Texas Staff Schedule Workshop on Issues Surrounding Smart Meter Portal, Seek Comments

Staff of the Public Utility Commission of Texas will hold a workshop concerning Project Number 42786, Review of Advanced Metering System Web Portals, on October 7, 2014

In advance of the workshop, Staff sought comment on the following questions:

• Describe the existing and potential future uses of the joint portal by customers, REPs, and third-party providers.

• What operational structure should be used to operate the joint portal?

a. Should the joint development and operating agreement (JDOA) or another joint utility management structure be used?

b. Should the ownership and/or operation of the joint portal be transferred to ERCOT? If so, what are the issues associated with such transfer?

c. Should utilities that deploy AMS be required to use the joint portal as their AMS web portal?

d. Should the utilities that are currently parties to the JDOA be required to allow utilities that deploy AMS to use the joint portal?

e. What process should be used to make any changes to the operational structure of the joint portal?

• Should the costs for additional functionality for the joint portal be recovered outside of base rates under a cost recovery mechanism such as discretionary service fees or AMS surcharges?

• How should the costs for additional functionality and the continued operation of the joint portal be allocated among utilities?

• What process should be used to make decisions concerning the joint portal?

a. What process should be used to decide whether additional functionality should be added?

b. What process should be used to decide what operational data should be provided to REPs or the public?

c. Should the JDOA be required to provide a written response within a specified period of time to a vote by RMS on a joint portal issue?

• What process should be used to resolve disputes concerning the operation and functionality of the joint portal?

a. What process should be used to resolve a dispute for which RMS voted on?

b. What process should a REP use to resolve a dispute?

c. What process should a retail customer use to resolve a dispute?

d. What process should a third-party provider use to resolve a dispute?

e. What process should a utility use to resolve a dispute with the JDOA? Should all disputes that a utility participating in the JDOA has, be resolved as a contractual dispute in court or should policy issues concerning the JDOA, be resolved by the commission?