Over the next 3 years ending 2012, nearly all TX meters will replaced by smart meters – meters capable of both (a) recording data at 15-minute intervals to give a detailed picture of energy consumption, and (b) enabling Home Area Network HAN capabilities that move energy controls into the 21st Century.  HAN’s will enable load control and other features state-wide using a single standard.

As with any large deployment, features are being deployed gradually.  On 2/1, REP’s will be able to:

• Get interval data for ESIID’s that have smart meters.  This will most likely be automated through existing usage data feeds.  Contact ESG for more info.
• Establish administrative users that can go online and add ESIID’s, view ESIID usage info, request ad hoc usage information and more
• Establish and manage HAN devices, and control basic features of HAN devices

In Q4 2010, REP’s can throw away their Letter of Authorization LOA devices used to qualify new prospects, and turn on an SMT tool that will enable them to get detailed interval profiles with only the ESIID and the Meter #.

Demand-side management, time-of-use pricing and much much more are in our future, limited only by the imagination of the REP’s and energy providers.  Get out your crayons, and don’t bother staying inside the lines, because the lines are yet to be drawn!

Summary:  FirstEnergy-UCBRR-Summary-20090917

Links:

• Website, Rate Form for Met-Ed/Penelec:  http://www.firstenergycorp.com/supplierservices/files/Supplier_Registration/Ratedesignform%20rev%206%2021%2007.xls
• Website, Rate form for Penn Power:  http://www.firstenergycorp.com/supplierservices/files/Rates_and_EDI/suprates.pdf

PJM IG’s 2009-08-08

The next flight after that has a registration deadline of 11/6/09, with production projected 1/25/10.

Other interesting PPL Facts:

• There are 7000MW in PJM’s PPL zone
• All meters in PPL are interval:  1800 Itron MV90 15-minute interval and 1,400,000 Aclara TNS 60-minute interval.
• 1,200,000 Resi Customers, 200,000 Small C&I, 1,200 Large C&I
• Resi price for 2010: 10.298 per kWh; Small C&I: 10.384 per kWh
• SC&I prices going up 45% in 2010
• PPL’s Energy Analyzer let’s all customers see their interval data, and share that data with 3rd parties (suppliers!)

Resources:

• 2009 Test Schedule

• On ’standard’ switch (formerly ‘on-cycle’), a customer’s first-available switch date FASD will be set 3 business days after switch received at ERCOT.  No special fees, no ‘waive notification’ option,
• If the normal read date is -3 or +3 days after FASD, that read will be used.  If outside that 7 day window then a physical read will be made on one of the 4 days after the FASD (TDSP’s have until 12/1/09 to implement).
• The standard switch will be made 4 days after ERCOT receives the switch.
• On ’self-selected’ switch (formerly ‘off-cycle’), a customer is switched on the date selected by the REP, and TDSP fees apply.
• Rescission postcard to customers is replaced by a notification postcard (no option to rescind).
• TDSP’s must have certain percentage of actual reads (reducing estimated reads) by 12/1/2009.

UPDATES:  above includes updates noted by Mike at TES Energy Services

The full order is here:  http://www.puc.state.tx.us/rules/subrules/electric/25.214/36536adt.pdf

Also see:  http://www.puc.state.tx.us/rules/subrules/electric/25.475/25.475.pdf

PPL starts off the show, with rate caps expiring at the end of 2009.  PPL is bracing for a slew of new suppliers entering the marketplace.  The PUC has stated that success in this period – that is lots of retailers with lots of energy options and savings – is make or break for retail energy in PA.

Join the fray:

• PPL Retailers Website:  http://www.pplelectric.com/Business+Partners/Electric+Generation+Suppliers/
• PUC Suppliers Website: http://www.puc.state.pa.us/electric/electric_suppliers.aspx
• PUC Elec Data Exchange WG [EDEWG]: http://www.puc.state.pa.us/electric/electric_electronic_data_exchange.aspx
• Great Resource from Richards Energy here:  http://www.richardsenergy.com/reg/presentation/REAPAnnualMeetingPresentation2008.pdf

Over 5 million customers in the Ameren/ComEd IL markets are in play as these markets implement SB1299-driven Purchase of Receivables [POR] and Utility-Consolidated Billing [UCB]. Ameren (1.2M customers) has completed pilot testing with Energy Services Group and is preparing for their test with remaining suppliers, targeting a Sep-2009 go live.  ComEd (3.8M customers) has put a stake in the ground with respect to implementation schedules, testing in 2nd half of 2010, with go live in Jan-2011.

Prior to SB1299, Ameren and ComEd only offered consolidated billing in ’single bill option’, where suppliers put utility-provided T&D charges on their bills to customers.  For retailers, UCB makes it easier to bill customers, and POR helps stabilize revenue flow.

In a recent call, other SB1299 issues like Utility-driven Supplier Referral programs and Purchase of Uncollectibles were tabled.  A group of retailers will meet with the IL Commerce Commission [ICC] to try to frame a referral program to move that issue forward.  Given the design/standards/construction lead times associated with these market enhancements, further delays could push implementation well past 2012.  As always, cost recovery remains high on the list of ICC critical issues.  If interested, contact Torsten Clausen at the ICC.

Links:

IL CPWG Website:  http://www.ameren.com/CPWG/adc_CPWGHomepage.asp

ICC Website:    http://www.icc.illinois.gov/electricity/ and 
http://www.icc.illinois.gov/electricity/ares.aspx

Public Act 95-0700 text (SB1299):  http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/publicacts/95/PDF/095-0700.pdf