Submit a notice of customer assignment

According to D.P.U. 14-140, the assigning supplier must provide the following information in its notice of customer assignment to the DPU:

1. The names and Massachusetts license numbers of the assigning and acquiring suppliers
2. A brief summary or description of the assignment
3. A statement as to whether the assigning supplier intends to withdraw its license with the DPU, and if so, when the withdrawal will be filed
4. An attestation that all customer contracts, subject to the assignment, allow for customer assignment
5.  A statement that the assigned contracts will maintain the material contractual terms and conditions, including pricing, through the term of the assigned contracts
6. The expected date(s) of the assignments
7. The number of customers that the assigning supplier seeks to assign, by customer type (residential or commercial and industrial), and by distribution company service territory
8. The number of customers with contracts that contain either an early termination fee and/or an automatic renewal provision
9. A statement that the notice of assignment letter to customers meets the requirements outlined in D.P.U. 14-140-D.

The notice of assignment letter

A notice of assignment letter must be sent to customers at least 30-days prior to the effective date of the assignment and must include:

1. Name of assigning supplier
2. Name of acquiring supplier
3. Expected date of customer assignment
4. Statement that the assignment will not interrupt the customer’s electricity service
5. Statement that the assignment is allowed per the terms and conditions of the customer’s contract
6. Statement that there will be no changes in the material terms and conditions, including price and duration, as set forth in the customer’s contract
7. Statement that no action is required from the customer for the assignment to occur
8. Date by which customer inquiries should be made to the acquiring supplier
9. Contact information for the acquiring supplier if the customer has any questions about the assignment
10. Statement that a customer may decline to be assigned to the acquiring supplier in accordance with the cancellation provision of his or her contract
11. Amount of early termination fee, if applicable
12. A statement that if a customer declines to have his or her contract assigned, the customer will be returned to basic service with his or her distribution company unless he or she chooses to sign a new contract with the acquiring supplier or move to another competitive supplier

Filing a notice of customer assignment under emergency circumstances

• Under emergency circumstances where the assigning and acquiring suppliers need to complete customer assignments quickly, file the notice of customer assignment with the DPU no later than 1-business day after the final contract has been signed.
• You must accompany your notice of customer assignment with a cover letter explaining:
  • The nature of the distressed sale
  • Why the 5-day notification requirements could not be met
  • When customers affected by the assignment will be notified