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

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• Maine;
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
• Naperville, Illinois (municipal, not state);
• California (Pacific Gas and Electric);
• Vermont (Green Mountain Power and Central Vermont Public Service); and
• Nevada (NV Energy).
Response:
Submission Date:
October 5, 2012
Page 286
117.2 Explain why an opt-out clause is not consistent with existing BC provincial policy
or legislation.
The provincial smart meter implementation as prescribed in the Clean Energy Act and the
associated Smart Meters and Smart Grid Regulation (the Regulation) requires BC Hydro to
install a smart meter for each eligible premises by the end of the 2012 calendar year. The
Regulation defines “eligible premises” as “a building, structure or equipment of a customer of
the authority if the building, structure or equipment is connected to the electric distribution
system and has an electricity meter”.
Based on the above, it is evident that the applicable provincial legislation currently in force
contains no provision for customers of BC Hydro to opt-out of having a smart meter installed to
measure electricity supplied to their premises. Although this legislation applies only to
customers of BC Hydro, the Company submits that current provincial policy, as enacted by this
legislation, does not support the inclusion of an opt-out clause for FortisBC customers at this
time.
Response:
117.3 Can the existing tariff accommodate an opt-out clause?
In order to accommodate an opt-out clause, FortisBC’s existing Electric Tariff would have to be
updated to include the terms applicable to a customer’s decision to opt-out of having an
advanced meter installed at their premises, as well as detail on the fees to be charged to
recover the costs associated with opting-out of AMI.