3.4 UNMETERED CONNECTIONS This section pertains to the conditions of service and supply of electrical energy for unmetered connections. Unmetered connections are categorized as equal to GS < 50 kw class Customers. The point of demarcation and ownership for unmetered connections are as stated below: The ownership demarcation point is: for overhead service, the top of the Customer s service standpipe/mast; and for underground service, the secondary spades of the transformer. 3.4.1 Introduction Unmetered connections are intended for use within the road right-of-way and are permitted at the discretion of PowerStream. This type of service offering is specifically made available to companies that are in good standing with PowerStream and licensed for equipment access with the road authority, such as telecommunication companies and government agencies. In accordance with the DSC, this section of the Conditions of Service document identifies the specific mutual obligations and responsibilities required of both PowerStream and the Customer for all unmetered single phase secondary service connections within PowerStream s service territory. 3.4.2 General Conditions for Unmetered Loads Customers with existing unmetered connections, or requiring new unmetered connections, are subject to the terms and conditions identified here. Where a Customer is attaching its equipment to a PowerStream asset, an additional Customer specific joint-use attachment agreement may be necessary. This agreement may include requests for additional data and/or may be subject to specific conditions. 3.4.2.1 Unmetered Customer Responsibilities Comply with the requirements of PowerStream standards and the Ontario Electrical Safety Code to ensure public safety. PAGE 1 OF 10
Provide a load letter on a company s letter head, duly signed and stamped by a registered professional engineer with Professional Engineers of Ontario (PEO), indicating the estimated load of the unmetered connection. Retain all information provided to and by PowerStream per the terms in Section 3.4.4 Data Quality & Auditing Requirements. PowerStream may choose not to retain record details with each unmetered connection and thus will not be held responsible for any incomplete records. Provide an ESA Connection Authorization prior to the service being connected. Install, operate, and maintain its secondary conductor from the PowerStream designated Supply Point to the intended load. Provide timely and accurate energy consumption data. Accepted energy consumption is based on either: o o The maximum continuous calculated load, or The results of a PowerStream accepted audit. Allow no external party to connect to its unmetered connection and its unmetered secondary bus. For different internal corporate groups sharing the same unmetered bus, a tri-party agreement shall be executed with PowerStream to define operating, maintenance, and cost responsibilities with those groups. Where and when requested by PowerStream, the unmetered customer shall relocate, at the customer s cost, the secondary conductors of an unmetered connection to another designated supply point. Complete and sign the declaration in Section 5, Reference 22, and submit to PowerStream in a timely manner by January 31 of each year. 3.4.2.2 PowerStream Responsibilities Provide a service layout for each unmetered connection location that identifies the supply point and prescribes any applicable PowerStream standards and conditions. PAGE 2 OF 10
Strive to make new unmetered connections within ten working days of having all PowerStream connection conditions met. Provide reasonable notice to the unmetered customer should the supply point require relocation: o o Planned Supply Point relocations - 90 day written notice. Emergency Supply Point relocations when possible. Assign an USL energy account and service ID for each new Connection load. Ensure that unmetered connection billing information accurately reflects calculated electrical consumption by unit, quantity, load profile and demand. Devices of the same class by type or load will be grouped together where possible and assigned the same billing determinants. Consult with unmetered load customers prior to implementation of material unmetered load rate increases. 3.4.3 Data Requirements 3.4.3.1 Unmetered Connections unmetered connections shall meet with the data quality requirements described in Section 3.4.4 of this document. Unmetered connection Customers shall provide PowerStream with the necessary information to complete each unmetered connection layout per Section 5, Reference 21. 3.4.3.2 Existing Unmetered connections Throughout the lifecycle of the unmetered connection, unmetered connection customers are required to submit updated and accurate data to PowerStream when it becomes known by the customer or requested by PowerStream. The data, the timing, and method of submission are outlined in Section 5, Reference 21. Also, an annual declaration by the customer as per Section 5, Reference 22 confirming data accuracy shall be made. PAGE 3 OF 10
3.4.4 Data Quality & Auditing Requirements, and Records Retention In the event that PowerStream or the unmetered Customer identify or cause a billing error, PowerStream will rectify the matter consistent with this section, and Section 2.4.4 (Tariffs and Charges), and also the OEB Retail Settlement Code. The customer shall meet the following data requirements for unmetered connections: 3.4.4.1 Data Quality Requirements GPS coordinates shall be provided in degrees:minutes:seconds (i.e., 45:26:45.25, - 75:20:88.1) or decimal format (45.354153,-75.9845542). However, the measurement shall comply with NAD1983, UTM Zone 17N, threedegrees and have an accuracy within +/- 2.0m radius of the actual unmetered device location. Electrical profile, power quality, and usage accuracy studies are required when new unmetered equipment is introduced or when requested by PowerStream. The unmetered Customer, at its cost, has the following two options available to develop and prove this information to PowerStream: (1) An in-house test plan (covering: scope, applicability, conditions, quality control, measurement devices, timing, staff competencies, control documents, error resolution process, and external references) for PowerStream approval. Final results and report shall be signed and sealed by a Professional Engineer of Ontario; or (2) A signed and sealed certified test report from a Standards Council of Canada or ANSI compliant laboratory having competencies in electrical equipment testing. (3) In either case, the test plan or report shall outline how the probability sampling ensures a 3.4% confidence interval with a 95% confidence level for each load type by similar energy usage profile for the proposed installation. Generally, stratified sampling may be needed to ensure conformance. To ensure adequate sampling requirements are met, ANSI/ASQC Z1.4 sampling tables may be referenced. 3.4.4.2 Data Auditing Requirements PAGE 4 OF 10
The unmetered connection Customer or PowerStream may initiate an audit at regular intervals or on notice. 3.4.4.3 Records Retention The Customer shall retain information provided to and by PowerStream for a minimum period of seven years while the service is in a state other than permanently removed (see Section 3.4.6.5). Once the service has been permanently removed, the retention period shall be a minimum of two years. The retained information shall include yet, not be limited to, the detail in Section 5, Reference 21, (column Information Source, Customer), and any other relevant correspondence or agreements regarding the un- metered account including the associated service connections and load. The Customer not retaining such records would result in costs for PowerStream to research and reconstruct missing information plus the costs described in Section 3.4.9 Audit Costs, and Section 3.4.10 Error Costs, all of which such costs may be recoverable from the Customer. 3.4.5 Unmetered Load Types Defined The types described below may qualify for unmetered single phase secondary servicing. The method and location of Supply Point may vary for each application and shall be established through consultation with PowerStream. a) Street Lighting Street lighting on public roads qualifies for unmetered servicing. b) Traffic Signals Traffic lights and crosswalks on public roads qualifies for unmetered servicing. c) Bus Shelters Bus shelters on public roads may qualify for unmetered servicing under the following conditions: Single-phase, two wire, 120 volts PAGE 5 OF 10
Bus shelter loads less than or equal to 15 Amps may qualify to be unmetered; loads greater than 15 Amps shall be metered. d) Parks & Pathway Lighting Publicly owned park and/or pathway lighting may qualify for unmetered servicing under the following conditions: Single-phase, two wire, 120 volts Three wire, 120/240 volts Publicly owned park and/or pathway lighting loads less than or equal to 15 Amps may qualify to be unmetered; loads greater than 15 Amps shall be metered. e) Decorative Lighting Privately owned occasional festive or decorative streetscape lighting on public roads may qualify for unmetered servicing: Single-phase, two wire, 120 volts. Privately owned occasional festive or decorative streetscape lighting loads less than or equal to 15 Amps may qualify to be unmetered; loads greater than 15 Amps shall be metered. Pole attachment agreement if the decorative lighting is to be mounted on PowerStream owned poles. A temporary municipal encroachment permit for road access and assigned responsibilities. f) Billboards At PowerStream s discretion, billboards in PowerStream territory may qualify to be unmetered. Single-phase, three wire 120/240 volts. g) Other Small Services PAGE 6 OF 10
Telephone booths, small power supplies and communication amplifiers and antennas, road and utility cathodic protection, railway signals, flasher beacons, and similar small Customer loads may within the public road right-of-way qualify for unmetered servicing. Single-phase, two wire, 120 volts Three wire, 120/240 volts Small service loads less than or equal to 15 Amps may be unmetered; loads greater than 15 Amps shall be metered. 3.4.6 Service Costs 3.4.6.1 General Billing Conditions and States of Connection There are three life-cycle states of an unmetered connection. They are: proposed, in-service, or permanently removed. Where an unmetered connection is deemed to be in-service, the billing of the energy and fixed charges will continue monthly until PowerStream has been formally notified the service has been permanently removed. 3.4.6.2 Proposed On request of a new connection, the Customer s proposal will initiate the service point as Proposed for a period of up to 90 days. 3.4.6.3 In-Service An unmetered connection is deemed to be in-service when it has been energized or it has been electrically isolated (removed from any electrical energy source) at any time between being energized or permanently removed. The two in-service states are described as follows: a) Energized An existing unmetered connection that has been physically connected to the PowerStream distribution network is deemed to be Energized. PAGE 7 OF 10
b) Electrically Isolated An existing unmetered connection that has been physically detached from the PowerStream distribution network energy source is deemed to be electrically isolated. Isolation of the unmetered connection may be initiated by PowerStream for power quality, outage problems, or data issues, or by the Customer through written request. Refer to Section 2.2 Disconnection. In this state, PowerStream continues to calculate the bill (energy and fixed charges) on a per month basis for not more than six consecutive months. Following the sixth month of being electrically isolated, the unmetered connection must either be put back in-service or be permanently removed from service. Refer to Section 2.1.4 Inspections before Connections. Should those actions fail, PowerStream retains the right to disconnect the service in accordance with Section 2.2.1 PowerStream Initiated. 3.4.6.4 Permanently Removed An unmetered connection is deemed permanently removed following the sixth consecutive month in the electrically isolated state, or where the Customer requests that the unmetered connection be permanently cancelled and physically detached from the PowerStream distribution network energy source. Where an unmetered load has been deemed permanently removed, billing charges (energy and fixed charges) cease to accrue in the following month to the consolidated unmetered connection bill. Re-energization of an unmetered connection in this state shall be treated as a new unmetered connection and be subject to the requirements contained within this document. 3.4.7 Ongoing Account Tariffs and Charges The Customer shall work with PowerStream to classify like energy devices such that similar devices can be consolidated to similar energy usage profiles for energy billing purposes. When requested by PowerStream, the Customer shall consolidate their separate unmetered billing accounts down to at least the number of similar energy profile classifications or less. 3.4.8 Work by PowerStream PAGE 8 OF 10
PowerStream connection, isolation and re-energization fees will apply. Note that any extra work by PowerStream beyond a simple connection onto the overhead or underground system is at the Customer s expense, ie: make-ready work. 3.4.9 Audit Costs Unmetered connection Customers are responsible for their costs associated with any audit. 3.4.10 Error Costs PowerStream encourages voluntary data error disclosure and data quality improvement. Recurring data errors or data quality problems may result in an unmetered load being electrically isolated or permanently removed from the PowerStream distribution network, with the option for the Customer to upgrade to a metered service from an PowerStream designated Supply Point. Where an unmetered connection Customer volunteers corrected or improved data before commencement of a joint audit, the Customer will be responsible for their corrected consumption usage going forward. To improve the quality of the unmetered data, PowerStream encourages the unmetered Customer to cooperate in a joint audit as described in Section 3.4.4. In this case, the Customer will be responsible for their associated audit costs and their corrected consumption usage going forward. If the unmetered Customer provides PowerStream poor unmetered data (i.e., not meeting audit standards), no data, or late data, the unmetered Customer shall pay PowerStream s field verification and data correction costs, equivalent costs per each unmetered load, and the corrected consumption usage going forward. 3.4.11 Communication to Customer on Rate-Impact Matters PAGE 9 OF 10
Prior to filing a rate application, PowerStream will communicate to unmetered load customers regarding any changes in its proposed cost allocation and rate design that may materially impact them. In the event of changes materially impacting unmetered load customers, PowerStream will hold an information session where the customers can get additional information, ask questions and provide feedback on the proposals. 3.4.12 Street Lighting Service The ownership demarcation point for street lighting varies with the type of service (underground or overhead), equipment, and municipal areas. Consult PowerStream to obtain the information on street lighting demarcation points. Decorative or tree lighting, if connected to a municipal, regional, or provincial street lighting system, will be treated as the Street Lighting service class. All information for new and subsequent connections must be supplied to PowerStream. Contact PowerStream to determine the format required. END OF SECTION PAGE 10 OF 10