ALJ/AYK/lil Date of Issuance 4/24/2012
Decision 12-04-019 April 19, 2012
BEFORE THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
Application of Utility Consumers' Action Network for Modification of Decision 07-04-043 so as to Not Force Residential Customers to Use Smart Meters. |
Application 11-03-015 (Filed March 24, 2011) |
DECISION MODIFYING DECISION 07-04-043 AND ADOPTING AN OPT-OUT PROGRAM FOR SAN DIEGO GAS & ELECTRIC COMPANY
DECISION MODIFYING DECISION 07-04-043 AND
ADOPTING AN OPT-OUT PROGRAM FOR SAN DIEGO
GAS & ELECTRIC COMPANY 11
6. Southern Californians for Wired Solutions to Smart Meters' (SCWSSM) Motion 2020
8. Comments on Proposed Decision 2424
DECISION MODIFYING DECISION 07-04-043 AND ADOPTING AN
OPT-OUT PROGRAM FOR SAN DIEGO GAS & ELECTRIC COMPANY
1. Summary
This decision grants the request of the Utility Consumers' Action Network to modify Decision (D.) 07-04-043, which adopted San Diego Gas & Electric Company's (SDG&E) Advanced Metering Infrastructure Project. D.07-04-043 is modified to include an option for residential customers who do not wish to have a wireless smart meter installed at their location. The opt-out option shall be an analog electric and/or gas meter.
This new opt-out option is a service that we are adopting with this decision. This opt-out option is a service because the standard for metering has been transitioned throughout the country and, for the most part, the world from the older technology, analog meters, to today's technology, smart meters. In this decision we are not reversing that transition, however, we do approve an option for those customers who, for whatever reason, would prefer to not have a wireless smart meter. This option to move away from the standard will require SDG&E to incur costs such as purchasing and maintaining two different types of meters, the monthly cost of reading the non-communicating meter, and the development of duplicate back office systems. As a result, this decision further finds that customers electing the opt-out option shall be responsible for costs associated with providing the option. Issues concerning the actual costs to be recovered by SDG&E to offer the opt-out option and cost allocation will be addressed in a separate phase of this proceeding.
To allow residential customers to begin selecting the opt-out option immediately, this decision adopts interim fees and charges, which will be subject to adjustment upon conclusion of the second phase of this proceeding. A Non-California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) customer electing the opt-out option shall be assessed an initial fee of $75.00 and a monthly charge of $10.00. A CARE customer electing the opt-out option shall be assessed an initial fee of $10.00 and a monthly charge of $5.00.
This decision also authorizes SDG&E to establish two new two-way electric and gas memorandum accounts to track revenues and costs associated with providing the opt-out option until a final decision on recoverable costs and cost allocation is adopted.
This decision further directs SDG&E to file a Tier 1 Advice Letter implementing the opt-out option and to establish a Smart Meter Opt-Out Tariff within 15 days of the effective date of this decision. Finally, the September 21, 2011 Assigned Commissioner's Ruling directing SDG&E to establish a delay list shall no longer be in effect and all customers currently on the delay list shall be transitioned to a wireless smart meter unless they elect to participate in the opt-out option.
Finally, this decision denies the motion of Southern Californians for Wired Solutions to Smart Meters to have the Commission ask the California Department of Public Health to participate in this proceeding.
