Kenneth W - Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission
Kenneth W. Davidson, PE,CEM,CEP
June 15, 2006
Dear Mr. Rooney,
The following suggestions are submitted for consideration by the Commission:
1. Education
• The PUC could enlist utilities to include information flyers in utility bill mailings. The flyers could point out what happened in Maryland, Delaware, and Pike L&P, and include a simple graph of wholesale prices, then relate to the expiration of generation rate caps.
• A media campaign similar to the "Where do you think you are, PA?" during the early days of restructuring won't work---you can't sell rate shock. However, radio and TV ads where Chairman Holland informs the public openly and honestly of possible escalating rates and the efforts of the Commission and its PA partnerships are taking to alleviate rate shock will work.
2. Conservation and Demand Reduction
• Encourage even more demand side management through customer incentives. It may be difficult for customers to reduce air conditioning during hot summer afternoons, but other actions such as signals to turn off water heaters, avoiding clothes drying, and cooking during peak times are achievable with rate incentives.
3. Avoiding Rate Shock
• Explore staged long-term contracts to soften sharp electricity price increases.
• Phasing in of rate increases in smaller increments, even before rate caps expire.
• Commissioner Shane would like to explore ways to avoid any price hikes. Form PUC working groups consisting of utilities, suppliers, other knowledgeable groups, and citizens to find ways to avoid price increases.
4. Low-Income Customer Assistance
• In addition to lobbying the General Assembly for additional LIHEAP funds, the Commission could approach United Way and other charities to create a new category to aid those who cannot pay for electric service.
• Most utilities permit customers to add $1 onto their utility bill payments for helping the needy. Utilities may suggest customers may add $2, $3 or more to their bill payments to increase these funds.
5. Wholesale Markets
• Enlist utilities, suppliers, PJM, ECAR and other qualified parties to study locational marginal pricing and transmission congestion. Determine alternatives to more expensive generators setting prices.
• Pennsylvania's electric generating plants are well-run and are often an overlooked asset. Avoid the temptation to require PA utilities to divest their generation.
Ken Davidson
Note: Penn State provides Commonwealth agencies with electricity and natural gas procurement services as well as help with all utility and supplier issues.
Kenneth W. Davidson, PE,CEM,CEP
Associate Director
Penn State University
College of Engineering-FEI
135 East Nittany Avenue
State College, PA 16801
ph (814) 863-2090
fax (814) 863-7835
email kwd4@engr.psu.edu
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