Pennsylvania’s New Disclosure Rules for Electric Suppliers Take Effect

The Pennsylvania Public Utilities Commission’s enhanced disclosure rules took effect on Sept. 30, providing additional consumer protections and greater transparency for product offerings from electric generation suppliers. The amendments are designed to align the electric supplier regulations with those of natural gas suppliers. They do not apply to contracts executed before Sept. 30 and currently in effect.

The changes build on 2014 variable pricing reforms, requiring suppliers to present more exact pricing information to prospective customers, including clearly disclosing the introductory price as well as the price after the introductory period. Suppliers must detail the factors that will be used for deciding the price for variable priced products, and also specify, in a larger font, that the price can change. Prior regulations already require suppliers to provide customers with a two-year history of the product’s price.

The rules also establish new requirements for flat monthly pricing and time-of-use products. For products offering flat monthly prices, which do not change based on usage, suppliers are required to provide the per-kilowatt hour price at similar three-month usage levels. With regard to time-of-use products, the time periods and the corresponding prices must be displayed clearly in a table format. 

The rules prohibit early termination fees for contracts entered into after Sept. 30 once a supplier notifies a customer of contract options notice 30 days before the expiration date. The commission has directed suppliers to disclose how customer account information will be handled and whether a contract is assignable.