1Amending Title 66 (Public Utilities) of the Pennsylvania
2Consolidated Statutes, in restructuring of electric utility
3industry, further providing for duties of electric
4distribution companies; and for requirement of electric
5generation suppliers.

6The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
7hereby enacts as follows:

8Section 1. Section 2807(d) of Title 66 of the Pennsylvania
9Consolidated Statutes is amended by adding a paragraph to read:

10§ 2807. Duties of electric distribution companies.

11* * *

12(d) Consumer protections and customer service.--The electric
13distribution company shall continue to provide customer service
14functions consistent with the regulations of the commission,
15including meter reading, complaint resolution and collections.
16Customer services shall, at a minimum, be maintained at the same
17level of quality under retail competition.

18* * *

1(4) The commission shall establish regulations to
2require that an electric distribution company change a
3customer's electricity supplier within a period not to exceed
4five business days from the time of the customer's request
5for a change of supplier.

6* * *

7Section 2. Section 2809 of Title 66 is amended by adding a
8subsection to read:

9§ 2808. Competitive transition charge.

10* * *

11(g) Notification requirements for contracts using a variable
12pricing mechanism.--To enable customers to make an informed
13decision about electric generation supply options, the
14commission shall establish regulations to require each electric
15generation supplier offering a contract for electric generation
16using a rate based on a variable pricing mechanism to:

17(1) Provide notification to its customer prior to the
18expiration of the customer's contract if the contract to
19expire uses a fixed pricing mechanism. The following shall
20apply:

21(i) The notification shall be sent 45 days prior to
22the expiration date of the customer's contract and again,
2315 days prior to the expiration date of the customer's
24contract.

25(ii) The notification must be sent by written and
26electronic means. If the customer does not have
27electronic access, the means of notification shall be by
28telephone.

29(iii) The notification shall include the name,
30address, telephone number and publicly accessible

1Internet address of the electric generation supplier.

2(iv) The notification shall explain the renewal
3provisions of the customer's existing contract and
4whether the rate in a renewal contract may be based on a
5variable pricing mechanism.

6(2) Post the current rate on its publicly accessible
7Internet website.

8(3) Provide notification to its customer if the
9customer's rate increases by at least 50% above the prior
10billing period. The following shall apply:

11(i) The notification shall be sent as soon as the
12electric generation supplier becomes aware of the
13increase.

14(ii) The notification must be sent by electronic
15means. If the customer does not have electronic access,
16the means of notification shall be by telephone.

17(iii) The notification shall include the name,
18address, telephone number and publicly accessible
19Internet address of the electric generation supplier.

20(iv) The notification shall include the current rate
21at the time the notification is sent.

22(4) Provide direct oral disclosure of the rate
23information in the contract to its customer prior to the
24execution of the contract. Rate information shall be provided
25to the customer in an understandable format and shall
26include, but not be limited to, the following:

27(i) Details of the rate plan based on a variable
28pricing mechanism and terms of service in the contract.

29(ii) Conditions of variability and basis on which
30the rate will vary.

1(iii) Limits on rate variability.

2(iv) A statement clearly explaining that rates based
3on variable pricing mechanisms are not capped under
4Federal or State law, if applicable.

5(v) A statement clearly explaining that the customer
6will receive notification if the customer's rate
7increases by at least 50% above the prior billing period
8as soon as the electric generation supplier becomes aware
9of the increase and seeking a positive oral confirmation
10from the customer indicating that the customer
11understands the means of notification provided will be
12used to inform the customer of rate increases.

13Section 3. This act shall take effect in 60 days.