Decision 97-12-048 December 3, 1997
BEFORE THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
Order Instituting Rulemaking on the Commission's Proposed Policies Governing Restructuring California's Electric Services Industry and Reforming Regulation. |
Rulemaking 94-04-031 (Filed April 20, 1994) |
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Order Instituting Investigation on the Commission's Proposed Policies Governing Restructuring California's Electric Services Industry and Reforming Regulation. |
Investigation 94-04-032 (Filed April 20, 1994) |
OPINION REGARDING THE METER AND DATA COMMUNICATIONS
Today's decision addresses in further detail the rules associated with metering and metering services. We authorized the unbundling of metering services in Decision (D.) 97-05-039. In the direct access implementation decision, D.97-10-087, the Commission adopted interim tariff provisions regarding metering. Today's decision refines those interim provisions, and provides additional details with respect to the provisioning of metering services. In crafting solutions to the various meter-related issues, we have attempted to balance all of the competing interests.
This decision recognizes that existing standards and practices are in place and are the starting point for our considerations. At the same time, we realize that national standards have also been developed. In order to make direct access meters and devices available to the public in a timely manner and to have a functioning, unbundled metering environment, we adopt a series of interim metering standards. These interim standards address meter specifications, installation and maintenance, a certification process for meter service providers (MSPs), meter reading, a screening process for meter data management agents (MDMAs), meter data management systems, and meter data formats.
In recognition of the national standards that have been developed, as well as other kinds of criteria, we plan to move toward the adoption of permanent metering-related standards. This decision establishes a process to involve market participants in the review and recommendation of permanent standards. We anticipate that permanent standards will be adopted before the end of 1998.
