The Commisssion established a Consumer Education Advisory Board (CEAB) in 1999 to help consumers transition from a regulated market environment to a competitive electric market. The Commission has decided it would be helpful to expand the membership of the CEAB since transition period rate caps are expiring and customers are being moved to market-based pricing. Those interested in getting involved in the CEAB should contact Christine Nizer at 410-767-8047. The full text of the Notice on the CEAB is available on the NEM Website.

The Department will hold a technical conference on June 20, 2005, at 9:30AM on default service issues. Specifically, the Department wants to provide parties an opportunity for further discussion of the issues associated with the utilities procurement of default service power for residential and small C&I customers. The Department also wants to discuss initiatives it could undertake to facilitate the development of a competitive retail market for smaller customers. Those that wish to participate should notify the Department by June 13, 2005 to shirley.barosy@state.ma.us. The full text of the Notice of Technical Conference is available on the NEM Website.

ABATE has petitioned the Commission to revisit its Order on DTE's rates and reduce or rescind DTE's stranded cost charges. ABATE argues that the stranded cost surcharges are too high because of the reduction in participation in DTE's choice program and that waiting for a true-up will further endanger the choice program. ABATE also asked for establishment of a policy on the treatment of wholesale sales revenues such that they could be used to mitigate stranded costs. The full text of ABATE's Filing is available from NEM headquarters.

The first meeting of the ConEd green power collaborative will be held June 22, 2005, at 10AM at the NYPSC's New York City Office. Additional details will be forthcoming.

NEM submitted comments on DEO's application noting that it, "supports a full exit from the merchant function and applauds DEO’s efforts to reach that end state in a reasonable time frame." NEM urged the parties to eliminate the uncertainty of backsliding to cost of service rates as it raises the cost of capital and urged the Commission to commit to a Phase 2 implementation. NEM argued that DEO's restructuring will better reflect its role as a distribution service provider. Shifting risk from ratepayers to risk managers creates added wealth for the State, the consumers, the utility as well as the marketplace. NEM also argued that DEO's proposal to replace Gas Cost Recovery service with a Standard Service Offer will reduce customer confusion caused by the current GCR mechanism. The full text of NEM's Comments is available on the NEM Website.