Feb 1998 Conference
February 20, 1998
Bringing Retail Choice to Small Gas Customers in Illinois
Full retail choice for residential and other small users of natural gas is rapidly becoming a reality in a number of states. This workshop focuses on issues surrounding the implementation of supplier choice for small gas customers in Illinois. It highlights experience in key natural gas retail access programs in other states and explores the regulatory challenges posed by competitive access.
Topics Include:
- Prerequisites for achieving a truly competitive marketplace behind the city gate
- Unbundled tariff design
- Operational experience in key natural gas unbundling programs
- Consumer education
- Transitional issues
Agenda
8:00 Registration and Continental Breakfast
8:30 Welcome and Opening Remarks
8:45 Lessons from Gas Pilot Programs for Customer Choice in Illinois
This session examines experience in selected key residential gas choice programs. The topics addressed include the necessary prerequisites for a truly competitive retail market structure as well as lessons learned concerning the administration and operation of gas unbundling.
- extent of unbundling
- tariff design and cost allocation
- cost shifting issues
- information sharing between the utility and third parties
- utility/marketing affiliate relationships
- should the LDC be allowed/required to exit the merchant function?
- market power safeguards
- how must the market be structured to operate fairly and efficiently?
Moderator: Hon. Ruth Kretchmer, Illinois Commerce Commission
- Panel:
- Richard Cencini, Bay State Gas Co.
- Becky Merola, Enron
- Chris Pieri, NIPSCO
10:30 Morning Break
10: 50 Administrative and Operational Aspects of Customer Choice
- metering and billing issues under small customer aggregation
- balancing and other functions performed by the LDC
- transfer of capacity and storage rights to other suppliers
- information technology needs and small customer choice
Moderator: Hon. Brent Bohlen, Illinois Commerce Commission
- Panel:
- Mike Martin, Columbia Gas
- Steve Moore, Atlanta Gas Light Co.
- Ruth Gutman, Arthur Anderson
12:15 Luncheon
1:30 Consumer Education and Protection
- consumer education programs
- how should gas marketers be regulated to protect consumers?
- can the market assure reliability or is regulation required?
- provider of last resort responsibility
- status of low income energy assistance programs in Illinois
Moderator: Hon. Mary Jo Huffman, Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission
- Panel:
- Richard Balough, Citizens Utility Board
- Hon. Judith A. Jones, Public Utilities Commission of Ohio
- Norm Sims, Illinois Department of Commerce and Community Affairs
3:00 Afternoon Break
3:20 Transition Issues
- enabling legislation
- date certain customer choice or gradual phase in?
- determining and allocating stranded costs
- tax issues
Moderator: Hon. Richard Kolhauser, Illinois Commerce Commission
- Panel:
- Karl McDermott, Illinois Commerce Commission
- Phil O'Conner, Palmer Bellevue
- Thomas Patrick, Peoples Gas Light and Coke Co.
4:45 Close