Pennsylvania PUC approves streamlined customer data retrieval plan

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) recently voted to approve mechanisms that will make it easier for customers to initiate look-up processes for their account information when meeting with natural gas suppliers (NGSs) in public places.

The PUC’s unanimous vote indicated its full support for a plan advanced by the National Fuel Gas Distribution Corporation that will facilitate the authorized retrieval of account numbers when interested customers wish to switch to a competitive NGS in public venues such as shopping malls and community events.

“In approving National Fuel’s plan, the commission reaffirms its belief that an account number access mechanism is a customer-friendly tool enabling natural gas distribution companies and competitive suppliers to more easily interact and, ultimately, better serve the needs of shopping customers in the competitive marketplace,” PUC Chairman Gladys M. Brown said. “While Pennsylvania is providing suppliers with enhanced access to customer data maintained by gas distribution companies, consumers can rest assured that important steps are being taken to maintain necessary customer protections. The commission is pleased that National Fuel Gas is joining other major distribution companies in moving forward with these mechanisms.”

Customers will be required to sign a letter of authorization before an NGS can look up their account number, and the mechanism is only permitted to be used in customer-initiated transactions occurring in public locations, not in door-to-door or telephone conversations.