Retail Markets Investigation

By order entered on April 29, 2011, the Commission launched this statewide investigation with the goal of receiving recommendations for improvements to ensure that a properly functioning and workable competitive retail electricity market exists in Pennsylvania. 

For information on the Commission’s Investigation of Pennsylvania’s Retail Natural Gas Market, please see the following page of the Commission’s website: Retail Natural Gas Markets Investigation.

Phase Two

On July 28, 2011, the Commission launched the second phase of this investigation after concluding, on the basis of comments filed and testimony provided during the first phase of the investigation, that Pennsylvania’s current retail market for electricity requires changes in order to bring about the robust competitive market envisioned by the General Assembly when it passed the Electricity Generation Customer Choice and Competition Act. Noting that the investigation will be conducted by the Office of Competitive Market Oversight, the Commission directed the development of two work plans during this phase: one for intermediate steps involving changes to the existing market model and a second one for the long range steps involving structural changes to the default service model. OCMO will hold a series of technical conferences and then present recommendations to the Commission for steps that can be taken to improve the overall functioning of the competitive market. The investigation is scheduled to be completed by April 2012.

Orders

Order - Proposed Rulemaking Natural Gas Distribution Company Business Practices - Chapter 62. Dated October 19, 2023, at Docket No. L-2017-2619223.

Joint Electric Distribution Company-Electric Generation Supply Bill - Public Meeting of May 22, 2014. Docket No. M-2014-2401345.

Final-Omitted Rulemaking Order Regarding the Provisions of Notices of Contract Expiration or Changes in Terms for Residential & Small Business Customers - Public Meeting of April 3, 2014. Docket No. L-2014-2409385.

Final-Omitted Rulemaking Order Regarding Standards for Changing a Customer's EGS - Public Meeting of April 3, 2014. Docket No. L-2014-2409383.

Tentative Order on Joint EDC-EGS Bill - The tentative order was adopted at the February 6, 2014 Public Meeting. Docket No. M-2014-2401345.

Final Order on End-State of Default Service - The final order was adopted at the February 14, 2013 Public Meeting. Docket No. I-2011-2237952. 

• Joint Statement by Chairman Powelson and Vice Chairman Coleman
• Statement by Commissioner Cawley
• Statement by Commissioner Witmer

Tentative Order on End-State of Default Service - The tentative order was adopted at the November 8, 2012 Public Meeting. Docket No. I-2011-2237952.

Final Order on Intermediate Work Plan - The order was adopted at the March 1, 2012 Public Meeting, and entered on March 2, 2012. Docket No. I-2011-2237952. Statement by Chairman Powelson.

Intermediate Work Plan

Tentative Order on Intermediate Work Plan - The comments regarding the Intermediate Work Plan are due Tuesday, January 17, 2012. Docket No. I-2011-2237952. Order adopted at the December 15, 2011 Public Meeting, order entered December 16, 2011.

Order on Recommendations Regarding Upcoming Default Service Plans - Docket I-2011-2237952. Order adopted at the December 15, 2011 Public Meeting, and entered December 16, 2011.

Tentative Order on Accelerated Switching - Interim Guidelines Regarding Standards for Changing a Customer's Electricity Generation Supplier. Docket M-2011-2270442. Order adopted at the November 10, 2011 Public Meeting, order entered November 14, 2011.

Tentative Order on Default Service Plans - Public Meeting of Oct. 14, 2011. Docket No. I-2011-2237952. Comments are due by Nov. 3, 2011.

Default Service Plan

Tentative Order on Default Service Plans - Public Meeting of Oct. 14, 2011. Docket No. I-2011-2237952. Comments are due by Nov. 3, 2011.

Retail Markets Investigation Phase II Order - From the Public Meeting of July 28, 2011. Docket No. I-2011-2237952.

Secretarial Letters

Consumer Education Mailings - Secretarial Letter regarding three coordinated educational mailings to residential and small business electric consumers. Dated May 21, 2012. Docket No. I-2011-2237952. Final PAPowerSwitch Tri-fold (PPL version)

En Banc Hearing - Secretarial Letter announcing the En Banc Hearing on Wednesday, March 21, 2012 at 10:00 a.m.to seek comments in its Investigation of Pennsylvania’s Retail Electricity Market. The purpose of this hearing is to permit interested parties to participate in the investigation to highlight or summarize positions on key issues that the PUC plans to address as part of a Long-Range Work Plan to promote electric retail competition. Dated March 2, 2012. Docket No. I-2011-2237952.

Intermediate Consumer Education Issues - Secretarial Letter regarding electric shopping postcards to customers. Dated December 15, 2011. Docket No. I-2011-2237952. Final PAPowerSwitch Customer Postcard

Conference Calls

The next meeting is the En Banc Hearing to be held on March 21, 2012 at 10:00 am.

Discussion Documents - Link to the listing of Discussion Documents.

Phase One

The first phase of the investigation assessed the status of the current retail market and explored what changes need to be made to allow customers to best realize the benefits of competition. At the conclusion of the first phase, the Commission initiated the second phase to examine how to best resolve the issues raised and implement the prudent changes identified based on our review of the comments.

The Commission’s order (Docket No. I-2011-2237952) posed several questions and asked interested parties to submit comments by June 3, 2011.

Secretarial Letter - The PUC issued a Secretarial Letter (dated May 25, 2011) reminding all interested parties that written comments are required to be filed no later than 4 p.m. on June 3, 2011.

En Banc Hearings

March 21, 2012 En Banc Hearing

Agenda - The agenda for Retail Markets Investigation En Banc Hearing to be held on March 21, 2012.

En Banc Hearing Audio

• Session 1: 10:00 - 11:20 AM - Audio Clip
  Session 2: 11:20 AM to 12:10 PM - Audio Clip
  Session 3: 1:00 to 2:00 PM - Audio Clip
  Session 4: 2:00 to 2:50 PM - Audio Clip
  Session 5: 2:50 to 3:25 PM - Audio Clip

En Banc Hearing - Secretarial Letter announcing the En Banc Hearing on Wednesday, March 21, 2012 at 10:00 a.m.to seek comments in its Investigation of Pennsylvania’s Retail Electricity Market. The purpose of this hearing is to permit interested parties to participate in the investigation to highlight or summarize positions on key issues that the PUC plans to address as part of a Long-Range Work Plan to promote electric retail competition. Dated March 2, 2012. Docket No. I-2011-2237952.

November 10, 2011 En Banc Hearing

The PUC will hold an en banc hearing on Thursday, November 10, 2011 at 12:30 p.m. in Hearing Room 1, to seek comments in its Investigation of Pennsylvania’s Retail Electricity Markets. The purpose of this hearing is to permit participants in the Investigation to highlight or summarize positions on key issues that the PUC plans to address either before or as part of the intermediate work plan to promote competition.

Agenda - The Final Agenda for Retail Markets Investigation En Banc Hearing held on Nov. 10, 2011.

Secretarial Letter - Notice of En Banc Hearing, dated Oct. 7, 2011.

En Banc Hearing Audio

• 12:30 - 2:15 PM: Audio Clip
• 2:15 to 3:45 PM: Audio Clip
• 3:45 to 4:30 PM: Audio Clip
• 4:30 to 5:30 PM: Audio Clip

June 8, 2011 En Banc Hearing

Agenda - The Final Agenda for Retail Markets Investigation En Banc Hearing held on June 8, 2011 at 1:00 PM in Hearing Room 1.

En Banc Hearing Audio

• 1:00 - 2:40 PM: Audio Clip
• 2:50 to 3:50 PM: Audio Clip
• 3:50 to 5:00 PM: Audio Clip