The Public Utility Commission Thursday issued for comment changes to regulations regarding natural gas supplier licensing requirements as part of an Advanced Notice of Final Rulemaking.

“I believe it is appropriate to review our regulations from time to time,” said Commissioner Pamela A. Witmer. “The regulations we approve for comment today will better align our natural gas supplier requirements with those of our electric suppliers. I look forward to seeing the feedback of all interested parties.”

The Commission voted 5-0 to adopt the changes, which include:

-- Eliminating the definitions of a “marketing service consultant”;

-- Incorporating new entities referred to as “aggregators,” “brokers” and “non-selling marketers”; and

-- Continuing the exemption for nontraditional marketers and establishing the exemption for non-selling marketers under contract to only one NGS.

Interested parties may comment within 30 days following publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.

The current Commission regulations require all NGSs to obtain a license from the PUC in order to offer service. “Marketing service consultants” and “nontraditional marketers” have been exempted from these requirements. Some marketing service consultants and nontraditional marketers still apply for licenses, despite the fact that they are not required to do so.

To date, the Commission’s practice has been to issue licenses to such entities if they meet the financial and technical requirements to obtain a license. The addition of “aggregators” and “brokers” as well as the elimination of “marketing service consultants” will require entities meeting the definition of a NGS to be licensed.

3/4/2013