Utility Makes More Prominent Warning That Shopping Will Eliminate Low-Income Supply Discount
November 05,2015
Pepco has made more prominent on its website a disclosure that District of Columbia customers choosing a competitive electric supplier will lose a portion of the Residential Aid Discount (RAD) discount if they switch from Standard Offer Service
Pepco had previously posted on its website the following language:
"Attention customers who qualify for a residential aid discount or 'RAD' subsidy: the generation portion of the RAD subsidy is not available if you are served by a Third-Party Supplier, or if you switch from Pepco Standard Offer Service ('SOS') supply to a Third-Party Supplier. The generation portion of the RAD subsidy is available if you switch from a Third-Party Supplier to Pepco SOS supply."
The People's Counsel expressed concern that the language was not visible enough to customers and difficult to find
In response, Pepco has redesigned its website to place general information regarding RAD, including the RAD warning at issue, in a more prominent location. Now, in order to find the RAD message, a customer on Pepco.com can click on "My Home," then click on "Payment Assistance," which provides several important pieces of information for customers that are having difficulty paying utility bills. "Residential Aid Discount (RAD)" is among the payment assistance options. By clicking on that heading, the customer can view a series of FAQs, including "Am I eligible for the generation portion if I receive supply from a third-party supplier?" This FAQ provides the warning
The D.C. PSC has been examining ways to make the RAD discount portable (available to shoppers), but has not yet adopted a new design