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

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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
91.0 Reference: Project Costs and Benefits
Response:
Exhibit B-1, Tab 5.0, Section 5.3.3
Disconnect/Reconnect
Submission Date:
October 5, 2012
Page 219
“The management of vacant premises can involve multiple vehicle trips to each identified
vacant site. An initial trip is required to confirm vacant site status or to leave notification
for the occupants of the requirement to contact the Company to establish an account. A
second trip is often required to either disconnect the premises, or to leave another tag
advising the occupant to contact the Company to avoid any interruption in service. The
process is time consuming, labour intensive, and thus expensive, particularly as multiple
vehicle trips are required before resolution occurs (1 - 2 for disconnect and 1 for
reconnect).” [Ref: B-1, p. 90]
“FortisBC assumed that a CSP will still require one visit to 50 percent of vacant premises
and 100 percent of premises scheduled for disconnection due to non-payment.” [Ref: B-
1, p. 91]
91.1 Please confirm, or otherwise explain, that the bulk of the savings related to a
disconnect/ reconnect are related to the reconnection process.
Not confirmed. Site visits will continue to be performed in advanced of disconnections in many
cases (to assess the premise for risks and to hang a door tag), as referenced in the preamble to
this question, so there will continue to be costs related to disconnections. Savings related to the
actual disconnection and reconnection of service are expected to be roughly equal.
91.2 Please confirm the number of expected instances of disconnections and the
expected number of reconnections for each year between 2013 and 2032 for
both the Status Quo and the AMI Project.