Orders

IN THE MATTER OF

the Utilities Commission Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, Chapter 473

and

FortisBC Inc.

Application for a Radio-Off

Advanced Metering Infrastructure Meter Option

BEFORE:                 L.F. Kelsey, Commissioner                                                  October 24, 2013

                                D.M. Morton, Commissioner                                             

                                N.E. MacMurchy, Commissioner

O  R  D  E  R

WHEREAS:

A.       On July 26, 2012, FortisBC Inc. (FortisBC) applied to the British Columbia Utilities Commission (Commission), pursuant to sections 45, 46 and 56 of the Utilities Commission Act, for approval of the Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) Project;

B.       By Order C-7-13 dated July 23, 2013, the Commission granted a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) for the AMI Project (AMI Project Decision).  The approval was subject to the condition that FortisBC confirm in writing that it would file an application for an opt-out provision by November 1, 2013, based on principles set out in the AMI Project Decision;

C.       On July 31, 2013, FortisBC confirmed in writing that it would file an application for an opt-out provision;

D.       On August 30, 2013, FortisBC filed an application for a Radio-Off AMI Meter Option (Application) based on principles set out in the AMI Project Decision.  The Application sets out the fees and process for customers who choose the Radio-Off AMI Meter Option;

E.        Order G-142-13 dated September 9, 2013, directed FortisBC to promptly publish notice of the Application in specific newspapers and to distribute copies of Order G-142-13 and its Appendices in a timely fashion, via email, to the Registered Interveners and Interested Parties in the FortisBC Application for a CPCN for the AMI Project.  The Order also directed those parties wishing to participate in the review of the Application to register with the Commission Secretary through the Commission website as soon as possible;

F.        Order G-154-13 dated September 18, 2013, established a written hearing process and a Regulatory Timetable for the review of the Application;

G.       Order G-160-13 dated October 1, 2013, established an Amended Regulatory Timetable in order to allow for a filing deadline for Participant Assistance/Cost Award budgets;

H.       On October 4, 2013, the Commission and Interveners issued Information Request (IR) No. 1 to FortisBC. Commission IR No. 1.3.1 requested a description of the processes and actions and the estimated amount of time for each action, per customer, that would be undertaken by the Meter Analyst.  Commission IR No. 1.5.2 requested a description of the processes and actions and the estimated amount of time for each action, per customer, that would be undertaken by the Contact Centre;

I.         On October 18, 2013, FortisBC filed responses to Commission and Intervener IR No. 1.  The responses to Commission IR No. 1.3.1 and 1.5.2 do not include the estimated amount of time for each action, per customer, as requested.  FortisBC submits that “The detailed process (and resulting timings) required for this function are to be developed during the Define/Design stage of the project.  At that time, more precise definitions and work breakdowns (between Meter Analyst and Contact Centre work) will be known and assigned”;

J.         In response to Commission IR No. 1.3.5, FortisBC submits that “It is worth noting that radio-off AMI meters will not be deployed as part of the Itron contact, and will be deployed by FortisBC staff”;

K.       The Commission Panel has reviewed the FortisBC responses to Commission and Intervener IR No. 1 and determines that further information is required in relation to the aforementioned FortisBC responses.

NOW THEREFORE the Commission Panel orders as follows:

1.       The Amended Regulatory Timetable established by Order G-160-13 is further amended and is attached as Appendix A to this Order.

2.       FortisBC Inc. is directed to provide complete responses to Commission Information Request No. 1.3.1 and 1.5.2, including the present estimate of the amount of time for each action, per customer, that will be required for each of the Meter Analyst and the Contact Centre.  FortisBC Inc. must provide the response by 4 p.m. Wednesday, October 30, 2013.  If FortisBC Inc. is unable to provide this information in a supported way by the stated deadline, please provide FortisBC Inc.’s proposal to account for any variances between the forecast and actual costs, given the resulting absence of detailed and supportable costs on the evidentiary record in this proceeding. 

3.       FortisBC Inc. must provide a response to the following additional questions by 4 p.m. Wednesday October 30, 2013:

•         What is the per meter deployment cost under the existing Itron contract?  If this level of detail is not available, please provide an estimate and the basis for the estimate.

•         Considering that Itron will not deploy Advanced Metering Infrastructure radio-off meters, please provide the per meter deployment cost savings that can be reasonably credited to the per-premise setup fee for Advanced Metering Infrastructure radio-off customers.

DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this                       24th                    day of October 2013.

                                                                                                                                BY ORDER

                                                                                                                             Original signed by:

                                                                                                                                L.F. Kelsey

                                                                                                                                Commissioner

FortisBC Inc.

Application for a Radio-Off

Advanced Metering Infrastructure Meter Option

FURTHER AMENDED REGULATORY TIMETABLE