CenterPoint to Automate Submission of Usage History Authorizations in July

CenterPoint Energy informed REPs on Friday that it will soon begin testing a new automated tool for accessing customer usage history.

In April, CenterPoint announced the development of the new automated Usage History Inquiry Tool for use by Retail Electric Providers and other parties for accessing customer usage history, including Advanced Metering System (AMS) 15-minute interval usage and non-AMS IDR data.

The Usage History Inquiry Tool is intended to be an alternative to the "paper" Letter of Authorization process, and will use a business to business API interface for requesting and fulfilling usage history inquiries.

Requesting parties must still obtain the customer's authorization, but will transmit the authorization information over the API, instead of forwarding the "paper" Letter of Authorization.

Testing with three volunteering REPs or other market participants will begin July 1.

After testing is completed, CenterPoint anticipates that the Usage History Inquiry Tool will be available for open enrollment the week of July 25, 2011.

CenterPoint said that while the "paper" Letter of Authorization process will still be available, 15 minute AMS interval data will only be available through to new tool.