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FirstEnergy Pennsylvania Utilities File Plans to Purchase Electric Generation Supply Beginning in 2023

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FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE) announced that its utility subsidiaries have filed procurement plans with the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission for electric generation supply starting June 2023. These companies serve over two million customers in Pennsylvania and will use an auction process for electric supply. CRA International will manage the procurement process, starting auctions in November 2022 and continuing semiannually until 2026. Additionally, they aim to meet alternative energy standards, including solar projects. A decision from the PaPUC is expected in mid-2022.

Positive
  • The procurement plan aims to ensure a secure electric supply for customers.
  • CRA International will manage the auction process, providing expertise in energy markets.
  • The plan includes a process to meet state-mandated alternative energy standards.
Negative
  • The company does not own electric generation plants, potentially limiting supply control.
  • The effectiveness of the procurement strategy depends on auction outcomes, which are subject to market fluctuations.

READING, Pa., Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- FirstEnergy Corp.'s (NYSE: FE) Metropolitan Edison (Met-Ed), Pennsylvania Electric (Penelec), Pennsylvania Power (Penn Power), and West Penn Power (West Penn) utility companies have filed plans with the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PaPUC) to procure electric generation supply beginning June 2023 for customers who choose not to shop with alternate suppliers. The companies, which do not own any electric generating plants, serve more than two million customers in Pennsylvania. An auction process will be used to ensure the utilities' customers have a secure supply of electric generation.

The procurement process will be managed by CRA International, Inc. (CRA), a global consulting firm with expertise in energy markets. Under the proposed plan, CRA will conduct the first auction in November 2022 and then semiannually from 2023 to 2026. Generation prices will be calculated based on a blended average by customer class. The process will ensure the confidentiality of information provided by bidders, which will be required to certify that they are creditworthy, acting independently of other bidders, and are making firm offers to provide generation service to customers. 

The proposed program also includes a process for meeting state-mandated alternative energy standards, including a separate bidding process to procure a long-term solar energy project. The solar Alternative Energy Credits from the solar project will be used to meet a portion of state-mandated alternative energy standards.

Additionally, the companies have proposed to continue the Customer Referral Program that was established in August 2013 in an effort to continue to enhance retail competition in their service territories.

Information about the filing and the proposed procurement program is available on the Companies' individual company webpages found at www.firstenergycorp.com.

The companies expect that the PaPUC will rule on their Default Service Program petition in mid-2022.

FirstEnergy is dedicated to integrity, safety, reliability and operational excellence. Its ten electric distribution companies form one of the nation's largest investor-owned electric systems, serving customers in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West Virginia, Maryland and New York. The company's transmission subsidiaries operate approximately 24,000 miles of transmission lines that connect the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions. Follow FirstEnergy on Twitter @FirstEnergyCorp or online at www.firstenergycorp.com.

Forward-Looking Statements: This news release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 based on information currently available to management. Such statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. These statements include declarations regarding management's intents, beliefs and current expectations. These statements typically contain, but are not limited to, the terms "anticipate," "potential," "expect," "forecast," "target," "will," "intend," "believe," "project," "estimate," "plan," and similar words. Forward-looking statements involve estimates, assumptions, known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, which may include the following: the potential liabilities, increased costs and unanticipated developments resulting from governmental investigations and agreements, including those associated with compliance with or failure to comply with the Deferred Prosecution Agreement entered into on July 21, 2021 with the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Ohio; the risks and uncertainties associated with government investigations regarding House Bill 6, as passed by Ohio's 133rd General Assembly, and related matters, including potential adverse impacts on federal or state regulatory matters, including, but not limited to, matters relating to rates; the potential of non–compliance with debt covenants in our credit facilities; the risks and uncertainties associated with litigation, arbitration, mediation and similar proceedings; legislative and regulatory developments, including, but not limited to, matters related to rates, compliance and enforcement activity; the ability to accomplish or realize anticipated benefits from our FE Forward initiative and our other strategic and financial goals, including, but not limited to, maintaining financial flexibility, overcoming current uncertainties and challenges associated with the ongoing government investigations, executing our transmission and distribution investment plans, greenhouse gas reduction goals, controlling costs, improving our credit metrics, growing earnings, and strengthening our balance sheet through the sale of a minority interest in FirstEnergy Transmission, LLC; economic and weather conditions affecting future operating results, such as a recession, significant weather events and other natural disasters, and associated regulatory events or actions in response to such conditions; mitigating exposure for remedial activities associated with retired and formerly owned electric generation assets; the ability to access the public securities and other capital and credit markets in accordance with our financial plans, the cost of such capital and overall condition of the capital and credit markets affecting us, including the increasing number of financial institutions evaluating the impact of climate change on their investment decisions; the extent and duration of the novel coronavirus, or COVID-19, pandemic and the impacts to our business, operations and financial condition resulting from the outbreak of COVID-19, including, but not limited to, disruption of businesses in our territories and governmental and regulatory responses to the pandemic; the effectiveness of our pandemic and business continuity plans, the precautionary measures we are taking on behalf of our customers, contractors and employees, our customers' ability to make their utility payment and the potential for supply-chain disruptions; actions that may be taken by credit rating agencies that could negatively affect either our access to or terms of financing or our financial condition and liquidity; changes in assumptions regarding economic conditions within our territories, the reliability of our transmission and distribution system, or the availability of capital or other resources supporting identified transmission and distribution investment opportunities; changes in customers' demand for power, including, but not limited to, the impact of climate change or energy efficiency and peak demand reduction mandates; changes in national and regional economic conditions, including inflationary pressure, affecting us and/or our customers and those vendors with which we do business; the risks associated with cyber-attacks and other disruptions to our, or our vendors', information technology system, which may compromise our operations, and data security breaches of sensitive data, intellectual property and proprietary or personally identifiable information; the ability to comply with applicable reliability standards and energy efficiency and peak demand reduction mandates; changes to environmental laws and regulations, including, but not limited to, those related to climate change; changing market conditions affecting the measurement of certain liabilities and the value of assets held in our pension trusts, or causing us to make contributions sooner, or in amounts that are larger, than currently anticipated; labor disruptions by our unionized workforce; changes to significant accounting policies; any changes in tax laws or regulations, or adverse tax audit results or rulings; and the risks and other factors discussed from time to time in our Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") filings and other similar factors. Dividends declared from time to time on FirstEnergy's common stock and outstanding preferred stock, if any, during any period may in the aggregate vary from prior periods due to circumstances considered by FirstEnergy's board of directors at the time of the actual declarations. A security rating is not a recommendation to buy or hold securities and is subject to revision or withdrawal at any time by the assigning rating agency. Each rating should be evaluated independently of any other rating. These forward-looking statements are also qualified by, and should be read in conjunction with the other cautionary statements and risks that are included in FirstEnergy's filings with the SEC, including, but not limited to, the most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and any subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K. The foregoing review of factors also should not be construed as exhaustive. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for management to predict all such factors, nor assess the impact of any such factor on FirstEnergy's business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. FirstEnergy expressly disclaims any obligation to update or revise, except as required by law, any forward-looking statements contained herein or in the information incorporated by reference as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

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SOURCE FirstEnergy Corp.

FAQ

What plans has FirstEnergy filed with the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission?

FirstEnergy filed plans for electric generation supply procurement starting June 2023 for customers who do not choose alternate suppliers.

What is the purpose of the auction process for FirstEnergy's electricity supply?

The auction process aims to secure a reliable electric generation supply for customers served by FirstEnergy's utilities.

What role does CRA International play in FirstEnergy's procurement plans?

CRA International will manage the procurement process and conduct auctions to ensure a secure electric supply.

When will the first auction for electricity supply take place?

The first auction is planned for November 2022.

How will FirstEnergy meet state alternative energy standards?

The plan includes a separate bidding process to procure a long-term solar energy project to meet alternative energy standards.

FirstEnergy Corp.

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