Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission initiates further study of supplier consolidated billing

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) initiated on Thursday further study of supplier consolidated billing (SCB), a customer billing practice used by competitive electric generations suppliers (EGS).

The PUC will hold an en banc hearing to explore, among other things, the legality, merits and potential implementation of supplier consolidated billing (SCB).

The commission voted 5-0 to deny a petition filed by NRG Energy Inc. (NRG) requesting approval of SCB but approved a joint motion by Chair Gladys M. Brown and Commissioner Norman J. Kennard to further explore possible alternatives to SCB.

“We continue to be of the opinion previously expressed by the Commission as part of our retail electricity market investigation that SCB will facilitate the offering of innovative new products and services and will also help the supplier in establishing a brand identity with the customer,” Commissioner Kennard said. “In order to continue the consideration of SCB and other programs that can promote a competitive market and benefit customers, we find that it is necessary to seek further information.”

Under SCB, customers receive a single bill from their EGS that includes both their EGS’ generation and transmission charges and their electric distribution company’s (EDC) distribution charges. Currently in Pennsylvania, EDCs handle all customer billing, and the EDC joint bill includes generation and transmission charges for customers with competitive EGS.

The joint motion directs the PUC’s Law Bureau and Office of Competitive Market Oversight (OCMO) to organize the en banc hearing to occur on or before June 14.