Competitive Service Providers and Aggregators

To be licensed, a competitive service provider (CSP) must demonstrate to the State Corporation Commission that it has the technical and financial capability of providing competitive energy services to Virginia consumers. A license may cover the whole state or only the specific service territory of a local distribution company (LDC).  A Competitive Supplier must demonstrate it has access to a source of electricity or natural gas before it can be licensed to sell energy to Virginia customers. An Aggregator is licensed to pool together large numbers of customers to broker the purchase of energy from a licensed Competitive Supplier on behalf of the customer group.

There are four steps a Competitive Supplier or Aggregator must take in order to make competitive offers to Virginia customers.

1. Obtain a business license or authorization as a foreign corporation from the SCC.
2. Obtain a license as a Competitive Supplier or Aggregator from the SCC.
3. Register with the LDC that serves an area open to retail competition where offers for competitive energy services be made. Registration ensures customers do not experience service interruptions during the process of switching from an LDC to a CSP.
4. Renew the CSP license annually by March 31 each year.

Only those Competitive Suppliers and Aggregators who have completed the steps above are authorized to offer competitive energy services to Virginia customers.

To apply for licensure, submit an application in accordance with Commission rules as described in the links provided below:

• SCC's New Business Resources
• SCC's Rules of Practice and Procedure
• Rules Governing Retail Access to Competitive Energy Services

Questions about the CSP application process or the status of any licensed CSP may be addressed to the Commission's Division of Utility Accounting & Finance at (804) 371-9950 or CSP@scc.virginia.gov.

Customer Types: C=Commercial I=Industrial G=Governmental R=Residential