11. Park's Data Collection Settlement
In order to assess the impact of the proposed conservation rates on customers, especially low-income customers, Park, the Joint Consumers and CFC recommend the collection, monitoring and reporting of monthly data on usage, arrearages and disconnections for residential and LIRA customers; monthly usage per customer for all classes and LIRA with comparison to the prior year; and weather-normalized usage data to be available during GRCs. The settlement is unopposed.
11.1. Data Collection and Reporting
Park will monitor and collect data on residential and LIRA customers.37 From the data collected, Park will report its findings in a supplement to its Annual Report to the Commission. Weather-normalized usage data will be made available to interested parties, upon request, during each GRC proceeding. Weather-normalized monthly data will not be calculated and tracked on an ongoing basis between GRCs.
Park anticipates that the availability of weather-normalized usage data during GRCs will be accomplished during the sales forecasting process at a cost of about $1,500. The settling parties believe collection of the data is cost effective at this price, especially in light of the continued conservation effort.
11.2. Memorandum Account Treatment
Expenses related to collection and reporting will be tracked in a memorandum account.38 When the account is terminated, Park will file an advice letter on the recovery of the costs. The advice letter will be subject to a reasonableness review.
The settlement addresses the effectiveness of conservation efforts implemented through increasing block rates through the collection, analysis and dispersal of data. The settlement is reasonable in light of the whole record, consistent with the law, and in the public interest. Thus, we shall adopt the settlement.
37 The data collected for residential customers will include: annual number of customers in each customer class; monthly number of residential customers; monthly number of residential customer accounts over 30 days past due; monthly dollar value of residential customer accounts over 30 days past due; monthly number of disconnection notices generated for residential customers; monthly number of residential customers that have had service discontinued for non-payment; monthly number of residential customers that have had service restored after discontinuance for non-payment. The data collected for LIRA customers and all customers with LIRA customers broken out will include: monthly number of LIRA customer accounts; monthly number of LIRA customer accounts over 30 days past due; monthly number of disconnection notices generated for LIRA customers; monthly dollar value of LIRA customer accounts over 30 days past due; monthly number of LIRA customers that have had service discontinued for non-payment; monthly customer usage in billing units by Tier 1 and Tier 2 separated by meter size and customer class (with LIRA customers broken out); and monthly customer usage for current month of the current year vs. prior year, using average customer profiles at different usage levels (separate profile for LIRA customers).
38 Modification of Park's customer information system will be required to track some of the agreed-to data.
