More Wwp Clients To Shop Around Test Program Would Apply To 2,500 Residential Electricity Customers

The energy supermarket is open, or could be if Washington and Idaho regulators approve a proposal from Washington Water Power Co.

The Spokane company wants to give 2,500 of its residential customers, and 300 of its small business customers the chance to buy electricity from other utilities during a two-year test.

The experiment in direct access, said energy services manager Roger Curtis, will give consumers and utility alike an opportunity to find out how a deregulated power market will work.

Federal and state lawmakers are considering legislation that would allow electric utilities to compete the way telephone companies and other former monopolies do.

A similar program for 30 of WWP’s largest industrial and commercial customers was launched last fall.

“WWP believes direct access will benefit all of our customers by enhancing energy products and services,” Curtis said. “Of course, we’re hopeful that when alternatives are finally available, customers will choose WWP based on our reliable, low-cost energy and exceptional customer service.”

He said about 4,500 candidates for the test program - to be called More Options for Power Service, or MOPS will be selected at random from across WWP’s Washington-Idaho service territory. Those picked will receive packets of information explaining how the program will work.

The names of those who volunteer to participate will be given to suppliers, who could number as many as 100, Curtis said.

The suppliers will be free to market their power any way they choose, but any solicitation must include comparisons with WWP’s rates.

Because those are among the lowest in the country, Curtis said WWP officials are curious about how aggressively competitors will respond.

Similar tests by other utilities have been conducted where rates are much higher, he said.

Curtis noted that customers will be choosing only the source of their electricity. WWP will continue to deliver the power, and customer bills will reflect a charge for that service.

WWP may also do the billing for the alternative power suppliers, he said, but most choose to bill for themselves.

Curtis said WWP estimates the experiment will cost $681,000, excluding any revenues from the lost power sales.

The utility has asked regulators to approve the pilot program by March 31, with implementation on July 1.

Once enrolled, participants can change providers as often as they like - subject to the contract they have with the supplier - or switch back to WWP.

, DataTimes