Eversource has canceled a program that expanded the amount of customer-payment data it reports to credit bureau Experian, just one month after launching it.
The company informed the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) last week of its decision to cancel the year-long pilot program, which had been approved in May of last year but was delayed to a Feb. 4 start date.
Eversource hoped the program would help mitigate an increasing number of uncollectible bills. Avangrid (formerly UIL Holdings) has been reporting both positive and negative credit information to major credit bureaus for 19 years.
But Eversource has only reported negative information, and only when an account went “inactive.” The pilot program included more frequent reporting as well as more data.
Eversource told PURA in a filing last week that it had considered feedback from the Attorney General and Office of Consumer Counsel — who had raised concerns about impacts on low-income customers — and decided to cancel the program voluntarily.
Customers will see a notice on their bills this month about the cancellation.
