Pennsylvania PUC seeking public comment on proposed changes to rules regarding customer information

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) recently issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking seeking public comment on proposed amendments to Chapter 54 of the Public Utility Code regarding customer information.

The Commission voted 5-0 to adopt the proposed changes, which the PUC’s Office of Competitive Market Oversight initiated. The changes are designed to help provide customers with accurate, timely pricing information when shopping for electric generation suppliers (EGSs).

“I want to emphasize that this is a proposed rulemaking, and actively encourage parties to provide comments to assist the Commission in providing the necessary guidance and rules to ensure that customers are fully informed regarding the purchase of electricity, including the associated contract terms and conditions,” PUC Vice Chair Andrew G. Place said.

The proposals would require EGSs to provide more information about variable prices, use common, consistent terminology in their customer communications, present their prices in a format that allows for easier price comparisons and simplify the format of customer contract summaries. The proposed measures would also prohibit early termination fees once a customer has received an initial contract renewal notice from the EGS and require EGSs to clearly identify and explain any introductory pricing and disclose both the introductory price and the price after the introductory period expires.

“The retail electric market continues to evolve, and as this happens so must Commission regulations to evolve,” PUC Chair Gladys M. Brown said.