Alternative electricity and gas suppliers would face household price caps, with exceptions

D.C. regulators would set household electricity price caps using the default utility supply rate. Default utility service, city group purchasing, small local power networks, and electricity supplied by or through D.C. or federal government would be exempt. Regulators could approve a higher cap or an exemption when it serves the public interest. A higher cap could also apply to tier-one or tier-two renewable supply when the supplier procures renewable power or credits above required amounts. Contracts above a cap would be invalid. Contracts signed before the cap, or initially compliant contracts pushed above it by a default-rate change, could be fixed within 60 days of the cap’s establishment.

D.C. regulators would set household natural-gas price caps using the gas company’s default supply rate. Default utility service, city group purchasing, and gas supplied by or through D.C. or federal government would be exempt. Regulators could approve a higher cap or an exemption when it serves the public interest. Contracts above a cap would be invalid. Contracts signed before the cap, or initially compliant contracts pushed above it by a default-rate change, could be fixed within 60 days of the cap’s establishment.

Residential customers could cancel supply contracts at any time, and suppliers could not charge early-exit fees or penalties. The cancellation rights would cover D.C. households buying electricity or natural gas from alternative suppliers. The electricity rule would exclude default utility service, city group purchasing, supply by or through D.C. or federal agencies, and microgrids. The act would take effect after mayoral approval or a veto override, a 30-day congressional review, and publication in the D.C. Register.

Electricity suppliers would publish standard plan terms and submit reports about prices and customer totals. The requirements would cover electricity plans offered to residential customers. Regulators would choose which terms appear online and remove confidential business information from public reports. Suppliers would have to post plan terms before offering the plan to customers.

Natural-gas suppliers would publish standard plan terms and submit reports about prices and customer totals. The requirements would cover natural-gas plans offered to residential customers. Regulators would choose which terms appear online and remove confidential business information from public reports. Suppliers would have to post plan terms before offering the plan to customers.