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 287
117.4 Is FortisBC applying to the Commission for approval to suspend a customer’s
service until the AMI meter is installed as part of this Application?
No. As detailed in section 8.2 of the Terms and Conditions of FortisBC’s Electric Tariff, the
Company may demand the suspension of service whenever necessary, including for the
purpose of making repairs on or improvements to any of its apparatus, equipment or work. As
FortisBC has proposed the improvement of its metering system by way of the replacement of
existing meters with AMI meters (as the standard metering technology), the Company submits
that the existing Terms and Conditions of the Electric Tariff already support the right to suspend
service for those customers refusing installation of an AMI meter until such time that an AMI
meter is installed.
118.0 Reference: Project Environment
Response:
Exhibit No. B-1, Tab 9.0, Section 9.4, pp. 147-148
No Cost Impact
118.1 Why is there an expectation from the BCMEU that there should be no cost
impact to the wholesale customers of FortisBC?
FortisBC does not know why the BCMEU expects that there should be no cost impacts to their
members.
Consistent with all capital expenditures undertaken by the utility, the costs and benefits are
included in the Company’s Revenue Requirements and therefore are incorporated into all
customer rates. In addition, the proposed FortisBC AMI project results in a net benefit to all
customers as is evidenced by the financial analysis included as part of this Application.
Response:
118.1.1 Would not the other wholesale customers share the cost of the
ancillary equipment such as software, MDMS, etc.?
FortisBC assumes this question refers to the fact that a majority of BCMEU members were not
interested in sharing the proposed FortisBC AMI infrastructure at this time.