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Pa. PUC Tentative Order Addresses Smart Meter EDI Standards
July 12, 2011
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The Pennsylvania PUC, via a Tentative Order, proposes to direct the Electronic Data Exchange Working Group (EDEWG) to review each Electric Distribution Company's current smart meter plan to ensure that third parties, with customer consent, have direct meter access and electronic access to customer meter data (M-2009-2092655).
Specifically, the EDEWG would be directed to review each EDC's current smart meter plan for provision of the following required functionality:
a) To provide customers with direct access to hourly usage and price information;
b) To provide support for automatic control of a customer's electricity consumption by the customer, the utility or a customer's agent (at the discretion of the customer); and
c) To provide direct meter access and electronic access to customer meter data by third parties with customer consent.
Additionally, EDEWG would be directed to perform the following:
a) Provide detailed descriptions of any proposed statewide standardized transactions or protocols, if any, for each of the EDCs, for providing the required functionality listed above;
b) Provide estimated system and operational costs, both total and annual, for each utility to provide the required functionality;
c) Review the ability for a statewide solution to provide the required functionality; and
d) Review costs for a statewide solution to provide the required functionality for all utilities.
The Tentative Order proposes that EDEWG submit to the Commission a report outlining its findings and conclusions within 90 days of the entry of a final order in the proceeding.
Furthermore, the PUC proposes that EDEWG incorporate this functionality into its current operational documents, i.e. Implementation Guidelines, Testing and Certification Plans, Revised Plan, Annual Plans, Change Control Request forms and other documentation as deemed necessary by EDEWG, to address the evolving technology related to smart meters and their capabilities on an ongoing basis. Specifically, the PUC proposes that such functionality shall include the provision for direct customer access to hourly usage and price information; support for automatic control of the customer's electricity consumption by the customer, the EDC or a customer's designated agent; and direct meter access and electronic access to customer meter data to third parties with customer consent.
The PUC proposed that the development and ongoing maintenance of these smart meter standards and processes shall be done in a manner that includes all EDEWG participants, specifically, all EDCs, licensed electric generation suppliers, registered conservation service providers, and all other interested parties. The Commission proposes this approach versus a proposal from the EDEWG which would have created a smart meter sub-team, including the EDCs, and expanded sub-team, including EGSs and CSPs, as the PUC believes this sub-team/expanded sub-team distinction could lead to EGSs, CSPs and other interested parties working in tandem, separate and apart from the EDCs, which may not provide an acceptable result for all involved.
The Tentative Order would agree with an EDEWG proposal that the current 814 Enrollment Request transaction practices along with Dual Billing or Bill Ready Consolidated Billing (via Bill-Ready EDI 810) address the ability of suppliers to bill for real-time and time-of-use pricing options.
The Tentative Order would further agree with the EDEWG proposal to use a modified 867 IU transaction to communicate meter level data. Regarding the schedule for deployment, the PUC proposes that EDCs complete system changes and testing of the modified 867 IU no later than 12 months prior to the expiration of the respective 30-Month grace period in their approved smart meter plans. "In our view, allowing additional time to complete this task could interfere with the development of advanced metering technologies in the marketplace and will create a disservice to customers who plan to purchase these technologies in the near future and to those who currently participate in complex pricing programs," the Tentative Order states.
Regarding historic interval usage, the PUC would also agree that the use of the 867 HIU transaction may not be the most economically efficient method for providing historical interval usage data at the meter level. Currently, the 867 HIU transaction is optional, except at PPL, where the data is provided at the account level and not meter level. The Tentative Order would direct EDEWG to explore alternative methods for the provision of HIU data at the meter level, and to identify an alternate solution that can be implemented by the EDCs within 180 days of the entry of a final order in the proceeding.
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