The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) today adopted changes and recommendations affecting the competitive retail electric market. The ruling concludes the PUCO’s 15-month review of the competitive market structure.
“The Commission’s action today will benefit consumers in offering clearer transparency in billing and the overall energy choice process,” stated PUCO Chairman Todd A. Snitchler. “Our ruling also establishes a framework for further consideration and implementation of other market enhancements that will have a positive impact on the competitive retail electric market.”
Through today’s order, the Commission directed Ohio’s regulated distribution utilities to file an application to include retail supplier logos on customer bills in the event that a customer receives services from a competitive electric provider. Additionally, standardization of “price-to-compare” language will allow consumers to more easily compare rates offered by competitive suppliers.
The “price-to-compare” represents the charges a consumer would no longer pay to their utility should they enroll with a competitive supplier. The Commission set in motion further evaluation in a number of other areas of interest including corporate separation policies, utility-supplier information sharing, contract portability and advanced meter tariff language. In December 2012 the PUCO commenced an investigation into Ohio’s retail electric market in an effort to determine where the market is working, in need of improvement and how the retail market could be improved for the benefit of consumers. Six workshops were held over the previous year, involving 27 stakeholders representing utilities, consumer groups, environmental advocates and others, to identify areas of the competitive retail electric market in need of development.
Customers interested in learning more about energy choice can visit www.energychoice.ohio.gov. A copy of today’s order in case number 12-3151-EL-COI will be available online at www.PUCO.ohio.gov. Click on the link to Docketing Information System and enter the case number. -