More protections coming when you sign up for an electric offer?
The Illinois Commerce Commission (the regulators overseeing consumer protection in Illinois) has issued a first notice that if enacted would offer additional regulatory safeguards to customers selecting a retail energy provider.
Sales conducted in-person such as door to door sales, multilevel marketing and any signing up at a kiosk (say at a fair or church group), would require the energy representative to complete all the following:
- Identification: wear credentials showing picture, full name and company logo
- Criminal background check: completed by a third party (doesn’t disqualify if positive)
- Third party verification of the customer’s enrollment decision (not just a signed agreement but a recording of the customer authorizing the enrollment)
Every alternative retail energy supplier (ARES) in Illinois is required to be authorized by the ICC. Further, every ARES is subject to losing their authorization if their conduct is fraudulent, misleading or abusive.
The ICC is the agency that receives and addresses complaints from consumers. Apparently, they believe there is a need for such new rules. However, it seems unclear to me whether these changes offer new protections. It’s apparent to me that if customers are being enrolled under misleading, fraudulent or abusive tactics then the ICC has the authority to end such practices today.
Realgy is in compliant with current rules and will review any final rule to ensure we stay such.
Realgy Energy Services is a registered Retail Energy Marketer in the states of Illinois, Michigan and Indiana. We offer Service Plans that will provide electric and natural gas at wholesale pricing direct to customers without any utility markup. Our Service Plans work with the local utility to provide seamless service and annual energy savings. Service Plans include Guaranteed SavingsTM, ManagedPriceTM, ManagedGreenTM Index, Fixed and PriceAssuranceTM.
Additional Information:
ComEd supports Green Energy and Competition…until they don’t.
Sounds political right; I am for it until I am against it.
A transmission line that would carry wind energy from the Midwest into Illinois, 3,500 megawatts or enough power for 1,600,000 homes, was rejected by the Appeals Court of Illinois after ComEd sided against the transmission line.
At stake is ComEd’s monopoly on transmission in their service territory.
ComEd used its standing in Illinois to appeal a decision by the Illinois Commerce Commission though the court. The appeal court’s ruling is confusing and should be reversed by the State Supreme Court. However, it exposed ComEd empty rhetoric of supporting customer choice and green energy….that is until it would be built in their backyard.
Realgy Energy Services is a registered Retail Energy Marketer in the states of Illinois, Michigan and Indiana. We offer Service Plans that will provide electric and natural gas at wholesale pricing direct to customers without any utility markup. Our Service Plans work with the local utility to provide seamless service and annual energy savings. Service Plans include Guaranteed SavingsTM, ManagedPriceTM, ManagedGreenTM Index, Fixed and PriceAssuranceTM.
Additional Information:
DOE EIA Weekly Gas Storage Report
Working gas in storage was 3,350 Bcf as of Friday, August 19, 2016, according to EIA estimates. This represents a net increase of 11 Bcf from the previous week. Stocks were 275 Bcf higher than last year at this time and 350 Bcf above the five-year average of 3,000 Bcf. At 3,350 Bcf, total working gas is above the five-year historical range.
Estimated Injection 18 Bcf.
Vs
Actual Injection 11 Bcf.
The US Energy Information Administration on Thursday will estimate a natural gas storage injection of about 18 Bcf for the reporting week ended August 19, according to a consensus of analysts surveyed by S&P Global Platts. The EIA plans to announce its storage report at 10:30 am EDT Thursday. The expected injection would be less than the 66-Bcf build reported at this time in 2015 and the 63-Bcf five-year average increase, according to EIA data. Analysts’ estimates in the survey ranged from 10 Bcf to 24 Bcf.
What is Energy Choice?
Should a simply question not have a simple answer. Why is the sky blue? How does electricity get to the outlet?
We live in a market driven society but the idea of shopping for energy suppliers can seem baffling.
Answers can illuminate complex relationships, convey a simplified understanding or seek to explain the purpose.
So why do we have energy choice? Let’s look at 3 such answers:
- Regulating the monopoly utility for energy purchases was shown to be more costly (customers could save money)
- It allowed market conditions to set the price, as in supply and demand
- Energy Choice created new businesses and offered customers new energy purchasing options
Of course the bottom line in Energy Choice:
SUPPLIER: Obtains sources of energy for you
UTILITY: Delivers your energy to you
Realgy Energy Services is a registered Retail Energy Marketer in the states of Illinois, Michigan and Indiana. We offer Service Plans that will provide electric and natural gas at wholesale pricing direct to customers without any utility markup. Our Service Plans work with the local utility to provide seamless service and annual energy savings. Service Plans include Guaranteed SavingsTM, ManagedPriceTM, ManagedGreenTM Index, Fixed and PriceAssuranceTM.
Additional Information:
DOE EIA Weekly Gas Storage Report
Working gas in storage was 3,339 Bcf as of Friday, August 12, 2016, according to EIA estimates. This represents a net increase of 22 Bcf from the previous week. Stocks were 327 Bcf higher than last year at this time and 405 Bcf above the five-year average of 2,934 Bcf. At 3,339 Bcf, total working gas is above the five-year historical range.
Estimated Injection 28 Bcf
VS
Actual Injection 22 Bcf
The US Energy Information Administration is expected to estimate a 28-Bcf injection into natural gas storage facilities for the reporting week that ended August 12, according to a consensus of analysts surveyed by Platts. The expected injection would be much less than the 56-Bcf injection reported at this time in 2015 as well as the five-year average, which is a 57-Bcf build, according to EIA data. The below-average build would mark the 15th consecutive week that weekly injections were significantly less than the historical average and last year and would continue to shrink the storage surplus. Analysts’ estimates in the survey ranged from an injection of 23 Bcf to 35 Bcf. An injection of 28 Bcf would grow stocks to 3.345 Tcf, 333 Bcf more than the corresponding week last year and 411 Bcf more than the five-year average
Lansing, MI utility plans to replace coal plant
The Board of Water & Light’s Board of Commissioners are deciding how to proceed with the city-owned utility’s first long-term strategic plan since 2008. The proposal could include a second new natural gas-fired electric plant, this one to replace the outdated Eckert Plant that is scheduled to close by 2020.
The board, in setting such policy, is unleashing market forces to respond. When this coal plant was built, it competed with nothing. That’s right; built in 1950, coal was the only choice. Today, wind, solar, natural gas and nuclear are all competitive. In addition, taking into account environmental factors is now evident in energy planning.
Congratulations to Lansing’s Board of Commissioners; who are setting policy reflective of the current technology and environmental knowledge.
Realgy Energy Services is a registered Retail Energy Marketer in the states of Illinois, Michigan and Indiana. We offer Service Plans that will provide electric and natural gas at wholesale pricing direct to customers without any utility markup. Our Service Plans work with the local utility to provide seamless service and annual energy savings. Service Plans include Guaranteed SavingsTM, ManagedPriceTM, ManagedGreenTM Index, Fixed and PriceAssuranceTM.
Additional Information:
http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/story/news/local/2016/08/17/bwl-strategic-plan/88864244/