Texas Staff Proposes Lower Upfront Smart Meter Opt-Out Charge at TDUs

Staff of the Public Utility Commission of Texas have filed testimony recommending a lower upfront advanced meter opt-out charge at AEP Texas Central and AEP Texas North, with a marginally higher monthly ongoing opt-out charge for an initial five years.

Specifically, Staff recommended that the AEP Texas Central upfront opt-out charge be set as follows:

Existing Analog                             $81.00
New Analog Meter                           $158.00
New Digital Non-Communicating Meter        $158.00
AMS Meter w/ Communications Disabled       $121.00

In contrast, AEP TCC had originally proposed the following upfront opt-out fees:

Existing Analog                            $209.00
New Analog Meter                           $286.00
New Digital Non-Communicating Meter        $286.00
AMS Meter w/ Communications Disabled       $250.00

For all opt-out types, Staff would set the TCC monthly opt-out charge at $19.54 per month for the first five years, with the charge reduced to $18.00 after five years. AEP TCC's proposed monthly charge had been $18.

At AEP Texas North, Staff recommended that the AEP TNC upfront opt-out charge be set as follows:

Existing Analog                             $81.00
New Analog Meter                           $196.00
New Digital Non-Communicating Meter        $196.00
AMS Meter w/ Communications Disabled       $140.00

In contrast, AEP TNC had originally proposed the following upfront opt-out fees:

Existing Analog                            $203.00
New Analog Meter                           $318.00
New Digital Non-Communicating Meter        $318.00
AMS Meter w/ Communications Disabled       $263.00

For all opt-out types, Staff would set the TNC monthly opt-out charge at $36.54 per month for the first five years, with the charge reduced to $35.00 after five years. AEP TNC's proposed monthly charge had been $35.

Staff's proposed amounts stem from Staff's recommendation that 50% of TCC's and TNC's fixed costs be allocated to the one-time fee, with the remaining 50% to be amortized over a five-year amortization period, collected in the monthly fee.

Docket 41879