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Regulator Sets Working Subgroups To Address Staff Proposal That All Enrollments Must Occur Through State Website
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Two hearing examiners of the Massachusetts DPU have released a schedule for working sub-groups to address a DPU Staff proposal to mandate that all retail energy enrollments occur through the state's Energy Switch MA website
Staff's proposal is part of the DPU's review of the retail market in Docket 19-07
See full details of Staff's proposal here
Five subgroups have been established to address Staff's proposal, which are:
(1) the mechanics of enrollments through the Energy Switch website (Energy Switch)
(2) the use of focus groups to better inform the Energy Switch Proposal
(3) voluntary renewable energy products
(4) automatic contract renewals
(5) interim steps the Department could take during the development phase of the Energy Switch Proposal
With regards to subgroup #1, Mechanics, the initial meeting will focus on the details of an NRG proposal under which Energy Switch MA could add a function for customer enrollment validation (see details here), and related questions about the Staff Energy Switch MA proposal. Among other things, RESA and REAL have asked how does the Energy Switch MA proposal ensure equity for seniors, rural residents, or non-English speaking households that lack reliable internet service or who may not feel comfortable enrolling online?
Boston Climate Action Network and the Fairmount Indigo CDC Collaborative have asked concerning the Energy Switch MA proposal: What prevents a supplier from bringing a laptop to a customer’s home to enroll them via Energy Switch?
With regards to subgroup #4, Auto-renwals, the initial subgroup meeting will focus on various stakeholder questions and proposals, including these questions from RESA/REAL
• How would eliminating automatic renewals impact customers on more complex products (e.g., electric vehicle time of use rates) who modify behavior and then may be moved to a flat rate product (and possibly end up paying more)?
• Would banning automatic renewals increase customer uncertainty and costs because customers would be switching back and forth between retail supply and basic service?
• Could eliminating automatic renewals result in customers reverting to a higher basic service price?
With regards to subgroup #5, Interim Steps, the initial meeting of the subgroup will focus on various stakeholder proposal including:
• Waive early termination fees
• Prohibit enrollment of low-income customers
• Increase supplier license renewal fees and establish a bonding threshold
• Implement accelerated switching
The initial meetings of the sub-groups will be held as follows:
• Mechanics of Energy Switch Enrollments, Thursday, May 1, 2025
• Focus Groups, Thursday, May 1, 2025
• Voluntary Renewable Products, Friday, May 2, 2025
• Automatic Contract Renewals, Monday, May 5, 2025
• Interim Steps Monday, May 5, 2025
Staff proposes that each sub-group present its findings and recommendations to the Working Group during a meeting to be held during the week of June 30, 2025.
Docket DPU 19-07
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Includes Potential "Interim" Reforms -- Waiver Of Termination Fees, Increased Bonding For Suppliers, Ban On Low-Income Customer Shopping
April 24, 2025
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Copyright 2025 EnergyChoiceMatters.com
Reporting by Paul Ring • ring@energychoicematters.com
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