2204(g), these findings support the ultimate conclusion that there is a lack of "effective competition" in Pennsylvania's retail natural gas supply market at this time. at 67. We, therefore, convened the Natural Gas Report to the General Assembly Stakeholders Group, named to explore avenues for increasing competition. “SEARCH,” The work and report of that stakeholders' working group is detailed in our Final Order and Action Plan (“SEARCH Order” or Plan”) issued in September 2008. “Action We concluded that there were a number of steps which the Commission could take to help promote the development of competition in the retail markets for natural gas supply in the Commonwealth. Accordingly, we initiated this rulemaking with the goal of nurturing a robust retail market for natural gas. at 7. Action Plan Specifically, this rulemaking addresses five issues related to the duties, rights, and obligations of NGDCs. Those areas are as follows: Reformulate the NGDCs’ to compare” to better reflect all costs related to “price natural gas supply and procurement. Establish permanent rules for NGDC purchase of receivables programs. Ensure that the release, assignment or transfer of capacity by an NGDC is nondiscriminatory and at the applicable contract rate. Change the handling of costs related to NGDCs’ competition activities. Allow NGDCs to recover the cost of their annual regulatory assessments under Section 510 of the Public Utility Code via an automatic adjustment surcharge. The was entered on March 27, 2009, and was Proposed Rulemaking Order published on July 11, 2009, in the at 39 3461. The order Pennsylvania Bulletin Pa.B. established a 45-day comment period. Comments were filed by IRRC and other interested parties.
2204(g), these findings support the ultimate conclusion that there is a lack of "effective competition" in Pennsylvania's retail natural gas supply market at this time. Report to the General Assembly at 67. We, therefore, convened the Natural Gas Stakeholders Group, named “SEARCH,” to explore avenues for increasing competition. The work and report of that stakeholders' working group is detailed in our Final Order and Action Plan (“SEARCH Order” or “Action Plan”) issued in September 2008. We concluded that there were a number of steps which the Commission could take to help promote the development of competition in the retail markets for natural gas supply in the Commonwealth. Accordingly, we initiated this rulemaking with the goal of nurturing a robust retail market for natural gas. Action Plan at 7. Specifically, this rulemaking addresses five issues related to the duties, rights, and obligations of NGDCs. Those areas are as follows: Reformulate the NGDCs’ “price to compare” to better reflect all costs related to natural gas supply and procurement. Establish permanent rules for NGDC purchase of receivables programs. Ensure that the release, assignment or transfer of capacity by an NGDC is nondiscriminatory and at the applicable contract rate. Change the handling of costs related to NGDCs’ competition activities. Allow NGDCs to recover the cost of their annual regulatory assessments under Section 510 of the Public Utility Code via an automatic adjustment surcharge. The Proposed Rulemaking Order was entered on March 27, 2009, and was published on July 11, 2009, in the Pennsylvania Bulletin at 39 Pa.B. 3461. The order established a 45-day comment period. Comments were filed by IRRC and other interested parties.
1136335.docx