Utility.com is gearing up for Sept. 1, when New Jersey consumers will be allowed to select their electricity suppliers through the Internet. The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) earlier granted Utility.com an Electric Power Supplier License to sell into the New Jersey market of 3.5 million electricity customers, and the company will use an Internet Enrollment Program.

Under the arrangement, consumers will be able to use online, digital signatures the same way traditional paper or “wet” signatures are used.

“This ruling will make it incredibly simple and convenient for consumers to select their energy provider online,” said Chris King, Utility.com CEO. King said the company was working with industry, policymakers and consumers to ensure safeguards were in place to protect them and to save time and money.

Based in Emeryville, CA, Utility.com was one of the first Internet utility companies, and now offers electricity and Internet access. By the end of this year, the company also expects to offer gas service, Digital Subscriber Lines (DSL), appliance service plans and telecommunications services.

Southern Company Energy Marketing is the preferred wholesale electricity provider for the company (see Daily GPI, March 31). Southern also has an equity stake in the company. In May, Sempra Energy Trading also formed a partnership with Utility.com to provide natural gas to consumers in deregulated markets (see Daily GPI, May 19).

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