The AZ RUCO has announced the agenda for an upcoming workshop on electric competition. The workshop will take place on August 27, 2013, at 9:30AM at the Capitol Executive Tower in Phoenix. The workshop will commence with opening remarks from RUCO and the Governor's Energy Office followed by a background presentation on electric competition in Arizona and perspectives from various stakeholders. The full text of the Meeting Agenda is available on the NEM Website.

PURA has approved the commencement of a number of proceedings on electric supplier issues. Specifically, two new rulemakings will be issued with respect to the establishment of a standard billing format for electric suppliers as well as procedures for customer notification of electric supplier default and subsequent selection of a new supplier or return to utility service. In a separate case, PURA will be examining the costs and benefits of suppliers billing for all components of electric service. PURA will also be developing a form to be used to prevent disclosure of customer information to electric suppliers by the utility. The full texts of the Orders opening these proceedings will be posted on the NEM Website when made available electronically.

The Board will convene a legislative-type hearing on September 19, 2013, at 10AM in the matter of 2014 Basic Generation Service (BGS) procurement. Specifically, the purpose of the hearing is for the Board to take comments on the electric utilities' BGS proposal and any alternative BGS proposals from other interested stakeholders. Those wishing to participate should contact Board Staff at Frank.Perrotti@bpu.state.nj.us. The full text of the Hearing Notice is available on the NEM Website.

The PAPUC adopted on Order on revised gas licensing requirements today. The Order incorporates a number of suggestions made by NEM in its comments.

The Commission adopted definitions of a natural gas “aggregator” and “broker” that are required to be licensed as follows:

AGGREGATOR—AN ENTITY, LICENSED BY THE COMMISSION, THAT PURCHASES NATURAL GAS AND TAKES TITLE TO IT AS AN INTERMEDIARY FOR SALE TO RETAIL CUSTOMERS.

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BROKER —AN ENTITY, LICENSED BY THE COMMISSION, THAT ACTS AS AN AGENT OR INTERMEDIARY IN THE SALE AND PURCHASE OF NATURAL GAS BUT DOES NOT TAKE TITLE TO NATURAL GAS SUPPLY.

The Commission decided to require energy consultants to be licensed. With reasoning following NEM’s comments in the docket, the Commission stated, “Presently, “energy consultants” may have a direct contract with the consumers, but they also may gather bids from multiple suppliers for the consumer and receive compensation through the NGS’s bill. Thus, safeguards need to be in place to protect consumers and to ensure that “energy consultants” disclose their fees and are accountable for their analysis of a customer’s natural gas needs. “Energy consultant” activities fall within the definition of “broker.” Therefore, entities that provide energy consultation services for customers should be required to obtain a license from the Commission regardless of whether or not they take title to the natural gas.”

Nontraditional marketers, such as community-based organizations, civic, fraternal or other groups, do not need to be licensed.

The Commission adopted a definition of nonselling marketers as follows:

AN INDIVIDUAL OR COMMERCIAL ENTITY, SUCH AS A TELEMARKETING FIRM, DOOR-TO-DOOR SALESMAN OR COMPANY, OR AUCTION-TYPE WEBSITE, UNDER CONTRACT TO A LICENSED NGS, THAT PROVIDES MARKETING SERVICES TO RETAIL CUSTOMERS FOR NATURAL GAS SUPPLY SERVICES.

Nonselling marketers will be required to be licensed with an exemption for a nonselling marketer under contract to a single NGS. They will pay a licensing fee but will not be subject to a bonding requirement. The Commission determined to expand its definition of nonselling marketers to include individuals engaged in marketing activities to residential consumers. If these individuals are under contract to more than one NGS, like their commercial entity counterparts, they will be required to obtain a license.

The full text of the Order is available on the NEM Website.