DIRECT ACCESS WORKING GROUP
Subgroup C - Metering & Communications
Notes for May 30, 1996

Discussion of August 30 Report

• May be submitted incomplete
• Defining standards cannot be completed by August 30
• Roadmap calls for working group to address standards
• Subgroup C "task force" will define process for moving forward on standards

• Expanded concept of control: the party that makes decisions about the meter
• Identified four options
  1. UDC
  2. Customer
  3. Non-UDC (retailer or other member of supply chain)
  4. "Metering franchise" granted to an independent party by CPUC or other entity
• Default is the utility until standards are defined
• Issues
  1. Who ensures accuracy and reliability of meter? Answer: this group will also look at meter operation, which includes these items.
  2. Reading is also an issue and a part of meter operation.
  3. UDC's have operations in place to ensure accuracy and reliability of meter operations; is there a way to tap into these?
  4. Separation of metering and billing: Unbundling Working Group is tackling this issue; in late June, aggregators will come in and discuss their views on this issue.
  5. Should the customer control the meter if there is not a good reason for the UDC to do so?
• For next week: consider options and issues, including control issues, prepare for discussion next week

• Response to request from DAWG to get educated around the issues; goal is to review where we are today and consider how to get from here to there (Direct Access)
• Disinterested third party will present to the group, including technologies available, advantages & disadvantages, deployment issues, cost, technology issues, data storage; these will be done at a fairly high level; may be done by Roger Levy, an independent consultant based in Sacramento
• Workshop will be on June 21 in Sacramento, 9 am-4 pm; DAWG will have opportunity to visit NMRC exhibits from noon-3 pm on June 20, and Subgroup C meeting will be delayed to 3 pm-6 pm; DAWG members can visit exhibits at other times as well, if desired; draft of ́Cheat Sheetî will be available at next meeting
• The Workshop is open to all interested parties (e.g. other working groups), but attendees are asked to RSVP (instructions to follow on Web site)

• Belvin Louie distributed copies of the items he received; these will be on the web site as well in time for the next meeting (Belvin needs any remaining items by May 31 to be sure they are on the site by the next meeting)
• There will a discussion of load profiling at a future meeting
• Next week's meeting will include a discussion of the data requirements; Subgroup C members should come prepared to identify and discuss the issues Commissioner Knight Meetings
• Two metering & communications systems suppliers reported on meetings with Commissioner Knight; the primary message was that Knight is looking to the DAWG for strong and clear guidance on metering issues

• "Assess Data Requirements:" discuss at next meeting, then decide who will draft response, also "Ownership" being discussed next week
• "Assess Measurement Options:" draft lists of meters available next meeting; then discussion will begin on matching meters to data requirements; additional work will follow Metering Workshop
• "Installation," "Maintenance," and "Operations" will be looked at later
• Document "Issues Raised for Working Group Focus" will be placed on Web site (Mike Jaske to follow up)
• Nancy Gault will add a "Standards" task to the list
• Subgroup C members should get any comments on the task list prior to Monday, June 3, in order that she may be able confirm and publish the schedule for the next meeting

• Nancy Gault will meet with other Subgroup coordinators, WEPEX-DISY (Dispatch Integration System), and the Unbundling Working Group to determine boundaries on tasks performed by and issues addressed by each of the Subgroups and Groups

• There have been many complaints about the communications
• Minutes will be delivered via e-mail to Nancy Gault or Sean Casey within 24 hours, then posted to the web site within 24 hours; non-e-mail users will receive information via faxes
• Proposed positions may be submitted by any party to the Subgroup for discussion; such positions should describe the issue, goals & objectives, pros & cons, analysis and the recommendation; such positions must be delivered to the Subgroup two business days before the meeting for positions submitted directly to the Subgroup members and three business days before the meeting to Nancy Gault, if Nancy will do the distribution
• The proposed positions will be submitted on a schedule that corresponds to the task list for discussion at the appropriate meeting (at next meeting "Data Requirements," "Ownership," "Assess Measurement Options," "Installation," and "Maintenance" will be eligible subject areas, with the focus on the first two in this list)
• Each Subgroup C member will provide a few sentences on the organization/stakeholder that they represent