Ohio Sets Hearing on Provision of Smart Meter Data to Retail Suppliers at Duke Energy (Duke Had Proposed Limiting Shared Data to Old Interval Meters)

The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio has ordered hearings on a proposal from Duke Energy Ohio to make certain interval meter data available to retail electric suppliers, noting that Duke's proposal appears to narrow the availability of interval data to retail providers rather than expand it as intended by PUCO.

Duke had filed a tariff to implement a prior PUCO directive that requires EDUs to supply retail providers with interval customer energy usage data (CEUD)

In filing a compliance tariff, Duke sought to change its definition of an "interval meter," to refer only to non-residential interval data recorders (IDR), excluding meters deployed under the advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) which was part of Duke's grid modernization program. Duke said that while it could provide the IDR data via EDI and a website, the sharing of AMI data will require significant investment and development, and also cited new rules that require explicit authorization from each customer

Retail suppliers objected to Duke's filing as inconsistent with PUCO's prior directive.

In response, the Commission yesterday found that Duke's proposed tariff, "may be unjust and unreasonable and, pursuant to R.C. 4909.18, a hearing should be held."

"After reviewing the application and comments, and considering past orders. Duke's application appears to narrow CEUD availability to CRES providers rather than expand availability. Further, more information is needed to determine the Company's current ability to deliver CEUD and how it will proceed going forward," PUCO said

Specific issues the parties should address at hearing include:

(a) What AMI CEUD is Duke currently collecting, and what are its system capabilities? This includes granularity of data, frequency of data collection, duration of data stored, and the ability to validate, estimate, and edit AMI data.

(b) What type of CEUD should be available to retail providers? This includes how frequently and via what method.

(c) What are the estimated costs to provide AMI CEUD to retail providers and what is the appropriate cost recovery mechanism?

(d) What is a realistic timeframe for implementing a CEUD sharing system?

Case No. 14-2209-EL-ATA