MEDIA RELEASE
28 May 2013

The Department of Energy (DOE) and the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) have taken steps to address the growing concerns of many Contestable Customers of possible disconnection due to the inability to sign a retail supply contract with a supplier on or before the prescribed deadline of May 20, 2013, in preparation for the full RCOA commercial operations on June 26, 2013.

Under a draft Resolution, Contestable Customers who have not yet signed a contract with a Supplier shall continue to be served by their franchised Distribution Utilities until they are able to negotiate a more competitive retail supply contract. The intent is to ease pressure on the Contestable Customers in securing a retail supply contract and to avoid being disconnected from service or be served by a Supplier of Last Resort which have higher rates.

The step undertaken was in response to the feedback received by the DOE and ERC during a joint conduct of information and education campaign, and the turn-out of registration in the Central Registration Body. As a result, both agencies looked into how RCOA will better operate to achieve the intent of EPIRA in terms of promoting customer choice, better services and competition in the power supply sector.