PPL 2009 Test Flights and Facts..

August 24th, 2009

Want to sign up a customer in PPL for January 1, 2010?  You will need to start the testing process by 9/4/09 which gets you in production approx. 11/23/09.

The next flight after that has a registration deadline of 11/6/09, with production projected 1/25/10.

Other interesting PPL Facts:

  • There are 7000MW in PJM’s PPL zone
  • All meters in PPL are interval:  1800 Itron MV90 15-minute interval and 1,400,000 Aclara TNS 60-minute interval.
  • 1,200,000 Resi Customers, 200,000 Small C&I, 1,200 Large C&I
  • Resi price for 2010: 10.298 per kWh; Small C&I: 10.384 per kWh
  • SC&I prices going up 45% in 2010
  • PPL’s Energy Analyzer let’s all customers see their interval data, and share that data with 3rd parties (suppliers!)

Resources:

NYC Local Tax Raised 0.5% to 4.5%, Effective 8/1

August 5th, 2009

NYC local taxes changed on 8/1 to 4½%.   Notes:

  • Mayor’s proposal to charge the sales tax on ESCo charges and raise $83 million dollars was passed by the City Council in June
  • New taxes for NYC go to the state legislature as well, known as a ‘home rule’.
KED
  • In KED, ESCo’s have to calculate a 4 1/2% tax on charges and submit them for bill presentation as a separate line item.
  • In KED POR program, KED purchases this tax along with the rest of charges.
  • In KED POR, ESCo’s remit full tax amount to proper taxing authority.
ConEd
  • In ConEd, the new tax is for both gas and electric.
  • As in the past, Con Ed will buy the new NYC local taxes receivables as part of POR
  • In ConEd, ESCO’s need to send in an 814 Change file to change the tax rate (use AMT*9M)
  • As in the past, the ESCO is responsible for reporting and paying taxes to appropriate tax agency.
Miscellaneous
  • If the meter is read on or after August 1, 2009, and the number of days from August 1, 2009, to the date of the meter reading is more than half the total number of days covered by the bill, report sales of these services at the new residential rate of 4½% or the nonresidential rate of 8 7/8%.  If the meter is read on or after August 1, 2009, and the number of days from August 1, 2009, to the date of the meter reading is more than half the total number of days covered by the bill, any sales of the services of transporting, transmitting, distributing, or delivering gas or electricity, even if made by someone other than the vendor of the gas or electricity, must be reported at the new rate of 4½%.
Related Resources:

PSC Notice: http://www.tax.state.ny.us/pdf/notices/n09_12.pdf

TX PUC revamps ERCOT switching rules, effective 8/16/09

July 30th, 2009

ERCOT resi and small commercial customers will have new switching rules starting 8/16/09 for most territories (TDU’s have until 12/1 to complete changes).  Notes:

  • On ’standard’ switch (formerly ‘on-cycle’), a customer’s first-available switch date FASD will be set 3 business days after switch received at ERCOT.  No special fees, no ‘waive notification’ option,
  • If the normal read date is -3 or +3 days after FASD, that read will be used.  If outside that 7 day window then a physical read will be made on one of the 4 days after the FASD (TDSP’s have until 12/1/09 to implement).
  • The standard switch will be made 4 days after ERCOT receives the switch.
  • On ’self-selected’ switch (formerly ‘off-cycle’), a customer is switched on the date selected by the REP, and TDSP fees apply.
  • Rescission postcard to customers is replaced by a notification postcard (no option to rescind).
  • TDSP’s must have certain percentage of actual reads (reducing estimated reads) by 12/1/2009.

UPDATES:  above includes updates noted by Mike at TES Energy Services

The full order is here:  http://www.puc.state.tx.us/rules/subrules/electric/25.214/36536adt.pdf

Also see:  http://www.puc.state.tx.us/rules/subrules/electric/25.475/25.475.pdf

A little Vodka with that Electric Choice?

July 13th, 2009

Russia has entered the electric de-regulation world:

[Russia] Electric industry restructuring was essentially completed on July 1, 2008 and 20 of the 21 newly-created generation companies are to be privatized with many of them already having been privatized attracting both Russian and foreign (E.On, Enel, Fortum and other companies) investors. Since September 2006, wholesale and retail power markets have also come into force as wholesale electricity (capacity) market transitioned to regulated contracts concluded between buyers and sellers where prices are regulated by the Federal Tariff Service and a spot market-day ahead (DAM) was launched. In April 2007, regulated contracts were due to be replaced by unregulated ones but not until 2011 will electric power be sold at competitive retail prices.

Call ESG today for market pricing!   :)

PPL Choice Fair 7/7/09

July 7th, 2009

PPL rate caps are set to end on 12/31/09, and the choice industry is gearing up to fill the gaps.  On 7/7 PPL hosted a fair with 22 suppliers and 120 end-use customers.  There is clearly excitement – and anxiety – over this milestone.  Read the rest of this entry »

PA Rate Caps Expire 2009, 2010

July 6th, 2009

Retail energy gets one of its best tests to date when PA rate caps expire in 2010 and 2011. Read the rest of this entry »

IL POR and UCB Markets Gear Up

June 30th, 2009

Over 5 million customers in the Ameren/ComEd IL markets are in play as these markets implement SB1299-driven Purchase of Receivables [POR] and Utility-Consolidated Billing [UCB]. Read the rest of this entry »

Welcome to ESG’s Blog

June 23rd, 2009

Welcome to ESG’s retail energy blog! The goal of this blog is to help stimulate lively discussions and debate on topics critical to success in the retail electric and gas industry. ESG’s senior staff will post comments to the blog that we hope you find compelling, informative and yes even controversial. We look forward to your thoughtful and insightful comments, questions and feedback.