ERCOT TDUs Offer Alternatives for Deadline for Submission of AMS Reconnect Request

The Joint ERCOT TDUs have offered to agree to extend by one hour, for a premise with an advanced meter, the deadline for the submission of a reconnect request to ensure same-day completion, even where communication with an advanced meter fails. The TDUs also alternatively suggested extending the deadline to the REPs' desired 5 p.m. cutoff for prepaid customers only (38674).

As previously reported (see 7/5), the PUCT is reviewing changes to market processes and deadlines as a result of the introduction of advanced meters. For premises with a provisioned advanced meter, a proposal for publication would require reconnection requests to be completed within 2 hours, and within 1 hour for customers on prepaid service.

However, to the extent that the TDU cannot communicate with the advanced meter, the proposal for publication would require reconnect requests to be submitted by 2 p.m. in order for TDU to be obligated to complete the request on the same day. A standard reconnect request received by a TDU after 2 p.m. shall be performed that day "if possible," but no later than the close of company's next Field Operational Day.

REPs have sought to extend this deadline for the submission of an AMS reconnect request to 5 p.m.

In supplemental comments, the joint TDUs have proposed extending the deadline for the submission of an AMS reconnect request to 3 p.m., for the TDU to be obligated to complete the request on the same day

Alternatively, the TDUs offered a second option that would treat prepaid customers and customers not on prepaid service differently, similar to the distinct treatment such customers receive for reconnects when the advanced meter is communicating with the TDU.

Specifically, the TDUs' alternative plan would extend the deadline, for prepaid customers only, for the submission of a AMS reconnect request to 5 p.m. If the reconnect request is submitted before 5 p.m. on a business day, the prepaid customer would be reconnected on that same day regardless of whether the TDU can successfully communicate with the meter.

The TDUs' alternative would maintain the 2 p.m. deadline for the submission of a AMS reconnect request for customers not on prepaid service. Reconnect requests received after this time, to the extent communication with the meter fails, would be completed on the same day if possible, but would be allowed to be completed no later than the next Field Operational Day.