Press Release

PUC Launches Second Phase of Investigation into the State’s Competitive Electricity Retail Market

Published on 7/28/2011

Filed under: Electric

HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) today announced details of the second phase of its investigation into the state’s competitive electricity retail market.

The Commission voted 5-0 to launch the second phase of the statewide investigation.

“I am pleased today that the Commission is taking another step towards completion of its investigation into Pennsylvania’s retail electricity market,” said PUC Chairman Robert F. Powelson in a statement. “The Commission’s goal is to make Pennsylvania the most competitive electricity market in the country. I believe the order being voted on today provides an excellent roadmap for the Commission’s next steps toward achieving that goal.”

The Commission has reviewed the various comments submitted during the first phase of the investigation, and will initiate the second phase by organizing technical conferences to be headed by the Commission’s Office of Competitive Market Oversight (OCMO).  OCMO will be tasked with studying how best to address and resolve the issues identified by the Commission as being most relevant to improving the current retail market.  Upon conclusion of the investigation, OCMO will provide recommendations outlining specific courses of action to be taken by the Commission to improve the retail electricity market.  As part of this second phase, additional en banc hearings will be held to review the issues involved. 

The first technical conference has been scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 10 in Harrisburg to address organizational issues and also to begin substantive discussions on some of the key issues involved.

The next en banc hearing has been scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 10.  An agenda for that hearing will be provided at a later date.

Interested parties who wish to be placed on the distribution list to receive electronic communications regarding the investigation should send their contact information, including name, company/organization affiliation, email address and telephone number via email to: ra-RMI@state.pa.us.  The phrase “RMI Distribution List” should be placed in the subject line.

On April 28, 2011, the Commission voted 4-1 to approve a joint motion by Chairman Robert F. Powelson and Vice Chairman John F. Coleman to officially launch the statewide investigation, first announced during the Commission’s approval of the FirstEnergy/Allegheny Power merger on Feb. 24, 2011. 

The Commission is conducting the investigation in two phases.  The first phase was designed to assess the status of the current retail market and explore what changes need to be made to allow customers to best realize the benefits of competition.  As part of the second phase, the Commission will now examine and address how to best resolve the issues raised and implement the prudent changes identified based upon its review of the comments received.

During the first phase of the investigation, the Commission conducted an en banc hearing on June 8, 2011, in Hearing Room 1 of the Commonwealth Keystone Building, Harrisburg.  Submitted comments and testimony provided at that hearing are available on the Commission’s website.

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission balances the needs of consumers and utilities to ensure safe and reliable utility service at reasonable rates; protect the public interest; educate consumers to make independent and informed utility choices; further economic development; and foster new technologies and competitive markets in an environmentally sound manner.

For recent news releases, audio of select Commission proceedings or more information about the PUC, visit our website at www.puc.state.pa.us.

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Docket No. I-2011-2237952 

Contact:

• Denise McCracken
  Senior Communications Specialist
  717-787-5722
  demccracken@pa.gov