Sharyland Files to Deploy Advanced Meters Territory-Wide, Proposes Monthly AMS Fee Applicable to REPs

Sharyland Utilities has filed at the Public Utility Commission of Texas to provide full deployment of advanced meters to approximately 55,000 retail electric customers over both its McAllen and former Cap Rock service areas over the period 2015-2016.

Sharyland requested that an AMS surcharge become effective July 1, 2015, and be in effect for 12 years.

The amount of the AMS surcharge, assessed to retail electric providers, would be, for both service areas:

Residential Service                              $3.17
Secondary Service Less Than or Equal to 10 kW    $3.25
Secondary Service Greater Than 10 kW             $4.60
Primary Service                                  $3.52

Sharyland does intend to install AMS meters for those customers that are required to have an IDR meter, but consistent with PURA § 39.107(h), the AMS surcharge would not apply to those customers and the costs for installing those meters will not be recovered through the AMS surcharge.

Sharyland also proposed opt-out fees for customers wishing to not have a smart meter. The one-time opt-out fee would range between $114 and $190 (depending on non-standard meter used by the customer), with a monthly recurring opt-out fee of $40 (eventually lowered to $23).

Sharyland plans to begin its installation of advanced meters in its Stanton and Colorado City divisions in the third quarter of 2015, which includes approximately 80% of Sharyland's total meters. After completing installation in the Stanton and Colorado City divisions, Sharyland will begin installing meters in the Brady division, followed by the Celeste division, and thereafter the McAllen division. Sharyland expects to complete the deployment by July 2016.

Sharyland plans to install approximately 15,000 meters in 2015, and approximately 40,000 meters in 2016.

Sharyland has included $100,000 for low-income customers in its requested AMS surcharge, to be available to assist low-income customers who might not otherwise have access to in-home monitors that would allow them to communicate with the Sharyland AMS meters. Sharyland suggested implementing a program similar to the REP-provided provision of reimbursed in-home monitors recently implemented at the other TDUs, but was open to alternative programs.

Docket 44361