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
21.1.1 Provide an estimate of the cost or savings to provide this service.
Submission Date:
October 5, 2012
Page 36
The FortisBC Customer Information System is already configured to provide consolidated billing
(see the response to BCUC IR1 Q21.1). However, the number of requests that can be
accommodated is expected to increase when FortisBC informs customers of the consolidated
billing option through regular customer communications. The one-time cost of implementing
each consolidated bill is expected to be approximately $8 per bill consolidated, with annual
printing and postage savings (for those customers not on eBilling) of approximately $6 per bill
consolidated. This cost compares favourably to the cost incurred to set customers up on other
billing options such as the equal payment plan and direct debit.
Response:
21.2 What is the cost proposed by FortisBC to be charged to those requesting
consolidated billing?
FortisBC currently provides consolidated billing (where feasible) at no additional cost to
customers and proposes to continue doing so post-AMI implementation.
22.0 Reference: Project Need
Response:
Exhibit No. B-1, Tab 3.0, Section 3.2.5, p. 34
Flexible Billing Date
22.1 How many customers have requested flexible billing dates?
FortisBC does not keep statistics specifically on calls related to customers requesting flexible
billing dates but estimates that approximately 10 calls per week are received. The calls are
often from fixed income customers that want to ensure their electricity bill is paid as soon as
they receive their income payments. The E-Source whitepaper provided as Appendix BCUC
IR1 22.1 reports results from a study showing 47% of respondents chose a flexible billing date
option from a selection of five billing options.
FortisBC wishes to continue providing billing options at no additional cost to customers,
provided that the utility costs are small (please refer to the response to BCUC IR1 Q22.1.1).