After a brief delay, Eversource is set to begin reporting residential customers’ payment data to credit bureaus.
The utility parent will begin a one-year reporting pilot in February, according to a recent Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) decision.
The pilot, approved by PURA in May, was delayed in August while Eversource worked out a data-release agreement with credit bureaus.
The Office of Consumer Counsel and state Attorney General’s office have expressed concerns that credit reporting could hurt low-income ratepayers.
Eversource has pointed to an increase in delinquencies to justify the program, which it hopes will spur more timely payments from customers.
Eversource’s fellow publicly traded Connecticut utility provider, Avangrid, has been reporting to credit bureaus for more than 15 years.
PURA, which could allow an extension of the pilot program in the future, is mandating that Eversource provide regular reports on customer receivables, credit disputes, complaints and other information.
