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RESA Moves To Hold Proceeding In AbeyancePPL’s Customer Shopping Communications Pieces
The Retail Energy Supply Association (“RESA”) filed a motion at the Pennsylvania Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to hold in abeyance a petition from RESA concerning communications from PPL Electric Utilities (PPL or PPL Electric) to PPL customers concerning EGSs, rates, and shopping.
In its petition, RESA noted that the parties to the proceeding have consulted regarding a revised litigation schedule, “and are aware that PPL will soon be filing its next Default Service Plan (‘DSP’) proceeding, as the last one was filed in March 2020 at Docket No. P-2020-3019356, where issues may be addressed that duplicate those raised here regarding PPL communications with customers of EGSs.”
“As a result, RESA has determined that its resources may be better spent by intervening in PPL’s next DSP proceeding, which must be adjudicated within nine months under the Public Utility Code. RESA has consulted with the other parties about holding this matter in abeyance. PPL, OCA and CAUSE-PA concur with this proposal, and no party has expressed an objection,”
RESA expressly reserved the right to request that the declaratory order petition proceeding be resumed during PPL’s upcoming DSP proceeding and acknowledged the rights of other parties to object to such a request.
Note that NRG Energy had originally jointly filed for the declaratory order with RESA, but NRG has since withdrawn from the proceeding as a party.
As previously reported, RESA objecting to some of the utility’s communication pieces sent to shopping customers. For example, RESA alleged that a communication stating “[W]e want to make sure that your bills are as low as possible. That’s why we’re reminding you to take a few minutes to compare your current supply rate (noted above) with other options that are available.”
RESA also object to another PPL communication stating, “[W]hen you shop, beware of variable rates, which start small and then increase depending on the price of power. (Visit our Shop Smart site below for more tips.)”
Based on these communication pieces, RESA sought an order from the PUC finding that the PPL communications are unlawful and directing PPL to immediately cease sending such communications.
MOTION TO HOLD PROCEEDING IN ABEYANCE – RESA (03/06/2024)
INITIAL DEC LTR – 20-10 P-2022-3036985.PDF (11/15/2023)
P-2022-3036985 – INITIAL DECISION GRANTING NRG PETITION FOR LEAVE TO
WITHDRAW ID.PDF (11/15/2023)
PETITION FOR DECLARATORY ORDER – RESA & NRG (11/30/2022)
P-2022-3036985 (11/30/2022)
(Petition for Declaratory Order of the Retail Energy Supply Association and NRG Energy, Inc.)
