Press Release

Rules Require Companies to Tell Customers of Operational Changes

    Harrisburg, Pa., August 13 ¾ Electric generation suppliers that shut down business operations or transfer customers to another supplier must notify customers of the changes within guaranteed timeframes, according to interim guidelines approved 4-0 today by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC).

    "The guidelines are designed to protect customers from companies that abruptly change their business operations and, in doing so, affect customer service and customer contracts," PUC Chairman John Quain said. "The guidelines make sure that customers are informed of the changes and that their service is not disrupted."

    Under the guidelines, suppliers must provide customers 90 days notice if they plan to stop conducting business. This will allow customers ample time to select a new generation supplier. The companies must also publish a legal notice 30 days prior to closing down, with the notice appearing in the same newspapers in which the company listed its licensing application.

    Suppliers that transfer customers to another supplier, either by a license transfer or contract assignment, must notify customers at least 30 days in advance. The customer notice must include the name, address and consumer contact telephone number of the new supplier. For contact assignments, the notice must also include the date the assignment will be effective and the reason the customer contract is being assigned to a new supplier. Typically, a contract assignment may result when a supplier stops conducting business and negotiates with another supplier to accept its customer base.

    Suppliers are also required to publish notices in local newspapers if they decide to stop accepting new customers in a service class they are currently servicing. Today’s order stems from a tentative order adopted by the PUC on February 26. For more information on electric choice, visit the ElectriChoice web site at www.electrichoice.com.

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