Texas Retail Providers Would Be Reimbursed for Providing Smart Thermostats, In-Home Monitors to Low-Income Customers, Under Workgroup Proposal

Texas retail electric providers would be reimbursed for providing low-income customers with programmable communicating thermostats (PCTs) and in-home displays (IHDs) under a proposal from a working group addressing the requirement that TDUs provide in-home monitors to low-income customers under their smart meter deployment plans.

"Staff is pleased to report that the TDUs, other interested parties to the AMS Orders, and Staff have developed an implementation plan that will reimburse retail electric providers (REPs) for providing programmable communicating thermostats (PCTs) and in-home display (IHD) devices to their low-income customers that request these devices," PUCT Staff reported (Project 36234).

Devices eligible for the rebate would include in-home displays (IHDs) and programmable communicating thermostats (PCTs) that meet certain technical specifications.

REPs would contact their eligible low-income customers (using the definition used for the SBF) to offer an IHD and/or a PCT. REPs may give customers the option of selecting both a PCT and an IHD.

A TDU would reimburse a REP for the cost of a device up to a cap of $250, with an additional 25% for administrative costs, for a total reimbursement rate cap of $300 per device. For PCTs only, an additional $125 will be reimbursed to cover the cost of installation.

The TDUs would reimburse REPs after processing the invoices and supporting documentation, including attestations that the customers are eligible to receive the devices under the program.

Any REP would be permitted to participate, subject to program requirements.

The program would be in place at Oncor, CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric, AEP Texas Central, AEP Texas North, and Texas-New Mexico Power.

The following amounts related to the provision of in-home devices to low-income customers, with the exception of TNMP, were included in the forecasted costs for AMS in calculating the AMS surcharges:

• Oncor - $10,000,000

• CNP - $7,500,000

• AEP TCC - $800,000

• AEP TNC - $200,000

• TNMP - $125,000

The total for TNMP was not included in its AMS order, but is based on what TNMP has reported it will spend on the program.