Time-Based Metering Requirements

The CPUC is considering IOU proposals for advance metering infrastructure (AMI) in a current proceeding. The approval and implementation timeline for these proposals is uncertain, and the CSI must be carefully coordinated with the AMI proceeding to avoid potential duplication, confusion, and contradiction of these efforts. In addition, the AMI proceeding should investigate inclusion of the ability to interact with the installed solar system and other distributed generation metering and monitoring capabilities (often part of the system inverter), and should identify the potential safety and system operation benefits of coordinating AMI with distributed generation.

In order to implement performance-based incentives for commercial installations, advanced metering will be useful to determine system production on a precise time-of-use basis. We anticipate the CPUC will address AMI prior to the CSI program's conversion from capacity- to performance-based incentives.