20080702AVU to Staff 153-172, 174-177, 183.pdf

Avista Corp.
1411 East Mission P.O. Box 3727
Spokane. Washington 99220-0500
Telephone [phone]
Toll Free 800-727-9170
JI~'ilISTA.
Corp.
i" ,~
~::~l
July 1, 2008
Idaho Public Utilities Commission
472 W. Washington St.
Boise, ID 83720-0074
Attn: Scott Woodbury
Deputy Attorney General
Re: Production Request of the Commission Staff in Case Nos. AVU-E-08-Ol and
AVU-G-08-Ol
Dear Mr. Woodbury,
Enclosed are an original and three copies of Avista's responses to IPUC Staffs production
requests in the above referenced docket. Included in this mailing are Avista's responses to
production requests 153-172, 174-177, & 183. The electronic versions of the responses were
emailed on 7/1/08 and are also being provided in electronic format on the CDs included in this
mailing.
If there are any questions regarding the enclosed information, please contact me at (509) 495-
8620 or via e-mail atpat.ehrbarêavistacorp.com
Sincerely,Q~~
Patrick Ehrbar
Regulatory Analyst
Enclosures
.
.
.
JUSDICTION:
CASE NO:
REQUESTER:
TYPE:
REQUEST NO.:
REQUEST:
A VISTA CORPORATION
RESPONSE TO REQUEST FOR INFORMATION
IDAHO
A VU-E-08-0l / A VU-G-08-0l
IPUC
Production Request
Staff-153
DATE PREPARED:
WITSS:
RESPONDER:
DEP ARTMENT:
TELEPHONE:
How many regular cycle bils were sent to customers in 2007?
RESPONSE:
Idaho customers received 1,397,932 regular cycle bils in 2007.
06/30/08
Don Kopczynski
Linda Gervais
State & Federal Reg.
[phone]
.
.
.
JUSDICTION:
CASE NO:
REQUESTER:
TYE:
REQUEST NO.:
REQUEST:
A VISTA CORPORATION
RESPONSE TO REQUEST FOR INFORMATION
IDAHO
A VU-E-08-0l 1 A VU-G-08-0l
IPUC
Production Request
Staff-154
DATE PREPARD:
WITNESS:
RESPONDER:
DEP ARTMENT:
TELEPHONE:
06/30/08
Don Kopczynski
Linda Gervais
State & Federal Reg.
[phone]
How many regular cycle bils sent to customers in 2007 were estimated (not based on an actual
meter reading)?
RESPONSE:
There were 9,046 regular cycle bils where at least one service had an estimated read in 2007.
.
.
.
JUSDICTION:
CASE NO:
REQUESTER:
TYE:
REQUEST NO.:
REQUEST:
AVISTA CORPORATION
RESPONSE TO REQUEST FOR INFORMATION
IDAHO
A VU-E-08-0l 1 A VU-G-08-0l
IPUC
Production Request
Staff-155
DATE PREPARD:
WITESS:
RESPONDER:
DEPARTMENT:
TELEPHONE:
06/30108
Don Kopczynski
Linda Gervais
State & Federal Reg.
[phone]
How many out of cycle (opening or closing) bils were sent to customers in 2007?
RESPONSE:
In 2007, there were 57,064 customers who received out of cycle opening or closing bils. Bilings
for services less than 27 and more than 35 days are considered out of cycle.
':
.
.
.
JURISDICTION:
CASE NO:
REQUESTER:
TYPE:
REQUEST NO.:
REQUEST:
AVISTA CORPORATION
RESPONSE TO REQUEST FOR INFORMATION
IDAHO
A VU-E-08-0l 1 A VU-G-08-0l
IPUC
Production Request
Staff-156
DATE PREPARD:
WITESS:
RESPONDER:
DEPARTMENT:
TELEPHONE:
06/27/08
Don Kopczynski
Linda Gervais
Customer Serice
[phone]
Is it the Company's policy to not physically disconnect service when a customer closes his/her
account? If so, please explain the reason(s) for the policy and provide any cost!enefit analysis
performed to justify it.
RESPONSE:
Avista's nonnal policy is not to disconnect at the time of close. In 2004, Avista responded to
Production Requests 291 and 292 in Case Nos. AVU-E-04-0l and AVU-G-04-0l documenting the
cost of performing an actual meter read at each open/close (Please see StafCDR_156-Attachment
A.pdf for the Company's responses to those data requests). The study showed that 78% of the
time, opens are requested within a day of the close, and that the cost to perform the open and close
meter reads far exceeded the revenues in unbiled usage. The Company has continued to operate
under that analysis since that study was completed.
.
.
.
JURISDICTION:
CASE NO:
REQUESTER:
TYPE:
REQUEST NO.:
REQUEST:
AVISTA CORPORATION
RESPONSE TO REQUEST FOR INFORMATION
Idaho
A VU-E-04-01 / AVU-G-04-01
IPUC
Data Request
Staff - 291
DATE PREPARED:
WITNESS:
RESPONDER:
DEPARTMENT:
TELEPHONE:
6/02/2004
Kopczynski
Nancy Holmes
Customer Service
[phone]
How much energy went unbilled in 2003 as a result of the Company's policy to leave meters
connected between customerltenant changes at a single location? Please provide unbiled energy
in both total kWhs on the electric service side and total therms on the natual gas service side of the
Company. What would be the total revenue associated with that energy?
RESPONSE:
The 2003 estimated revenue associated with unbiled energy, as a result of the Company's policy
to leave meters connected between customer/tenant changes, is as follows:
Unbiled Electric Revenue
Unbiled Gas Revenue
Total Unbiled Revenue
$68,245
$39,445
$107,690
The associated cost to perform actual closing and initial bil meter readings in between scheduled
meter readings is estimated to be $869,403.
Please see the attached spreadsheet and Avista's response to Staff Data Request # 292.
Staff _DR _ 156-Attach ment A. pdf Page 1 of 4
.
.
.
Idaho Unbiled Energy - 2003
Electric Unbiled -Idaho Year 2003
Rate Schedule Total
001 Count of Meters 3638
Sum of Usaqe 832891
011 Count of Meters 163
Sum of Usage 55797
012 Count of Meters 146
Sum of Usage 9616
021 Count of Meters 10
Sum of UsaQe 28936
031 Count of Meters 1
Sum of Usaqe 10
032 Count of Meters 7
Sum of Usage 640
Total Count of Meters 3965
Total Sum of Unbiled Electric Usaae (kWh's)927890
Unbiled Electric Revenue $68,245
\i\;)i',.i.i\.... ..Gas.......,.2003 0 );.Fi'
Rate Schedule Total
101 Count of Meters 2225
Sum of UsaQe 40501
111 Count of Meters 4
Sum of Usage 862
Total Count of Meters 2229
Total Sum of Unbiled Gas Usage (Therms)41363
Unbiled Gas Revenue $39,445
Total Estimate of Idaho's 2003 Unbiled Revenues I $107,690 I
IPUC Data Request No. 291-Attachment
Staff_DR_156-Attachment A.pdf Page 2 of 4
.
.
.
JURISDICTION:
CASE NO:
REQUESTER:
TYPE:
REQUEST NO.:
REQUEST:
A VISTA CORPORATION
RESPONSE TO REQUEST FOR INFORMATION
Idaho
AVU-E-04-01 / AVU-G-04-01
IPUC
Data Request
Staff - 292
DATE PREPARED:
WITNESS:
RESPONDER:
DEPARTMENT:
TELEPHONE:
6/02/2004
Kopczynski
Nancy Holmes
Customer Service
[phone]
What is Avista's estimated cost to perform actual closing and initial bil meter readings in between
scheduled meter readings rather than estimating readings when customer changes occur at a single
location? Please provide the analysis showing derivation of the cost estimate.
RESPONSE:
The estimated cost to perform actual closing and initial bill meter readings in between scheduled
meter readings, rather than estimating readings when customer changes occur at a single location,
is $869,403.
The unbiled revenues associated with leaving meters connected between customerltenant changes
and not performing actual closing and initial bil meter readings is estimated to be $107,690.
Please see the attached spreadsheet and A vista's response to Staff Data Request # 291.
Staff_DR _156-Attachment A. pdf Page 3 of 4
.
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JUISDICTION:
CASE NO:
REQUESTER:
TYPE:
REQUEST NO.:
REQUEST:
AVISTA CORPORATION
RESPONSE TO REQUEST FOR INFORMATION
IDAHO
A VU-E-08-0l 1 A VU-G-08-0l
IPUC
Production Request
Staff-I 57
DATE PREPARD:
WITNESS:
RESPONDER:
DEP ARTMENT:
TELEPHONE:
06/30108
Don Kopczynski
Linda Gervais
State & Federal Reg.
[phone]
How many therms and kWh went unbiled in 2007 as a result of the Company's policy to leave
meters connected between customers? What is the total dollar value of those unbilled therms and
kWh?
RESPONSE:
In 2007, 38,302 therms (schedules: 111, 101) and 637,313 kWh (schedules: 01, 11, 12) went
unbilled between active accounts. Based on current rates, the total dollar value of therms was
$42,147 and the total dollar value of kWh's was $ 42,354.
.
.
.
JURSDICTION:
CASE NO:
REQUESTER:
TYPE:
REQUEST NO.:
REQUEST:
A VISTA CORPORATION
RESPONSE TO REQUEST FOR INFORMATION
IDAHO
A VU-E-08-0l 1 A VU-G-08-0l
IPUC
Production Request
Staff-158
DATE PREPARD:
WITNESS:
RESPONDER:
DEPARTMENT:
TELEPHONE:
06/27/08
Don Kopczynski
Darn Belgarde
Customer Service
[phone]
Please explain how the Company detennines meter readings for biling purposes when an account
is opened or closed at the request of a customer.
RESPONSE:
For radio-based or power line carrer networked meters, an actual read (remote) is obtained for the
open or close date. If it is not an automated meter, and the close date is close to the monthly read
date, the Company may prorate the close bil using the monthly read.
In some cases, the Company may estimate the read either by degree days or past usage history on
the paricular meter and enter that read to close the account. The customer also has the option to
read the meter and provide the reading over the phone, or depending on the situation, the Company
may send a meter reader to the premise to obtain an actual read.
A VISTA CORPORATION
RESPONSE TO REQUEST FOR INFORMATION.JURISDICTION:
CASE NO:
REQUESTER:
TYPE:
REQUEST NO.:
IDAHO
A VU-E-08-0l 1 A VU-G-08-0l
IPUC
Production Request
Staff-159
DATE PREPARED:
WITNESS:
RESPONDER:
DEP ARTMENT:
TELEPHONE:
06/30108
Don Kopczynski
Linda Gervais
State & Federal Reg.
[phone]
REQUEST:
Regarding opening bills prepared outside of regular biling cycles in 2007, please provide how
many of the readings on which the bils were based were determined by: (a) an actual meter
reading taken by a Company employee or via remote meter reading; (b) a computer estimate; (c) a
manual estimate made by a Company employee; (d) a customer-provided reading; or ( e) other
methods.
RESPONSE:
Regarding the opening bils outside of the regular biling cycle in 2007 - the number of readings by
type of read are as follows:
a.Actual Meter Read - 24,677.b.Computer Estimate - 51
c.Manual Estimate - 729
d.Customer Read - 2
e.Other Methods - 52
.
.
.
.
JUSDICTION:
CASE NO:
REQUESTER:
TYPE:
REQUEST NO.:
REQUEST:
A VISTA CORPORATION
RESPONSE TO REQUEST FOR INFORMATION
IDAHO
A VU-E-08-0l 1 A VU-G-08-0l
IPUC
Production Request
Staff-160
DATE PREPARD:
WITNSS:
RESPONDER:
DEPARTMENT:
TELEPHONE:
06/27/08
Don Kopczynski
Darn Belgarde
Customer Service
[phone]
Under what circumstances is an opening bill for a new customer prepared using the identical meter
reading used in preparng the closing bil for the previous customer?
RESPONSE:
There are three scenarios in which the same read is used to open the new account:
1) When the meter has not been read between the previous close and the new open, and the
open date is less than 5 days from the previous close.
2) When the meter has not been read between the previous close and the new open, and usage
since previous close is less than 20 therms or kWh.
3) When service is disconnected at the time of close and reconnected for the new customer.
AVISTA CORPORATION
RESPONSE TO REQUEST FOR INFORMATION.JUSDICTION:
CASE NO:
REQUESTER:
TYPE:
REQUEST NO.:
IDAHO
A VU-E-08-0l 1 A VU-G-08-0l
IPUC
Production Request
Staff-16l
DATE PREPARD:
WITNSS:
RESPONDER:
DEPARTMENT:
TELEPHONE:
06/30108
Don Kopczynski
Linda Gervais
State & Federal Reg.
[phone]
REQUEST:
Regarding closing bils prepared outside of regular biling cycles in 2007, please provide how
many of the readings on which the bils were based were determined by: (a) an actual meter
reading taken by a Company employee or via remote meter reading; (b) a computer estimate; ( c) a
manual estimate made by a Company employee; (d) a customer-provided reading; or (e) other
methods.
RESPONSE:
Closing bils prepared outside of the regular billng cycle in 2007 - the numbers of readings by type
ofread are as follows:
a.Actual read (employee or remote) - 9,085.b.Computer Estimate - 6,847
c.Manual Estimate - 13,052
d.Customer Read - 140
e.Other Methods - 2,429
.
.
.
.
JURISDICTION:
CASE NO:
REQUESTER:
TYPE:
REQUEST NO.:
REQUEST:
AVISTA CORPORATION
RESPONSE TO REQUEST FOR INFORMTION
IDAHO
A VU-E-08-0l 1 A VU-G-08-0l
IPUC
Production Request
Staff-162
DATE PREPARD:
WITESS:
RESPONDER:
DEPARTMENT:
TELEPHONE:
06/30108
Don Kopczynski
Linda Gervais
State & Federal Reg.
[phone]
If an actual meter reading is taken by a Company employee at the customer's location when an
account is closed, what is the normal interval between the time a customer requests closure and the
time the meter reading is taken? If a meter reading is taken via remote meter reading when an
account is closed, what is the nonnal interval between the time a customer requests closure and the
time the meter reading is taken?
RESPONSE:
When an actual meter reading at the customer's location is requested at the account close, it
typically occurs within one week. Remote reads are obtained on the date requested by a biling
specialist.
.
.
.
JUSDICTION:
CASE NO:
REQUESTER:
TYE:
REQUEST NO.:
REQUEST:
A VISTA CORPORATION
RESPONSE TO REQUEST FOR INFORMATION
IDAHO
A VU-E-08-0l 1 A VU-G-08-0l
IPUC
Production Request
Staff-163
DATE PREPARD:
WITSS:
RESPONDER:
DEP ARTMENT:
TELEPHONE:
06127/08
Don Kopczynski
Darrn Belgarde
Customer Service
[phone]
If an actual meter reading is not taken on the same day as the customer's requested date of closure,
what date is identified on the customer's bill for the meter reading, the requested date of closure or
the date the actual reading was taken?
RESPONSE:
The requested date of closure is the date identified on the customer's bil.
.
.
.
JUSDICTION:
CASE NO:
REQUESTER:
TYE:
REQUEST NO.:
REQUEST:
AVISTA CORPORATION
RESPONSE TO REQUEST FOR INFORMATION
IDAHO
A VU-E-08-0l 1 A VU-G-08-0l
IPUC
Production Request
Staff-164
DATE PREPARD:
WITESS:
RESPONDER:
DEPARTMENT:
TELEPHONE:
06/27/08
Don Kopczynski
Damn Belgarde
Customer Service
[phone]
If an actual meter reading is taken by a Company employee when an account is closed, does that
employee disconnect service at that time? If a customer has both gas and electric service, does the
employee disconnect both services? If not, please explain why not.
RESPONSE:
The electric and natural gas service is not typically disconnected at the time the meter is read when
an account is closed unless requested by the owner or landlord. This is primarly a work
management issue as well as a convenience issue for our customers. If a meter is disconnected
each time the account closed, the Company would then need to send a serviceman out to reconnect
the service for the next occupant. If natural gas service was disconnected, we would need to make
arangements to meet someone at the property in order to conduct relights and a safety check. By
leaving the service on, the customer does not need to wait for the company to reconnect the service
when they are ready to move in.
Please also see the Company's response to StaffPR-156.
.
.
.
JUSDICTION:
CASE NO:
REQUESTER:
TYPE:
REQUEST NO.:
REQUEST:
A VISTA CORPORATION
RESPONSE TO REQUEST FOR INFORMATION
IDAHO
A VU-E-08-0l 1 A VU-G-08-0l
IPUC
Production Request
Staff-165
DATE PREPARD:
WITNESS:
RESPONDER:
DEP ARTMENT:
TELEPHONE:
06/30108
Don Kopczynski
Linda Gervais
State & Federal Reg.
[phone]
Is A vista using AMR to read meters remotel y when customers open or close accounts? If not, why
not? If so, please explain the process for taking a remote meter reading not coincident with the
customer's regular meter reading cycle.
RESPONSE:
Radio-based or power line carrer networked meters use same day remote reads to open and close
accounts. As for the process, upon receiving a close request, an email is automatically sent to the
A vista biling team with the account number and close date. A biling specialist then obtains the
remote read for that day and enters the read on the close request.
.
.
.
A VISTA CORPORATION
RESPONSE TO REQUEST FOR INFORMATION
JUSDICTION:
CASE NO:
REQUESTER:
TYPE:
REQUEST NO.:
IDAHO
A VU-E-08-0l 1 A VU-G-08-0l
IPUC
Production Request
Staff-166
DATE PREPARD:
WITESS:
RESPONDER:
DEP ARTMENT:
TELEPHONE:
06/27/08
Don Kopczynski
Greg Paulson
Customer Service
[phone]
REQUEST:
Please describe in detail procedures implemented by A vista to monitor gas and electric usage to
identify slow and dead meters in a timely manner.
RESPONSE:
Billing specialists have two reports that are used to indentify slow or dead meters. The first is a
daily exception report with meters identified as having irregular usage such as low or no
use. These accounts are reviewed to identify if the usage is correct or if there have been changes
such as the customer moving or vacating the house. When review of the account does not indicate
a reason for low use, the account will continue to be monitored or a request will be generated to
send a serviceman out to check the meter.
The second report is the zero usage report which includes meters reported as having zero usage for
a period of 3 or more months. These accounts are reviewed to identify if the usage is correct or if
there have been changes such as the customer moving or vacating the house. When review of the
account does not indicate a reason for low use the account wil continue to be monitored or a
request wil be generated to send a serviceman out to check the meter.
.
.
.
JURSDICTION:
CASE NO:
REQUESTER:
TYPE:
REQUEST NO.:
REQUEST:
A VISTA CORPORATION
RESPONSE TO REQUEST FOR INFORMATION
IDAHO
A VU-E-08-0l 1 A VU-G-08-0l
IPUC
Production Request
Staff-167
DATE PREPARD:
WITNESS:
RESPONDER:
DEPARTMENT:
TELEPHONE:
06/27/08
Don Kopczynski
Greg Paulson
Customer Service
[phone]
What is the normal interval between when a slow or dead meter is identified and when the
customer is rebiled?
RESPONSE:
Once the meter has been indentified as being slow or dead, rebiling typically occurs within 1 week
unless there is a need to wait and determine the usage on the new meter before back-biling. In
these cases, rebiling would usually occur within 2-3 weeks.
.
.
.
JUSDICTION:
CASE NO:
REQUESTER:
TYPE:
REQUEST NO.:
REQUEST:
AVISTA CORPORATION
RESPONSE TO REQUEST FOR INFORMATION
IDAHO
A VU-E-08-0l 1 A VU-G-08-0l
IPUC
Production Request
Staff-168
DATE PREPARD:
WITESS:
RESPONDER:
DEP ARTMENT:
TELEPHONE:
06/27/08
Don Kopczynski
Amanda Reinhardt
Customer Service
[phone]
Please provide the year to year percentage decrease or increase in the total number of estimated
meter readings for 2004-2007.
RESPONSE:
The percent of change in number of estimated meter readings (manual and computer) in Idaho are
as follows:
11,067
14,094
23,458
9,843
12,613
21%
40%
-138%
22%
.
.
.
JURISDICTION:
CASE NO:
REQUESTER:
TYE:
REQUEST NO.:
REQUEST:
AVISTA CORPORATION
RESPONSE TO REQUEST FOR INFORMATION
IDAHO
A VU-E-08-0l 1 A VU-G-08-0l
IPUC
Production Request
Staff-169
DATE PREPARD:
WITSS:
RESPONDER:
DEPARTMENT:
TELEPHONE:
06/27/08
Don Kopczynski
Amanda Reinhardt
Customer Service
[phone]
Please provide the year to year percentage decrease or increase in the total number of misread or
incorrect meter readings for 2004-2007.
RESPONSE:
The percent of change in the number of misread or incorrect meter readings for the following years
in Idaho are as follows:
10,841
11,317
14,020
9,705
8,862
4%
19%
-44%
-10%
.
.
.
AVISTACORPORATION
RESPONSE TO REQUEST FOR INFORMATION
JUSDICTION:
CASE NO:
REQUESTER:
TYPE:
REQUEST NO.:
IDAHO
A VU-E-08-0l 1 A VU-G-08-0l
IPUC
Production Request
Staff-170
REQUEST:
DATE PREPARD:
WITNESS:
RESPONDER:
DEP ARTMENT:
TELEPHONE:
06/27/08
Don Kopczynski
Amanda Reinhardt
Customer Service
[phone]
Please provide the reasons for and number of instances in 2007 where the Company had to rebil
customers because a previous bill was based on incorrect billing determinants, e.g., incorrect
identification of foot drive or meter size.
RESPONSE:
The Company re-biled 2,020 customers based on incorrect biling determinants as listed below by
reason code.
Correction Code 6Error 939High Demand 3
Incorrect Meter Multiplier 85
Meter Install 335Mixed Meter 209
Rate Schedule Change 439Tax Adjustment 4
.
.
.
JURISDICTION:
CASE NO:
REQUESTER:
TYPE:
REQUEST NO.:
REQUEST:
A VISTA CORPORATION
RESPONSE TO REQUEST FOR INFORMATION
IDAHO
AVU-E-08-0l 1 A VU-G-08-0l
IPUC
Production Request
Staff-l71
DATE PREPARD:
WITESS:
RESPONDER:
DEP ARTMENT:
TELEPHONE:
06/27/08
Don Kopczynski
Greg Paulson
Customer Service
[phone]
Please provide the reasons for and number of instances in 2007 where the Company had to rebil
customers due to metering equipment failure, e.g., failure of an ERT or index or mechanical failure
of the meter itself.
RESPONSE:
Customers re-biled in 2007 due to metering equipment failure were 1,800 and are listed below by
reason code:
Meter Tested Fast 1,509
Stopped Meter 291
.,
.
.
.
JUISDICTION:
CASE NO:
REQUESTER:
TYPE:
REQUEST NO.:
AVISTA CORPORATION
RESPONSE TO REQUEST FOR INFORMATION
06/27/08
Greg Paulson
Greg Paulson
Customer Service
[phone]
IDAHO
A VU-E-08-0l 1 A VU-G-08-0l
IPUC
Production Request
Staff-172
DATE PREPARD:
WITESS:
RESPONDER:
DEP ARTMENT:
TELEPHONE:
REQUEST:
For each type of automated meter reading (AMR) technology installed and employed by your
company, i.e., Power-Line Carrier or Radio-Based, please describe any problems encountered
during or after AMR installation and how the problems were addressed.
RESPONSE:
Problems During Installation
Problems that occurred during the installation process are not necessarily technology specific. As
with any new electronic technology a phenomenon known as "infant mortality" wil occur. A
certain very small percentage of devices wil fail during installation or shortly after installation. In
the case of solid state metering with the communications modules installed (radio-based or power
line carer) infant mortality was encountered. Some failed during the initial installation and were
removed at that time if detected. Others failed shortly after installation and could only be detected
after attempting to read the meters with one of the data collections engines. In either case, the
meters were retumed to the manufacturer for warranty replacement.
Problems After Installation - Power Line Carrier
The typical problem encountered for power line carrer meters was failure to communicate with
the communications module contained in the meter. This is directly related to infant mortality as
explained above. The communication portion of these modules cannot be verified during meter
installation. These meter issues were resolved by the installation of a new meter. The failed meter
was returned to the manufacturer for warranty repair. In a small number of cases, failure to
communicate with the meter was related to the electric infrastructure such as a loose connection or
other problems that did not allow the meter to send its signal properly. These were handled on a
case by case basis and corrections were made to alleviate the problem.
A vista also encountered a small number of cases where the power line carrer signal caused
interference on Uninterrptible Power Supplies (UPS), digital clocks, and in one case, a heat pump
controller. These issues were worked through with the manufacturers of the devices in
conjunction with the power line carrer manufacturer. In some cases, settings could be changed to
fix the problem. In other cases, the customer's UPS was replaced with a different UPS from the
same manufacturer or a UPS from a different manufacturer.
Problems After Installation - Radio-Based
One problem encountered for radio-based meters was failure to communicate with the
communications module contained within the meter. Again, this is directly related to infant
mortality as explained above. In some cases, the communication portion of these modules cannot
.
.
.
Response to Staff Request No. 172
Page 2
be verified during meter installation. This metering issue has been resolved by the installation of a
new meter. The failed meter was returned to the manufacturer for warranty repair.
The other common problem encountered with radio-based meters is the failure to communicate
with the network infrastructure. Several factors can affect the ability of the network to receive a
reading from the meters. Some of these factors include obstacles placed in front of the meter,
foliage, heavy snow, and proximity of the network infrastructure. These problems can be
alleviated in two different ways. The first is to add additional network infrastructure in areas
where it is difficult to receive the signaL. The second is to replace the low power output
communications modules that were available during the early phases of deployment with high
power modules that became available in later phases of the deployment.
hi a small number of cases, failure to communicate to the meter was related to the electric
infrastructue such as a loose connection or other problems that did not allow the meter to send its
signal properly. These issues were handled on a case by case basis and corrections were made to
alleviate the problem.
.
.
.
A VISTA CORPORATION
RESPONSE TO REQUEST FOR INFORMATION
JUISDICTION:
CASE NO:
REQUESTER:
TYE:
REQUEST NO.:
DATE PREPARD:
WITESS:
RESPONDER:
DEP ARTMENT:
TELEPHONE:
06/27/08
Greg Paulson
Greg Paulson
Customer Service
[phone]
IDAHO
A VU-E-08-0l 1 A VU-G-08-0l
IPUC
Production Request
Staff-174
REQUEST:
Please provide the number and percentage of installed meters or metering equipment that failed for
the years 2004-2007. Please report separately for gas and electric meters. Is the failure rate for
AM meters significantly different than that of older-technology meters?
RESPONSE:
Avista does not specifically track failed meters in the maner described. As a point of reference,
the solid state meters the Company has installed in Idaho are equipped with radio-based
technology and have a failure rate of less than 0.5%/annum (as documented by the meter
manufacturer).
The failure rate of solid state meters is less than that of electro-mechanical meters. The failure rate
of electro-mechanical meters equipped with clip-on type modules the Company originally
proposed to deploy was even higher than that of electro-mechanical meters.
Natural gas endpoint failure has the same 0.5%/annum rate as do the solid state meters.
.
.
.
JURISDICTION:
CASE NO:
REQUESTER:
TYPE:
REQUEST NO.:
REQUEST:
AVISTA CORPORATION
RESPONSE TO REQUEST FOR INFORMTION
IDAHO
A VU-E-08-0l 1 A VU-G-08-01
IPUC
Production Request
Staff-175
DATE PREPARD:
WITESS:
RESPONDER:
DEP ARTMENT:
TELEPHONE:
06/27/08
Greg Paulson
Greg Paulson
Customer Service
[phone]
Are all A vista gas and electric meters in Idaho read using one of the two types of AM
technology? If not, please explain.
RESPONSE:
All A vista natural gas and electric meters wil be read with one of the two types of technology by
the end of 2008. As of June 20, 2008, there are approximately 300 meters left to convert in the
state of Idaho.
.
.
.
JUSDICTION:
CASE NO:
REQUESTER:
TYE:
REQUEST NO.:
REQUEST:
AVISTA CORPORATION
RESPONSE TO REQUEST FOR INFORMATION
IDAHO
A VU-E-08-0l 1 A VU-G-08-0l
IPUC
Production Request
Staff-176
DATE PREPARD:
WITSS:
RESPONDER:
DEPARTMENT:
TELEPHONE:
Is a uniform AMR data collection system now in place?
RESPONSE:
06/27/08
Greg Paulson
Greg Paulson
Customer Service
[phone]
No. There is not a uniform AM data collection system in place. Each technology utilizes its own
data collection engine. A vista is evaluating a meter data management system that would provide a
common data repository for the meter readings. Eachtechnology would stil require its own data
collection engine that would feed data to the meter data management system.
.
.
.
JURISDICTION:
CASE NO:
REQUESTER:
TYE:
REQUEST NO.:
REQUEST:
AVISTA CORPORATION
RESPONSE TO REQUEST FOR INFORMATION
IDAHO
A VU-E-08-0l 1 A VU-G-08-0l
IPUC
Production Request
Staff-177
DATE PREPARD:
WITESS:
RESPONDER:
DEP ARTMENT:
TELEPHONE:
Please explain how meter reading data is entered into the biling system.
RESPONSE:
06/27/08
Don Kopczynski
Linda Gervais
State & Federal Reg.
[phone]
A biling interface has been developed for the radio based and power line carer technologies that
allow the meter readings to be imported into the Company's biling system.
.
.
.
AVISTA CORPORATION
RESPONSE TO REQUEST FOR INFORMATION
JURISDICTION:
CASE NO:
REQUESTER:
TYPE:
REQUEST NO.:
IDAHO
A VU-E-08-0l 1 A VU-G-08-0l
IPUC
Production Request
Staff-183
DATE PREPARD:
WITESS:
RESPONDER:
DEPARTMENT:
TELEPHONE:
07/01/08
Elizabeth Andrews
Patrick Ehrbar
State & Federal Reg.
[phone]
REQUEST:
Please provide IPUC Staff with copies of A vista's responses to the following Washington Utility
and Transportation Commission Staff Data Requests:
Request No. 36
Request No. 37
Request No. 38
Request No. 40
Request No. 41
Request No. 42
Request No. 43
Request No. 44
Request No. 45
Request No. 53
Request No. 55
Request No. 57
Request No. 58
Request No. 59
Request No. 60
Request No. 61
Request No. 62
Request No. 63
Request No. 64
RESPONSE:
Do to the voluminous nature of this request, the responses to these questions are provided on the
CD that accompanied this response in the folder titled "StafCPR_183-Attachment A".