HomeMy WebLinkAboutMemo - Mail Packet - 1/17/2017 - Memorandum From Lisa Rosintoski Re: Automated Metering Infrastructure (Ami) Customer Communication BenefitsUtilities
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222 Laporte Ave.
PO Box 580
Fort Collins, CO 80522
970.221.6700
970.221.6619 – fax
970.224.6003 – TDD
utilities@fcgov.com
fcgov.com/utilities
M E M O R A N D U M
DATE: January 10, 2017
TO: Mayor Troxell and Councilmembers
FROM: Lisa Rosintoski, Customer Connections Manager
THROUGH: Darin Atteberry, City Manager
Kevin R. Gertig, Utilities Executive Director
RE: Automated Metering Infrastructure Customer Communication Benefits
Fort Collins Utilities continually leverages the Automated Metering Infrastructure (AMI)
technology features to manage usage information with Fort Collins Utilities electric and water
customers. Through our website and promotional materials, Utilities regularly communicates the
investment benefit to our customers. Key accomplishments include:
Monitor-My-Use – By setting up an online profile, Fort Collins Utilities customers have
access to the Monitor-My-Use feature, a free tool that allows customers to view electricity
and water usage with a click of a button. Through this free service, customers can control
costs and conserve resources.
Continuous Consumption Program – Utilities monitors AMI data which flags customer
accounts that appear to have continuous water consumption, an indicator of a potential leak,
such as a toilet malfunction or a service line water leak. Customers have appreciated the
notification, which results in the customer fixing the leak, saving money, and in some cases
mitigated water damage.
Peak Partners – Peak Partners is an advanced demand side management program enhanced
through smart meters. By participating as a Peak Partner, customers get the convenience and
control of a Wi-Fi thermostat, plus the savings of a programmable one, which can decrease
up to 10 percent of cooling and heating loads, to achieve lower electric and natural gas bills.
AMI allows a Time-of-Use rate structure, which will provide a price signal to the customer
when costs to provide energy are lower, therefore allowing for utility bill savings and
reducing system wide peak load.
Alignment between the smart meter and an in-home display unit will provide house usage
data to better understand electric use with appliances, heating equipment, technology, etc.
An AMI-data feed has been incorporated into forecasting tools provided to system operators,
which includes forecasted load reduction due to demand response. This tool enhances
situational awareness in the operation room allowing for more accurate dispatch of demand
response events (i.e. shorter duration). For instance, without AMI demand response events
control hours were between 150 – 200 hours, with AMI analytics Utilities demand response
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control hours are between 75 – 100 hours per year. This benefits the customer by
minimizing disruption of normal activities to manage load during peak periods. This tool is
also shared with Platte River Power Authority, with the intent of allowing their dispatchers to
fine-tune the generation resources based on the forecasted load reduction of upcoming
demand response events.
Utilities plans a campaign in 2017 to promote electronic bill enrollment with Monitor-My-Use to
increase participation to over 50% by 2020 in support of Road to 2020 goals.
If you need further clarification, please contact Lisa Rosintoski at lrosintoski@fcgov.com or call
416-2432.
Cc: Tim McCollough, Light & Power Operations Manager
Jon Haukaas, Water Engineering & Field Services Operations Manager
Lance Smith, Strategic Finance Manager
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