Ohio Change Location

Chapter 6 Certified Supplier Guidebook

Certified Supplier Guidebook Chapter 6: End-Use Customer Switching and Direct Access Service Requests (DASRs) Introduction

This chapter discusses the process and policies used for end-use customer switching, including specific end-use customer switching situations and the timeframes within which they must take place. Duke Energy requires that transactions relating to end-use customer switching be performed via Electronic Data Interchange (EDI).

This chapter includes the following topics:

What Is a DASR?

The DASR (Direct Access Service Request) is an electronic form of communication that is used to exchange business transactions between Duke Energy and a certified supplier. These transactions become the electronic record to provide the detailed information for a given end-use customer who chooses to participate in Duke Energy's Customer Choice Program. All DASRs must be submitted through EDI which is discussed in Chapter 5: Electronic Data Interchange of this guidebook.

Certified Supplier Prerequisites for Submitting a DASR

  • A certified supplier must be certified by the PUCO and registered by Duke Energy in order to submit a DASR.
  • Prior to submitting an enrollment DASR, a certified supplier must provide Duke Energy with an executed TSA Designation Agreement that confirms its ability to obtain transmission services.
  • A certified supplier who chooses consolidated rate-ready billing must have its rates in Duke Energy's production billing system before submitting an Enrollment DASR.
  • A certified supplier may only submit a DASR for an end-use customer who has an active electric service account assigned by Duke Energy. If the end-use customer is new or moving to a different physical location within Duke Energy's service area, then the end-use customer must first call to establish service with Duke Energy and receive an account number.

DASR Submission Guidelines

  • A DASR may only be submitted by a certified supplier.
  • All DASRs must be received 12 or more days prior to the next meter reading date to be processed effective on that meter reading date.
  • All DASRs will be processed on normal business days.  Please view Duke Energy's holiday schedule, Appendix G: Duke Energy Holiday Schedule.
  • A DASR will be effective according to the following schedule:

If a DASR is submitted 12 or more calendar days prior to the next scheduled meter reading date and no other DASR is currently pending for the same account, the DASR will be effective on the next scheduled meter reading date.

If a DASR is submitted less than 12 calendar days prior to the next scheduled meter reading date and no other DASR is currently pending for the same account, the DASR will be effective on the second scheduled meter reading date after the DASR is submitted.

If a DASR is submitted 12 or more calendar days prior to the next scheduled meter reading date and another DASR is currently pending for the same account, the first DASR will be effective on the next scheduled meter reading date and the second DASR will be rejected due to the pending DASR.

If a DASR is submitted 12 or more calendar days prior to the next scheduled meter reading date and another DASR for the same account is received less than 12 calendar days prior to the next scheduled meter reading date, the first DASR will be effective on the next scheduled meter reading date and the second DASR will be rejected due to the pending DASR.

Note: The switch is effective at 12:01 a.m. on the appropriate scheduled meter reading date.

  • Each certified supplier must submit one DASR for each end-use customer account number.
  • Duke Energy will process a valid enrollment or drop DASR and send the end-use customer confirmation of the change within two business days.
  • Simultaneous with sending written notice to the end-use customer, Duke Energy will electronically advise the certified supplier that the enrollment or drop has been accepted.
  • Duke Energy will provide a seven-day rescission period for residential and small commercial/industrial customers. If the end-use customer rescinds, Duke Energy shall send a drop notice to the certified supplier.

NOTE:  Duke Energy limits the number of rates a certified supplier may assign to an account to one, no matter how many meters the account may have. If a supplier submits multiple rates for the same enrollment or change request, Duke Energy will select the last rate on the request and use it for the entire account.  This will be reflected in the EDI response document sent back to the supplier.

Typical Types of DASRs Used for Switching

The certified supplier must submit a DASR to Duke Energy to enroll, drop, or reinstate an end-use customer.

Enrollment DASR

The enrollment DASR starts the process of enrolling an end-use customer with a new certified supplier. The enrollment DASR is used for switching the end-use customer from the utility to a certified supplier or from one certified supplier to another.

Special procedures for an enrollment DASR:  

  • One enrollment DASR must be submitted for each end-use customer account. All electric service (metered and non-metered services) associated with the account number will be enrolled with the certified supplier.
  • An enrollment DASR will be processed on a "first in" priority basis according to the received date. If an enrollment DASR is received from two separate certified suppliers for the same end-use customer on the same day, the customer will be enrolled with the supplier whose DASR contains the earlier contract date. If both DASRs have the same contract date, the customer will be enrolled with the supplier whose DASR was first received by Duke Energy.
  • Duke Energy will send an accept/reject DASR noting the effective date to the certified supplier. Additionally, Duke Energy will mail notice to the end-use customer noting the new supplier and the effective date of the change.
  • Duke Energy will charge the certified supplier an enrollment fee for each enrollment DASR that is received and accepted. The charge for an enrollment fee is specified in Appendix A: Certified Supplier Tariff.

Drop DASR

A drop DASR is used to provide notice that the supplier intends to stop providing service to an end-use customer. A certified supplier does not need to submit a drop DASR if the end-use customer switches to a new certified supplier. The new certified supplier will submit an enrollment DASR to Duke Energy.

Special guidelines relating to drop DASRs:

  • A certified supplier may "drop" its active end-use customer by submitting a DASR. The drop DASR will terminate service that has already commenced.
  • Duke Energy will send a drop DASR to the current and pending certified supplier for any end-use customer being disconnected and final billed.
  • Duke Energy will send a drop DASR to the certified supplier if the end-use customer requests a return to standard service offer or when a new supplier submits an enrollment for an end-use customer.
  • Duke Energy will send a drop DASR to the certified supplier if the end-use customer requests to rescind an enrollment within seven days of the rescind letter being sent to the end-use customer.
  • Duke Energy will notify the certified supplier whether the drop DASR is accepted or rejected. If the DASR is accepted, Duke Energy will notify both the certified supplier and the end-use customer of the effective date of the change.

Reinstate DASR

A reinstate DASR will be used by Duke Energy to process an end-use customer's rescind request. In this scenario, Duke Energy has received an enrollment DASR from a certified supplier for an end-use customer and the end-use customer has requested that Duke Energy rescind the request. If there is a current active certified supplier, Duke Energy sends a reinstatement DASR to the currently active certified supplier and will send a drop DASR to the new certified supplier.

A reinstate DASR may only be used by a certified supplier to reinstate an end-use customer that was dropped in error.

Acknowledgment, Validation, Acceptance and Rejection of DASRs

DASR Acknowledgement

Duke Energy will electronically receive DASRs in EDI format at its EDI translator. The translator automatically reviews the DASR for valid syntax and Trading Partner ID number. An acknowledgment notice will be transmitted, confirming that the DASR has been transmitted successfully. DASRs failing the basic accuracy validation will be rejected and notice will be sent to the certified supplier.

DASR Validation

Prior to DASR acceptance, each DASR type is reviewed (validated) to determine that all validation criteria have been met. Listed below are the validation criteria for all DASRs types:

  • The certified supplier submitting the DASR is an "active supplier", registered to participate in Duke Energy's Customer Choice Program.
  • The DASR includes the end-use customer's account number that matches an active account number in Duke Energy's Customer Management System.  Please enter the first 10 digits of your end-use customer's account number, excluding dashes and spaces (include all leading zeros).

Example:  Duke Energy

Account No. 0034-5678-20-9-00-22
Enter on DASR: 0034567820

Additional information on validation criteria may be found in Appendix C: Detailed EDI Information.

DASR Acceptance

DASR acceptance will be provided via an Ohio EDI transaction and will note the effective date of the DASR. The date represents Duke Energy's next scheduled meter reading that is greater than 11 calendar days from the date the DASR is received by Duke Energy. The transaction will be effective at 12:01 AM at the beginning of the day on the end-use customer's scheduled meter reading date.

An EDI notice of the effective start date will be sent concurrently with the acceptance. The notice of acceptance of a DASR and the effective start date will be sent within one business day and is the only notice the certified supplier will receive.

DASR Rejection

A rejection notice provides specific information on why a given DASR was rejected. Duke Energy will provide a rejection notice within one business day, if possible, but in no event later than four calendar days of receipt of a DASR. Duke Energy will communicate the reasons for rejecting a DASR using rejection codes. These rejection codes, along with the definitions, may be found in Appendix C: Detailed EDI Information.

Customers Returning To Duke Energy's Electric Security Plan - Standard Service Offer (ESP-SSO)

Listed here are requirements and procedures for customers choosing to return to Duke Energy's ESP-SSO.

  • Rescission period for residential and small commercial/industrial customers
Rescission period refers to a 7-day timeframe that a residential and small commercial/industrial end-use customer has to cancel an enrollment.  The 7-day period begins from the postmark date of Duke Energy's notice to the end-use customer that states the effective date of the switch.
  • Rescission period for large commercial/industrial customers (annual energy consumption greater than or equal to 700,000 kWh or part of a national account)

    Large commercial/industrial and national account customers have no rescission period.

  • Advanced Notification Requirements to Return to Duke Energy
  • This applies only to large commercial/industrial and national account customers.
  • 90-day notice required - when returning to Duke Energy between May 1st and October 31st.
  • 60-day notice required - when returning to Duke Energy between November 1st and April 30th.
  • If returning without the proper notice, the customer will be assessed a one time charge of $10.00/kW, based on one month peak kW demand during the three billing cycles subsequent to their return.
  • When an advanced notice is provided by a customer for an account, the account must return to Duke Energy on the requested meter reading date. 

Generation Pricing for Customers Returning from Certified Suppliers

Customers returning to Duke Energy from a certified supplier are subject to the applicable returning customer price provision in Duke Energy's ESP-SSO as follows: 

  • Non-residential customers who continuously pay Riders RSC, AAC, and SRT while taking service from a certified supplier and do not make the election to avoid Riders RSC, AAC, and SRT will return to Duke Energy's ESP-SSO without being subject to its real-time hourly energy price provision.
  • Non-residential customers who enroll with a certified supplier, elect to avoid paying Riders RSC, AAC, and SRT (agreeing not to take Duke Energy generation service through December 31, 2011), regardless of whether they are currently paying Riders RSC, AAC, and SRT, will return to Duke Energy's ESP-SSO, subject to its real-time hourly energy price provision, if they return to Duke Energy prior to December 31, 2011.
  • All residential customers who enroll with a certified supplier may return to Duke Energy's ESP-SSO without being subject to its real-time hourly energy price provision.

Duke Energy's Real-Time Hourly Energy Price Provision