GDF SUEZ Subsidiary Helps Pennsylvania Customers Prepare for Electricity Choice
Energy Provider Invites Pennsylvania Business Leaders to Attend Workshop on Upcoming Changes to Electricity Service in the Pennsylvania Power and Light Territory
HOUSTON – May 19, 2009 – GDF SUEZ Energy Resources NA, the retail energy business of GDF SUEZ Energy North America, will host an educational workshop on June 11, 2009, at the Hotel Hershey in Hershey, Pennsylvania to discuss upcoming changes to the sourcing of electricity in the Pennsylvania Power and Light (PPL) territory. The panel discussion, which also will stream online via a Webinar, will provide GDF SUEZ Energy Resources customers and commercial and industrial businesses in the territory the unique opportunity to learn from a panel of industry experts about customer choice as Pennsylvania makes the transition from regulated rates to customer choice competitive rates in 2010.
Current PPL rates are set at levels established in 1996, when Pennsylvania passed the "Electricity Generation Customer Choice and Competition Act." The Act provides customers the opportunity to buy their electricity requirements from a competitive supplier rather than only from the local utility. The Act froze PPL customers' electricity rates at 1997 costing levels, requiring the maintenance of such rates through the end of 2009.
Customers in the PPL territory will be faced with significant changes to electricity rates at the beginning of next year, while also being given the opportunity to select a competitive provider and a variety of products that can be tailored to their operation or business needs. The complimentary workshop and luncheon will begin at 11:00 a.m. and will feature four industry experts who will address the Pennsylvania electricity market and what business consumers can expect from the changes taking place at the end of this year.
Speakers include:
• Bob Wilson, President and CEO, GDF SUEZ Energy Resources NA, will open the workshop with brief remarks on the current state of the PPL territory.
• Eric Matheson, Chief Policy Advisor to the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission Chairman, will discuss retail market rules and the goals of the State of Pennsylvania in supporting customer choice.
• Edward Toppi, Vice President of Retail Services, Customized Energy Solutions Ltd., will discuss PJM market basics, the Reliability Pricing Model (RPM) construct for determining capacity costs.
• David Braun, PJM Vice President, GDF SUEZ Energy Resources NA, will discuss national and regional market forces/economic impacts on supplying the retail market and how GDF SUEZ Energy Resources structures products and pricing.
“GDF SUEZ Energy Resources wants to provide timely information to the business community to help them make informed decisions regarding the purchase of electricity,” said Braun. “With so many changes coming to the Pennsylvania market, it’s important the decision-makers are aware of what exactly will change and how the changes will affect their business. We have brought together some of the most knowledgeable experts in the area to educate business consumers about these important issues before the changes occur.”
GDF SUEZ Energy Resources NA is the second largest non-residential retail energy supplier in the U.S. and currently serves commercial and industrial customers in 11 markets: Delaware, Texas, Massachusetts, Maine, Maryland, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Connecticut, and Washington, D.C. The company serves over 60,000 accounts for customers having a peak demand ranging from 50 KW to more than 200 MW, with an estimated peak load totaling over 8,000 MW.
To learn more about GDF SUEZ Energy Resources, visit www.gdfsuezenergyresources.com or call 1-866-999-8374.