FortisBC Inc. (FortisBC) Application for a Certificate of Public ...

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Response:
FortisBC Inc. (FortisBC or the Company)
Application for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity
for the Advanced Metering Infrastructure Project
Response to British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC or the Commission)
Information Request (IR) No. 1
Submission Date:
October 5, 2012
Page 194
84.1.1 Is it possible to put in place Phase 2 without Phase 1? If no, please
explain why not, and describe the minimum requirements of Phase 1 in
order to proceed with Phase 2.
It is possible to install Phase 2 without Phase 1 however the data collected would not be
meaningful in determining system losses or identifying electric theft at customer premises.
Phase 1 requires the deployment of advanced meters at each customer premise in order to
realize the benefits associated with energy balancing in Phase 2. Please see the responses to
BCUC IR1 Q84.1 and Q82.4.1.
Response:
84.1.2 Are there other jurisdictions that have put in place a similar energy
balancing initiative without advanced meters being installed at each
customer’s premises? If yes, please describe.
FortisBC is not aware of any energy balancing initiatives in the absence of advanced meter
deployment.
85.0 Reference: Project Costs and Benefits
Exhibit B-1, Tab 5.0, Section 5.3.2, p. 83;
Energy Theft Reduction - FortisBC Revenue Protection Plan
FortisBC states on page 83 of the Application:
“FortisBC has had a revenue protection program in place since 2006. Based on a three
year average for the period 2009 – 2011, the program has identified an average 25
percent of known or suspected marijuana sites as diverting energy, which equates to a
75 percent deterrence factor as a result of FortisBC’s current revenue protection
activities. ...
Revenue protection investigations have discovered an average of 8 percent of the total
estimated theft sites annually. This implies that in 2012, 16 of the estimated 206 sites