Citing a need to prepare for the emerging competitive marketplace, Central Illinois Light Co. has volunteered to experiment with direct access for all of its customers. The utility has asked the Illinois Commerce Commission to consider two separate pilot programs that will allow customers to purchase some or all of their power requirements from other suppliers. One program is limited to large customers with peak loads of 10 megawatts or more over the last 12 months; the other will allow any customer (em industrial, commercial, or residential (em located within certain "open access sites" to purchase offsystem power for up to five years.
Although the programs were designed to "assure that systems are in place to meet customers' and suppliers' expanding wants and needs," a company spokesman adds that the utility plans to form a marketing affiliate through its holding company, CILCORP Inc. If the pilot programs are approved, customers will be able to buy power from the new marketing affiliate or any other supplier. The utility plans no entry or exit fees as part of the experiment, and has "no intention or need" to impose any stranded-cost recovery on any customer. The company expects to file additional information with the commission this month, detailing the pricing, terms, and conditions for transmission and ancillary services necessary to run the programs. t
Lori A. Burkhart is an associate legal editor of PUBLIC UTILITIES FORTNIGHTLY.
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