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
Submission Date:
October 5, 2012
Page 278
customer density is approximately 11.2 meters per square kilometre vs FortisBC density of 38.6
meters per square kilometre.
Response:
113.1.3 What factors would have favoured Fortis Alberta’s selection of a
PLC system over a RF system as selected by FortisBC?
The PLC AMI system selected by FortisAlberta represented the lowest total cost for the
functionality required and the relatively low meter density. Please also see the response to
BCUC IR1 Q113.1.2.
Response:
113.1.4 What communication technology(ies) were deployed in the
Ontario roll-out of 4.7 million meters?
FortisBC understands that all Ontario utilities use RF-based LAN solutions, the only exception
being for Suite Metering projects (where a landlord chooses to install sub-metering).
According to IT research firm IDC (https://idc-insights-community.com/energy/smart-grid/smartmetering-in-canada),
RF-Mesh based solutions have captured approximately 90 percent of the
Canadian Smart Meter communications market.
Response:
113.1.4.1 Are any implementation reports / lessons-learned
documents available from Ontario? If so, please provide.
FortisBC found the following report from the IESO that summarizes lessons learned:
http://esr.degroote.mcmaster.ca/documents/1A-1.pdf.