The Staff leader of the PC44 Competitive Markets and Customer Choice Work Group filed a report with the Commission making a number of recommendations. First, the report recommends initiating a rulemaking to consider proposed draft regulations on the proposed competitive market enhancements of seamless moves (electric and natural gas) and instant connects (electric only). The report also offers proposed regulatory language to resolve an outstanding issue on the performance of criminal background checks and on the voluntary offering of budget billing by suppliers. The report also proposes that in the case of discrepancies between supplier offer postings on the Commission website versus the supplier's own website, that the discrepancy be resolved in the manner most favorable to the customer. The report also requests Commission action on proposed regulations previously filed on the distribution and use of customer interval data in service territories where AMI has been deployed.

The report requests that the Commission move forward with an additional phase to the proceeding to study, at a minimum, additional changes to the supplier offer website maintained by the Commission and additional non-residential customer protections. The Commission may also wish to include other issues in the next phase of the proceeding, such as suppliers provision of electronic notice prior to any change in rate to customers providing an email address as well as the implementation of online lookup tools or wallet enrollments to facilitate customer enrollment in choice.

The full text of the Competitive Markets and Customer Choice Work Group Report is available on the NEM Website.

NEM will be appearing before the Technical Working Group on Open Energy Market Design & Policy of the Governor's Committee on Energy Choice on February 7, 2018, at 10AM PST. NEM will be providing an "Overview of Best Practices and Policy Recommendations for Restructured Energy Markets." The full text of the Meeting Agenda is available on the NEM Website.

The Commission issued an Order denying a petition for the implementation of supplier consolidated billing (SCB) but directing further study of the issue in an en banc hearing. The Commission found that the record developed on the petition did not provide sufficient policy and legal support to justify its approval.

"While the Commission has a long history of deliberating SCB, the question of its legality under Chapters 14 and 28 of the Public Utility Code has never been directly addressed. . . . Also, while issues such as termination procedures, purchase of receivables design, bill format, distinguishing between basic and non-basic charges, and customer assistance program design are contemplated in this Petition, the Petition is not fully developed to show compliance with the Code, our regulations, and Commission orders."

Notwithstanding the disposition of the petition, the Commission decided to seek more information about SCB and other alternatives.

"Although we are denying the Petition, we continue to be of the opinion previously expressed by the Commission as part of our Retail Electric Market Investigation that 'SCB will facilitate the offering of innovative new products and services and will also help the supplier in establishing a brand identity with the customer.' In order to continue the consideration of SCB and other programs that can promote a competitive market and benefit customers, the Commission finds that it is necessary to seek further information, clarification, and comment regarding the implementation of SCB by conducting an en banc hearing before the Commission."

The Commission directed Staff to organize an en banc hearing, to be scheduled on or before June 14, 2018, seeking comments on SCB, and other alternatives, that would promote shopping and the inclusion of EGS value-added services. A Secretarial Letter with more information about the en banc hearing, including the exact date, is forthcoming. The full text of the Order is available on the NEM Website.