News Analysis

 

EDI Standards: At a Snail's Pace in New York

 

Someday ratepayers may get bills at light speed. But first regulators must act on electronic data interchange.

"[T]he working group believes that EDI for the retail access market in New York will be achievable on or about April 1, 2000."

So said the "Report of the New York EDI Collaborative," issued in June 1999. But nearly a year had passed and still the Empire State had not formulated its final policy on electronic data interchange, a protocol commonly chosen for organizing and transmitting computer data among utilities, retailers, marketers, and suppliers in restructured electricity markets.

What's holding up the show in New York?

"Although EDI data standards for enrollment and billing were targeted for completion by year-end 1999, little progress toward final data standards has been made since the Report was issued," admitted the New York Public Service Commission in its April 12 order on EDI . In that order, it provided its own explanation for the delays.