for customers calling Public Power placed on hold still references Levco Energy.
December 30, 2014
RESA: Proposed Maryland Rules Would, "Drive Suppliers Out Of The Market," Make It "Impossible" to Retain/Renew Customers
Proposed revisions to customer protection rules in Maryland, "would effectively make it impossible for suppliers to retain and renew customers, driving suppliers out of the market, to the detriment of customers," the Retail Energy Supply Association said in comments to the PSC (PC 35).
December 29, 2014
Retail Supplier Would Be Fined $10,000 For Agent's "False and Misleading Statements" Under Initial Decision
An initial decision from a Pennsylvania ALJ would assess a civil penalty of $10,000 to Respond Power, LLC for what the ALJ would conclude were, "false and misleading statements" by a sales agent.
December 24, 2014
State Proposes Changes to Municipal Aggregation Rules: New Disclosure Requirements, Permanent Opt-Out
Staff of the New Jersey BPU have issued potential changes to Government Energy Aggregation (GEA) Program Rules under consideration as the Staff reviews the current rules in Docket Number EX14111343
December 22, 2014
Adding Field for Minimum Usage Fees; Providing Variable Rate History; Creating Small Business Site Among Recommendations for Texas Power to Choose Changes
Adding a field to allow customers to sort plans based on minimum usage fees, and including variable rate history information, are among the suggestions received by Staff of the Public Utility Commission of Texas for changes to the Power to Choose website.
December 19, 2014
Pennsylvania Initiates Review of Changes to Natural Gas Disclosure Requirements, Contract Renewals
As part of its natural gas retail market investigation (I-2013-2381742), the Pennsylvania PUC has immediately commenced a review of changes to the natural gas disclosure requirements related to residential and small business customers.
December 12, 2014
State to Launch Retail Electric Shopping Price Website
The Massachusetts DPU intends to launch a website providing customers with retail electric supplier rates and other information.
December 12, 2014
State Proposes New Rules Governing Assignment of Customers to Another Retail Supplier, Prohibition on Termination Fees
As part of a wide-ranging proceeding to update a host of retail electric market provisions, the Massachusetts DPU has proposed new provisions governing the assignment of a retail suppliers' customers to another retail supplier.
December 12, 2014
Regulator Proposes to Require Background Checks for Door-to-Door Agents; Suppliers Must File Door-to-Door Marketing Plans, Weekly Complaint Reports
The Massachusetts DPU, as part of a wide-ranging proceeding to update a host of retail electric market provisions, proposes that competitive suppliers who intend to market door-to-door to residential customers be required to provide notice to the Department prior to initiating a door-to-door…
December 12, 2014
State May Require Retail Suppliers to Provide Pricing "Benchmarks" Under New Disclosure Label Rules
As part of a wide-ranging proceeding to update a host of retail electric market provisions, the Massachusetts DPU will consider changes to the disclosure labels required to be produced by retail electric suppliers.