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TITLE 16ECONOMIC REGULATION
PART 2PUBLIC UTILITY COMMISSION OF TEXAS
CHAPTER 25SUBSTANTIVE RULES APPLICABLE TO ELECTRIC SERVICE PROVIDERS
SUBCHAPTER RCUSTOMER PROTECTION RULES FOR RETAIL ELECTRIC SERVICE PROVIDERS
RULE §25.474Selection of Retail Electric Provider

  (1) TDU costs associated with performing standard meter reads for the purpose of switches, to the extent not reflected in base rates, shall be considered costs incurred in deploying advanced metering functionality and are to be considered in setting a surcharge established under PURA §39.107 (h) and §25.130 of this title (relating to Advanced Metering). The costs shall be included in the annual reports filed pursuant to §25.130(k)(5) of this title as actual costs spent to date in the deployment of Advanced Metering Systems (AMS) and shall be considered in setting, reconciling and or updating the AMS surcharge pursuant to §25.130(k) of this title; or,

  (2) a TDU shall create a regulatory asset for the expenses associated with performing standard meter reads for the purpose of switches pursuant to this subsection. Upon review of reasonableness and necessity, a reasonable level of amortization of such a regulatory asset, including carrying charges, shall be included as a recoverable cost in the TDU's rates in its next rate case or such other rate recovery proceeding as deemed necessary.

(p) Meter reads for the purpose of a standard switch.

  (1) Beginning December 1, 2009, a TDU shall perform actual, as opposed to estimated, meter reads for at least 80% of meter reads for the purpose of a standard switch in any given month, and at least 95% of meter reads for the purpose of a standard switch in any calendar year, exclusive of remote meter reads using advanced meters. Until December 1, 2009, a TDU may perform estimated meter reads for standard switch requests only for residential customers, exclusive of customers with meters that have remote read capability. A TDU shall use best efforts to perform as many actual reads as possible for standard switches.

  (2) Notwithstanding §25.214 of this title (relating to Terms and Conditions of Retail Delivery Service Provided by Investor Owned Transmission and Distribution Utilities), an estimated meter read for the purpose of a standard switch is not subject to adjustment, except as provided in subparagraph (A) or (B) of this paragraph. A customer is obligated to pay a bill based upon an estimated meter read for the purpose of a switch, including any adjustment made pursuant to subparagraph (A) or (B) of this paragraph.

    (A) The TDU shall adjust the estimated meter read if the losing REP's billed usage is greater than the total kilowatt-hours used by the customer in the TDU monthly meter read cycle during which the estimate was made.

    (B) Only upon the receipt of a customer dispute of the estimated usage to either the gaining or losing REP, either REP may request the TDU to review the estimate. In reviewing the estimate, the TDU shall promptly calculate the average actual kWh usage per day for the time period from the actual meter reading occurring prior to the estimated reading to the actual meter reading occurring after the estimated reading. The TDU shall determine whether the usage per day for the estimated period prior to the switch is at least 25% greater than, or 25% less than, the average actual kWh usage per day. If so, the TDU shall promptly adjust the estimated meter read. The TDU may adjust an estimate that does not meet this 25% threshold, on a non-discriminatory basis.

    (C) The TDU shall apply a reasonable methodology in making adjustments pursuant to subparagraphs (A) and (B) of this paragraph and shall make the methodology available to REPs. Consistent with any meter read adjustments, the TDU shall adjust its invoices to the affected REP or REPs.

  (3) A TDU shall file performance reports with the commission as part of the information filed under §25.88 of this title (relating to Retail Market Performance Measure Reporting). These reports shall show by month the number and percentages of actual and estimated meter reads for the purpose of switches, and whether that month's performance was in compliance with paragraph (1) of this subsection.

(q) Scheduled switch date. Once a TDU notifies the REPs of a scheduled switch date, the TDU shall perform an actual or estimated read of the customer's meter for that date.


Source Note: The provisions of this §25.474 adopted to be effective August 1, 2004, 29 TexReg 4756; amended to be effective March 8, 2007, 32 TexReg 1286; amended to be effective July 5, 2009, 34 TexReg 4306; amended to be effective November 28, 2011, 36 TexReg 7982; amended to be effective March 8, 2017, 42 TexReg 1011

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