ERCOT TDUs Willing to Complete AMS Discretionary Services on Saturday Regardless of Remote Communication Success

The ERCOT TDUs have agreed to send personnel out to the field to complete Advanced Metering System (AMS) service requests on Saturday if they are unable to communicate with a provisioned advanced meter, PUCT Staff reported in offering clarifying revisions to its earlier proposal for adoption regarding new operational timelines for discretionary services resulting from the deployment of advanced meters (38674).

See 9/23 discussion of earlier proposal for adoption, new timelines

With TDUs agreeing to send personnel out to the field to complete AMS service requests on Saturday, Staff changed certain references in draft rule from "Field Operational Day" to "AMS Operational Day."

Additionally, TDUs agreed to replace references to "Business Day" with "AMS Operational Day" for timelines associated with Priority Move-Ins and Reconnects After Disconnect for Non-Pay, for customers with smart meters.

Upon adoption of these proposed changes, customers will be able to have AMS service requests completed on Saturday, such as Move-Ins and Reconnects (with no additional cost), whether or not their provisioned advanced meters are communicating.

For Priority Move-Ins for customers with advanced meters, REPs may now submit a request on Saturday, prior to 5:00 p.m., and be assured that the request will be completed on the same day regardless of success in remote communication with the meter.

For reconnects for customers with advanced meters, the change also permits REPs to send reconnect orders, for customers not on prepaid service, by 4:00 p.m. on a Saturday, with the reconnection required to be completed that day, regardless of success in remote communication with the meter.