Oncor Proposes Streamlining Process For Brokers To Access Historical Usage Portal

In commenting on a proposed electric broker regulation rule at the Texas PUC, Oncor proposed a provision that would streamline brokers' use of its automated historical usage portal

See background on a proposal for publication concerning electric broker regulation here

Oncor noted that, "today REPs have the ability to request usage information by either of the two methods allowed in P.U.C. SUBST. R. 25.472(b)(3): by making a written request to the TDU (after the REP receives authorization from the customer) or by providing other proof of authorization. Since one of the means available to REPs is to make a written request to the TDU, REPs are not required to provide the TDU with a copy of the customer's letter of authorization ('LOA'). Instead, REPs are able to make such requests via password protected historical usage portals. All four TDUs in Texas' competitive retail electric market have implemented automated historical usage portals. Manual historical usage requests to Oncor may take up to three business days to fulfill. Today, a REP that affirms they have authorization from the customer may utilize Oncor's Historical Usage Portal to request up to 250 ESI IDs at a time and receive the historical usage within minutes of submitting the request."

Oncor noted that, "Oncor has also deployed an automated historical usage portal that can be utilized by brokers. The deployment of this portal has allowed Oncor to fulfill historical usage requests much more quickly for brokers than was possible in the past."

"However, since brokers are not subject to the provisions in P.U.C. SUBST. R. 25.472(b)(3), the portal used by brokers requires them to attach a copy of the customers' signed LOAs rather than allow the broker to simply affirm they have authorization, as the REPs are allowed to do," Oncor said

"Since brokers will now be subject to the authority of the Commission, Oncor proposes they be able to avail themselves of the same means for requesting historical usage date as currently provided for REPs in P.U.C. SUBST. R. 25.472(b)(3). This will allow TDUs to fulfill historical usage requests for brokers in the same manner as is done for REPs, resulting in a more efficient request process for brokers," Oncor said

Oncor said, "For these reasons, Oncor proposes the addition of the following paragraph to proposed P.U.C. SUBST. R. 25.486(j): (3) Upon receiving authorization from a client, a broker shall request from the TDU the monthly usage of the client's premise(s) for the previous 12 months. The TDU, upon receipt of a written request or other proof of authorization, shall provide the requested information to the requesting broker no later than three business days after the request or proof of authorization is submitted."

Project 49794