Draft Decision In Phase 2 Of CPUC's CCA Rulemaking (continued)

Other Tariff Rates and Services

New Customers

New customers will automatically be assigned to CCAs. The utilities my charge for the cost of each Community Choice Aggregation Service Request (CCASR) if they must generate one for a new customer. New customers must be given two opportunities to opt-out within 60 days of service without penalty. Such notice is the responsibility of the CCA and not the utility.

Boundary Metering

The utilities have the authority to install, maintain and calibrate metering devices, and CCAs’ vendors are not permitted to provide these services.

Customer Information

The utilities shall permit CCAs to access all relevant customer information even before the CCA begins offering service. The utilities cannot second guess a CCA’s request for relevant information.

Customer Switching Rules

CCA customers are to be treated like direct access (DA) customers when they switch between procurement providers and therefore must make a three-year commitment to the utility when they return to bundled service as is required of DA customers.

The Utility-CCA Service Agreement

The draft service agreement provided by the utilities should be modified to conform to this decision.

Call Center Fees

Utilities cannot charge for call center fees at this time and should address the matter in general rate cases where the proceeds from individual rates to CCA customers offset revenue requirements allocated to other customers and thereby make the rate change revenue neutral.

Opt-Out Fees

The utilities are entitled to charge opt-out processing fees.

Customer Deposits, Partial Payment, Termination of Service

Each entity will collect its own deposits, although a CCA may collect deposits using the utility’s billing services.

Partial payments should be allocated first to disconnectable services and then on a prorated basis to other utility and CCA services.

A CCA may not return a customer to bundled service for nonpayment of CCA services

CCASR Processing

It is reasonable to cut over a new CCA customer after the normal meter read day, which requires a 15 day lead time.

Changing Municipalities in the CCA Plan

The addition or removal of a municipality from a CCA will affect utility operations, and outstanding liabilities that would affect the CRS. The utilities’ tariffs should describe a process for recognizing the change in CCA membership and customer base. The utilities should modify their tariff proposal to conform to this decision. The proposal should not require procedures or information not already required of the CCA when it first files its implementation plan or initiates service.

Confirmation Letters

There is no justification for the utilities to send and charge CCAs for an additional notification in light of the existing notice requirements.

Scheduling Coordinator Requirements

The utility tariffs should not include any language that addresses scheduling coordinators or the CCAs’ relationship with the Independent System Operator (ISO).

Load Aggregation

Private aggregation by CCA customers is permitted to the extent that it doesn’t conflict with utility tariffs.

Notice of Program Implementation

The earliest possible date for the CCA program was the effective date of the tariffs filed pursuant to the Phase 1 decision. The utilities shall immediately undertake the system changes required to satisfy the tariffs without six months prior notice by a CCA. The earliest possible date for a CCA’s provision of service is the date of completion of all tariff requirements or the date the CCA and utility agree is reasonable. In no event may the utility delay the initiation of CCA service once the CCA has fulfilled tariff requirements.

Electronic Data Interchange Testing

CCAs are responsible for utility costs associated with EDI testing.

Specialized Service Requests

A CCA is responsible for any specialized service request costs incurred by the utility.

Metering Fees

The CPUC adopts the utilities’ proposed metering fees.

Involuntary CCA Service Termination

The utilities are not permitted to terminate CCA service except in the event of a system emergency or where public health or safety are involved. If a utility seeks to terminate service to a CCA, it needs a CPUC order to do so.

If a CCA terminates service to its customers or is directed to do so, it is responsible for the cost of notifying the customers.

Net Metering

R.04-03-017 is the venue for the net metering discussion.

Rate Ready Billing

PG&E must unbundle the costs of its billing services. SCE and SDG&E have done so.

PG&E’s rate ready billing must permit the CCA to provide complete information about its rates and not limit them to two tiers. SCE and SDG&E do so.

The costs of initial changes to the billing system should be charged to all ratepayers.

California Alternative Rate for Energy (CARE) Discount

The utilities proposed to continue the CARE program and the ratemaking treatment of it as is (part of distribution rates for PG&E and SCE, and a separate line item for SDG&E), and the discount will not be reflected in the CRS.

“In-Kind Power”

If it is possible to work out between DWR and a CCA a transfer of power, then they may do so.

Bill Ready Billing

PG&E should develop an automated billing system that permits bill ready services. SCE and SDG&E do. The CPUC directed PG&E to provide bill ready services more than eight years ago, it should have assumed the CPUC required a reasonably priced service using the most efficient technology. Costs of the initial changes to PG&E’s billing system should be charged to all rate payers. PG&E may charge 44¢ per month per customer and not the current $2.15 per month per customer for its manual system.

Future CCA Issues

After a final decision in this rulemaking, the CPUC will initiate a new rulemaking to review the program within a year of the initiation of the first CCA’s operation.

Visit the LGC Communtiy Board for updates on the decision and other activities around Community Choice Aggregation.

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