The Public Utility Commission Thursday conducted a binding poll on the issues related to the default service programs for FirstEnergy companies including Metropolitan Edison Co., Pennsylvania Electric Co., Pennsylvania Power Co. and West Penn Power Co. (FirstEnergy).

The binding poll is designed to provide a mechanism for the Commission to publically discuss the issues in complex cases where there are questions to be addressed by the Commission and where parties have intervened in the proceeding.

Commissioners base their findings on the record developed in the proceeding, the recommended decision from the presiding Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) and the briefs and exceptions presented by the parties in the case. The ALJ issued a recommended decision on June 15, 2012, and parties filed exceptions to that decision as well as reply exceptions.

The positions of the Commissioners presented during the discussion are binding. Commission staff will prepare a Final Order based on the results of the poll. The action of the Commission does not become effective until a Final Order is entered by the Commission.

An audio of the meeting including the binding poll is available on the Commission's website.

Commissioner Pamela A. Witmer issued a motion on the companies’ time-of-use rate proposal and electric generation supplier access to customer data. She also issued a motion dealing with retail opt-in program issues and other market-enhancement programs. Both motions were intended to ensure that through approval of the FirstEnergy default service plan that the stage is set to further enhance opportunities for consumers to realize the full potential of competitive markets.

“I believe that the proposals put forth in the PUC’s intermediate work plan and the companies’ default service plans represent useful and prudent steps toward transforming the competitive retail electricity market in the Commonwealth,” Commissioner Witmer said in a statement. “While there is much work yet to be done, today’s actions are an important first step in unlocking the potential electric competition promises for Pennsylvania consumers.”

The default service program governs how the FirstEnergy companies will secure default service supply for non-shopping customers from June 1, 2013, to May 31, 2015. The 1996 electric competition law requires electric companies, or a Commission-approved alternative supplier, to provide default electric generation service to customers who have not selected an alternative generation supplier.  The default service prices for electric generation service are required to result in a procurement strategy to produce the least cost to customers over time.

8/6/2012