Customers will sign up directly with the Choices for YouSM supplier of their choice. The customer could sign up via mail, fax, phone or Internet. The supplier will need the customer's account number in order to enroll a customer. These account numbers are available from the customer's utility bill. The supplier will be required to keep proof of customer sign-up for a minimum of two years.
Important: Customers cannot choose a Choices for You supplier by contacting Peoples Gas directly. Customer Service representatives will direct the customer to call the supplier directly.
Some customers may request Peoples Gas to place them on the 'No Supplier Contact' list. This list will be posted on PEGASys® and will be updated on the first business day of each calendar month. All suppliers must refrain from contacting these customers in any form (i.e., telemarketing, direct mail or email) based on the Standards of Conduct.
For every account that a supplier enrolls in Choices for You, a Customer Pool Activation Charge will be assessed. Each month, the supplier will also be assessed a per-account Aggregation Charge for each active account in their pool. The current values of these charges, as well as other charges, can be found in the Rider AGG Aggregation Service tariff.
For each of the following — enrollment in, termination from, switching suppliers during the program — the effective date will be the customer's next billing "To Date" that is 8 days or more from the date the supplier submitted the enrollment/termination request. A "To Date" is the last day of a billing period. No change in program status can occur during a billing period.
Choices for You suppliers submit all requests to enroll a customer in or terminate a customer from their pool(s) via PEGASys®. All enrollment requests submitted by 4 p.m. each business day will be processed by the Utility overnight. By approximately 8 a.m. each morning, the suppliers can view the status of each enrollment request.
If a customer chooses more than one supplier within a billing period, the Choices for You supplier who submits the customer first will become the customer's supplier. A supplier can "void" an Enroll prior to the effective date by submitting a Terminate for the same account. If the cancellation of the Enroll does not occur before the effective date, the Terminate will become effective on the customer's next "To Date.". If the supplier successfully voids an Enroll prior to its effective date, the Customer Pool Activation Charge and per-account Aggregation Charge will not be assessed for that account.
For each enrollment that is accepted, the Choices for You supplier will receive service account information and an estimated effective date. The supplier will also have access to the customer's usage history. Peoples Gas will send customers a confirmation letter once their enrollment with the supplier has been accepted.
For any request (enrollment or termination) that is rejected by Peoples Gas, a reason (or reasons) will be given. The possible rejection reasons are listed in the Enrollment Instructions.
An account may be removed from a supplier's pool automatically. This can occur if the customer chooses another supplier or if the account becomes final. The supplier will be given a reason for the automatic termination along with an estimated effective date.
A customer cannot switch suppliers more than once each billing period. Customers should contact their current supplier to terminate their service. However, by signing up with a new supplier, the customer's service with the current supplier will be terminated automatically on the effective date of the new Choices for You supplier's service. The current supplier will receive a Terminate with an attached note ("Customer switching suppliers."). If, for any reason, the switch does not occur, the current supplier will receive an Enroll to void the previous Terminate. The Enroll will have an attached note ("Supplier switch did not process.").
Peoples Gas will send customers a confirmation letter once the change in suppliers has been accepted.
Important: Customers cannot change suppliers by contacting Peoples Gas directly. Customer Service representatives will direct the customer to call both the new and the current supplier.
In the Choices for You program, customers can choose to leave the program at any time with no fee charged by the utility. The customer should, however, contact their supplier to make sure that they will not assess a penalty or exit fee for early termination.
To leave the program, the customer's current Choices for You supplier must terminate the customer via PEGASys®. The change will become effective with the customer's next meter read date that is at least eight days from the termination request. Peoples Gas will send customers a confirmation letter once their termination has been accepted.
Important: Customers cannot return to Peoples Gas by contacting the utility directly. Customer Service representatives will direct the customer to call their current supplier to initiate the termination.
Customers will be required to have an actual (or customer) meter read within 120 days prior to enrolling or switching suppliers in the Choices for You program. If the enrollment submitted by the supplier is rejected for only this reason, then the enrollment will be put in Accepted status pending an actual read within 30 calendar days. A note will be attached to the Enroll in PEGASys® ("Enrollment accepted pending an actual meter read within 30 days.").
Peoples Gas will send the customer a letter stating that a supplier (to be named in the letter) attempted to enroll the customer in the Choices for You program. The customer will be given instructions on how to submit a meter reading by calling the customer care center or visiting the Web site. If a customer's read does not pass validity tests, the customer will be given the option to schedule an appointment with a utility meter reader. Choices for You suppliers can submit meter readings on behalf of the customer as long as the supplier has the meter reading, the date of the reading, account number and phone number of the customer.
If an actual (or acceptable customer) meter read is received within 30 days of the original enrollment request date, the enrollment will move to full Accepted status and will be given an estimated effective date. A note will be attached to the Accepted Enroll ("Actual meter read received; enrollment was processed.").
If an acceptable meter read is not received within 30 days, the enrollment will be rejected and a note will be attached to the Enroll record in PEGASys ("Actual meter read was not received within 30 days of initial enrollment request.").
If a customer moves within their utility's service area, the customer will automatically keep their existing Choices for You supplier. The supplier will receive notification via PEGASys® of the customer's new account number and address. Customers who move between Peoples Gas service areas will have to re-enroll in the program. Their participation in the program will not automatically transfer to the new address.
Customers can participate in the Peoples Gas Budget Payment Plan. The payment installment will only include the utility's charges. The customer must have no arrears with Peoples Gas or with their supplier, if the customer is billed under the LDC Billing Option, at the time they enroll in the Budget Payment Plan. The customer must also stay current to remain on the plan.
A customer whose account is billed on a bi-monthly basis (mainly non-heating customers) will continue to be billed bi-monthly. Choices for You suppliers will receive notification at the time of enrollment that the account will only record a meter read every other month.