Ohio approves new customer verification requirements for retail energy suppliers. On March 4, the the PUC of Ohio issued an order approving amendments to the Ohio Administrative Code to implement portions of the market-changing HB15 of 2025. Notably, these changes establish requirements for competitive retail electric and natural gas suppliers to maintain adequate financial assurances in the event of a default and specify the customer account information necessary to verify identity prior to a supplier switch. Brokers and aggregators are exempt from this requirement. More specifically: (1) suppliers are now required to verify a customer’s identity at enrollment using either the customer account information, a government-issued ID, or another sufficient form of identification that allows the supplier to establish the customer's identity; (2) suppliers must obtain the customer’s signature confirming that identity verification occurred and must document which verification method was used; (3) consistent with HB15, customers are no longer required to provide their account number to enroll suppliers can instead obtain it from utility-provided eligible customer lists. However, suppliers must still submit this information to utilities to complete enrollment; and (4) the rules clarify how identity verification interacts with telephonic enrollments. Customers only need to verbally provide their account number if that method is used for verification.
Connecticut continues to claim supplier customers overpay for energy. PURA in Connecticut issued its proposed annual legislative report for 2025, for comment before submittal to the legislature, on March 11. Most concerningly, the report continues the narrative that supplier customers “overpay” compared with default service, saying in part: “As has been well documented by OCC, customers with licensed electric suppliers have historically paid significantly more than customers with standard service. During the 11-year period from January 2015 through December 2025, residential customers collectively overpaid over $227 million more than they would have paid on standard service…residential customers collectively paid, in aggregate, more than $25 million more than they would have paid on standard service in 2025.”
Delaware considering requiring additional supplier disclaimers. Utility Delmarva filed comments on Delaware PSC Staff’s proposed revisions to the DEPSC's rules for electric suppliers. In this, Delmarva agrees “with Commissioner Gray’s position and recommends that to avoid customer confusion, Staff include a new Section 11.2.1 requiring suppliers to inform prospective customers they are not affiliated with Delmarva and prohibiting suppliers from implying or suggesting they are representing Delmarva.” Additionally, Delmarva recommends that Staff add provisions requiring suppliers to provide separate notifications to customers of rate changes, through multiple means of notice.
Pennsylvania updates Eligible Customer List guidelines. On March 13, the Pennsylvania PUC issued an order, establishing updated guidelines for the Eligible Customer List (ECL). Under the order, utilities must re-solicit their entire residential and small commercial customer base every 5 years rather than every 3 and use electronic methods to communicate with customers about the ECL. Additionally, in preparing future ECL solicitations, utilities must ensure that all messaging is neutral and explains how suppliers will use the information.
California District Court of Appeals upholds state’s net metering tariff. A California appeals court has upheld the latest version of the state’s net metering tariff, NEM 3.0, which was challenged on the basis that it violated the statutory goals of the net metering program because it did not take account net metering’s social benefits, “fails to promote sustainable growth of renewable energy, and omits alternatives to promote… renewable systems… in disadvantaged communities.” In its decision, the court found “petitioners do not sufficiently describe the benefits of the tariff that the Commission purportedly failed to quantify,” and that NEM 3.0 “adequately serves the various — albeit sometimes inconsistent — objectives”
DC nixes Peco multi-year rate plan. On March 5, the District of Columbia Court of Appeals vacated the DCPSC’s approval of Pepco’s 2024-2026 rate plan, which authorized a $123.4 million rate increase over two years. The court agreed with the Office of People’s Counsel that the DCPSC erred in merely holding a legislative-style hearing when material facts were in dispute, and it remanded the case for the statutorily required evidentiary, trial-type hearing.
California moved closer to imposing corporate climate reporting requirements. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) recent approved a regulation establishing administration and fee implementation for greenhouse gas reporting and climate-related financial risk disclosures by large US-based entities doing business in California. The requirements were established in SB253 and SB261 of 2023. However, CARB is not enforcing the latter while it is being challenged in the Federal Court of Appeals.
Massachusetts considering allowing municipal retail choice bans. In a surprise move after parties believed the residential retail market was safe in this year’s Massachusetts legislative session, the House of Representatives passed a massive omnibus energy bill on February 27. Among many relevant provisions to retail suppliers in H5175 (which Massachusetts subscribers can find summarized at H5175 in the Policy Plugin database or the most recent PDF report), the bill gives any city or town the authority, by a vote of its town meeting or legislative body, to prohibit any supplier, energy marketer or energy broker from executing a new contract or renewing an existing contract for electricity with any individual residential retail customer within such city or town. Any such prohibition would not apply to suppliers serving residential retail customers as part of a municipal aggregation plan, however. The Senate is considering the bill, but a dispute over renewable energy language in the text means that a conference committee – during which suppliers are expected to lobby against this provision – is likely.
Kentucky utility filed annual choice report. Columbia Gas of Kentucky filed its annual CHOICE program report on March 2. The CHOICE program – which the utility has unsuccessfully attempted to get shut down in recent years – is the only retail energy opportunity available in the Bluegrass State. (3/2/26). Of note, Columbia reported: (1) total net CHOICE program revenues of $105,021, stemming from a $.05 per Mcf charge to gas suppliers, $0.20/bill billing charge, fee for changes to rate codes by suppliers, and the POR discount rate; (2) total 2025 costs to participants of $2,032,448; and (3) total costs to participants since program inception of $80,844,262.
Commission Comings-and-Goings: Delaware Division of the Public Advocate (DPA) announced Samantha Hajek has been selected as Deputy Public Advocate, following eight years at the DEPSC as ombudsman. The Ontario Energy Board announced the appointment of James Sidlofsky to the role of full-time commissioner effective March 1.
In Brief: The NYSERDA in New York announced that the enrollment requirement start date for utility residential Bring Your Own Battery programs has been postponed to April 1. The grace period for battery manufacturers to complete onboarding to Bring Your Own Battery programs will still conclude after June 1…the Pennsylvania PUC released on March 12 the findings of a Management Efficiency Investigation assessing PECO Energy’s progress in implementing recommendations from the comprehensive management and operations audit issued by the PAPUC in 2022. The investigation also highlights ongoing concerns related to PECO Energy’s customer billing system and operational expenses, including employee overtime…the Delaware PSC on March 7 issued redlined versions of the final net metering regulations, as published in the March 26 edition of the Delaware Register of Regulations…Massachusetts Gov. Healey signed an executive order on March 16, directing the state to secure 10GW of new energy resources by 2035, as well as 5 GW of new energy storage…the Michigan PSC approved a $242 million revenue increase for DTE. The approved increase was significantly less than the $574 million requested. The MIPSC said that a typical residential customer will see an increase in monthly bills of $4.93, or 4.6%....Arizona is – though perhaps not seriously – considering a public takeover of Tucson Electric Power. A study commissioned by the utility, however, suggests that such a move would increase bills by $5.8 billion over 20 years.