SJR-91
Consumer, Environment & Education Task Force
Stakeholder and interested party issue positions for task force final report [10/8/98 revision]

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The task force has before it the following seven issues:

• Public benefits charges.
• Consumer Education.
• Aggregation.
• Environment.
• Energy Efficiency.
• Consumer Protection.
• Electric Utility Worker Protection [added since 10/6]

The task force has scheduled a total of four meetings to address these issues, and to prepare a report to the joint subcommittee identifying key concerns identified by stakeholders and interested parties. The task force will submit to the joint subcommittee a matrix, or chart summarizing the parties' positions, together with a staff summary identifying important areas of agreement and disagreement on significant issues.

We will need input from all stakeholders and interested parties to assist us in preparing the matrix and summary. While most-but not all-of the stakeholders and interested parties have furnished written comments on all of the six issues in the course of the task force's work during its first three meetings, we know (based on our experience with the other task forces) that parties will want to modify or amplify their positions on key issues. We've also learned in preparing the other task force's matrixes, that some parties who previously taken no position on a particular issue, may decide to "go on record" for purposes of the matrix.

With all of that mind, staff has prepared a series of policy questions in each of the six seven categories outlined above. They are listed below. We would like all stakeholders and interested parties to provide brief responses to these questions for the purpose of including the answers-verbatim, if possible-in the staff matrix. And, as we've done in the other task forces, staff will also prepare an executive summary, or overview highlighting key areas of agreement and disagreement.

We would like to receive the responses not later than 12 p.m., Friday, October 16. This should give staff enough time to prepare the matrix and staff summary for posting to the SJR-91 web site by Friday, October 23.

The final report to be presented to the task force on October 27 for its approval will consist of the matrix, staff summary, and the parties' submissions in response to this questionnaire, plus any other submissions furnished by the parties to the task force in the course of its work.

If you would like a Word 7 version of this document e-mailed to your or your support staff to facilitate preparing responses, please contact Cindy Liddy at the Division of Legislative Services at 804-786-3591, Ext. 283, or by e-mail at cliddy@leg.state.va.us.

Public Benefits Charges.

1. As part of implementing electric utility restructuring in Virginia, should the General Assembly establish any rate subsidy and/or energy efficiency assistance programs for low-income households?
2. How should any such program(s) be structured in terms of eligibility?
3. How should any such program(s) be funded?
4. How should any such program(s) be administered?
5. Are there any programs that could or should serve as an alternative or supplement to any such programs? If so, describe.
6. Please identify any other issue(s) falling under this topic you believe are important, and provide comments on that issue.

   Consumer Education.

7. What should be the general purpose of any consumer education program preceding and accompanying Virginia's transition to retail competition?
8. When should these programs be conducted?
9. Who, if anyone, should have regulatory oversight over such programs?
10. Which state regulatory agencies, if any, should participate in this program, and in what capacity?
11. How should such programs be funded?
12. Should any long-term consumer education program be established, to continue after the transition to retail competition is completed? If so, describe its scope, oversight and funding.
13. Please identify any other issue(s) falling under this topic you believe are important, and provide comments on that issue.

    Customer Aggregation.

14. Should customer aggregation be permitted in Virginia in conjunction with restructuring?
15. Should aggregators be subject to mandatory licensing by any regulatory authority, or be required to furnish evidence of financial soundness?
16. Should aggregators be subject to any other requirements? If so, describe them.
17. Should localities (counties, cities or towns) be permitted to aggregate their residential load?
18. Should localities be permitted to aggregate their residential load on an "opt out" basis?
19. Should localities be permitted to form inter-locality aggregates?
20. Should localities be permitted to aggregate load with private entities outside their territorial jurisdiction?
21. Should localities be permitted to aggregate load with private entities or localities outside of Virginia?
22. Please identify any other issue(s) falling under this topic you believe are important, and provide comments on that issue.

    Consumer protection.

23. Should electric service providers and aggregators be required to disclose standard information in their marketing materials, and in their proposals and contracts for service? If so, what basic information should be provided?
24. Should any kinds of marketing practices by electric service providers or aggregators be specifically prohibited? If so, what practices should be barred ?
25. Should Virginia restructuring legislation establish limits on the size of utility service deposits that may be required by electric service providers and aggregators? If so, what limits should be established?
26. What kinds of standard information should electric bills contain after restructuring? If so, what information should each bill be required to provide?
27. Should Virginians be given any statutory rights to cancel utility service contracts with electric service providers or aggregators within a specified number of days following acceptance? If so, what special rights of recission or cancellation should be provided in statute?
28. Should Virginians be given any statutory protection against unauthorized switching of electric service providers, or "slamming?" If so, what anti-slamming protections should be adopted?
29. Should Virginians be given any statutory protection against any electric service provider or aggregator telemarketing practices? If so, what?
30. Should consumers be furnished assistance by any state regulatory agencies in resolving complaints against electric service providers or aggregators? If so, which agencies should be involved, and what should their responsibilities include?
31. Please identify any other issue(s) falling under this topic you believe are important, and provide comments on that issue.

    Environmental Protection.

32. Should Virginia restructuring legislation in any way promote or encourage the use of renewable energy in the generation of electricity? If so, how?
33. Should Virginia restructuring legislation in any way address air quality, directly or indirectly? If so, in what way?
34. Should Virginia restructuring legislation require electric service providers or aggregators to disclose generation fuels? If so, how should this requirement be implemented and administered?
35. Please identify any other issue(s) falling under this topic you believe are important, and provide comments on that issue.

    Energy Efficiency.

36. Should Virginia restructuring legislation in any way promote or encourage energy conservation or energy efficiency, e.g., encouraging installation of energy efficient equipment or energy efficiency monitoring equipment? If so, what incentives should the legislation include?
37. Should Virginia restructuring legislation establish a public benefits charge for the purpose of encouraging research and development in the areas of energy conservation and efficiency? If so, how should it be assessed and administered?
38. Please identify any other issue(s) falling under this topic you believe are important, and provide comments on that issue.

    Electric Utility Worker Protection.

39. Should Virginia's electric utility workers be given any statutory protections in conjunction with the transition to a retail competition? If so, what protections should be provided, and through what mechanism?
40. If any statutory protections for utility workers result in additional costs or expense, how should they be funded?
41. Should providers of electric energy in a restructured market be required to maintain minimum staffing levels for purposes of reliability? If so, who should determine these levels, and what standards should be applied in doing so?
42. Should the purchaser of any generation unit or station sold after restructuring, be required to (i) hire or continue the employment of such unit or station's employees, and (ii) furnish such employees the same wages, working conditions and benefits and terms and conditions of employment that were in effect prior to the sale?
43. Should new entrants into Virginia's electricity market following restructuring be required to comply with any requirements concerning the qualifications of their electrical workers with regard to quality, safety and reliability of service? If so, who would establish such requirements.
44. Should Virginia, in conjunction with restructuring, establish mandatory training and skill standards for all electrical workers responsible for systems and equipment that affect system reliability and safety?
45. Please identify any other issue(s) falling under this topic you believe are important, and provide comments on that issue.