Press Release

PUC Finalizes Recommendations to Provide Supplier Information on Natural Gas Bills

Published on 8/20/2015

Filed under: Gas

HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) today finalized recommendations that will provide consumers with more information from their natural gas suppliers (NGSs) on their utility bill.

The Commission voted 5-0 to approve changes proposed by the PUC’s Office of Competitive Market Oversight (OCMO), which will provide for a more supplier-oriented, consolidated natural gas bill. The adopted changes provide for the inclusion of the NGS’s logo on the bill; the expansion of bill messaging space allotted to NGSs; and the inclusion of a Shopping Information Box, which will include a customer’s account or supplier ID number, a customer’s rate schedule and, if already shopping, a reminder to customers to know their contract expiration date. The Commission’s goal is to increase customer awareness when participating in the competitive retail natural gas market and to provide more information from NGSs on utility-consolidated bills.

“Ensuring that we have market designs that allow consumers to make informed choices will become even more important as more of Pennsylvania’s electric generation shifts toward natural gas in light of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Power Plan under Section 111 (d) of the Clean Air Act,” said Commissioner Pamela A. Witmer in a statement. “In Pennsylvania, our generation mix remains diversified, but natural gas is closing the gap . . . Accordingly, I wholeheartedly support today’s action and I look forward to continued efforts to enhance and encourage active participation in Pennsylvania’s retail natural gas market.”

The changes were proposed by OCMO as a result of the PUC’s Retail Markets Investigation, which was intended to improve the state’s retail natural gas market, and follow similar changes implemented last year for electric generation suppliers.

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission balances the needs of consumers and utilities; ensures safe and reliable utility service at reasonable rates; protects the public interest; educates consumers to make independent and informed utility choices; furthers economic development; and fosters new technologies and competitive markets in an environmentally sound manner.

For recent news releases and video of select Commission proceedings or more information about the PUC, visit our website at www.puc.pa.gov. Follow the PUC on Twitter – @PA_PUC for all things utility. “Like” Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission on Facebook for easy access to information on utility issues.

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Docket No. M-2015-2474802

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