September 6, 2017
Oncor – Sharyland Asset Swap
Workshop 2 - Q&A
Billing
Q1. Address the Payment/Remittance process for the last bill that will be sent to the REPs by Sharyland.
o Does the Payment go to the Sharyland bank account (e.g., 35 days later)?
A. Yes. Please continue to send payments to the Sharyland or the Sharyland-McAllen bank accounts.
o Does the Remittance go to the Sharyland DUNS Number/EDI Process?
A. Yes. Please continue to send remittances to the Sharyland or the Sharyland-McAllen EDI DUNS.
o Will Sharyland transition any customer account balances to Oncor?
A. No, REPs should work closely with Sharyland to ensure balances are –zero- within 35 days of the final bill.
Q2. In consideration of 820 Remittance Transactions, how long will Sharyland’s banking information remain active?
A. Sharyland expects to maintain the bank account for 90 days after the transaction between Oncor and Sharyland closes.
Q3. Will there be any changes to the Sharyland remittance process? How will SU process the final 810? Will remittance timelines remain the same?
A. Sharyland does not anticipate any changes to the remittance process. Sharyland will process the final 810 following its normal process and remittance timelines will remain unchanged.
Q4. How about the responsibility to maintain the cancel / rebill process described in Retail Market Guide, section 7.11.6(3)(h)?
A. As filed in the Joint STM proceeding, after the transaction with Oncor closes Sharyland will maintain financial responsibility for cancel/rebill amounts that are required for the period prior to the time that customers are transferred to Oncor. Sharyland will also preserve all historical meter data so any billing errors on Sharyland issued bills found after the transition to Oncor can be reviewed and corrected/refunded.
Q5. What is the proposed process for cancel rebills given the request for a good cause exception to the RMG?
A. Sharyland will continue to operate according to market guides until ESIIDs are de-energized and our CIS system decommissioned. This is anticipated to be 90 days after closing. After that time, Sharyland will be providing a point of contact for billing questions and concerns from our Regulatory staff.
Q6. Will Oncor’s Distribution Loss Factors (DLFs) be changing?
A. No. As a result of the transition, Oncor’s distribution loss factors will not be changing. The new Oncor ESI IDs created as the result of the Sharyland transition will be assigned the Oncor DLFs. In accordance with ERCOT Protocol 13.3(1), Oncor will provide ERCOT its annual distribution loss coefficients to be applied to distribution voltage level loads in its area of certification by October 30, 2017 for the 2018 calendar year.
Q7. Has Oncor reached a decision on the consideration of the 3500 kWh threshold in their determination of rate classification (secondary > 10 kW or secondary < 10 kW)?
A. Yes. Oncor will only review the most recent 12-months of demand for customers on Sharyland’s Secondary > 10 kW rate to determine if they should be moved to Oncor’s Secondary <= 10 kW rate after the transition. For determination of whether a customer should transition from Sharyland’s Secondary <=10 kW rate to Oncor’s >10 kW rate at the time of transition, Oncor will consider the 3500 kWh threshold in addition to the kW demand.
Q8. How will load profiles be assigned and transitioned with each ESI ID? Will the current profile transition or will a default load profile be utilized?
A. When Oncor creates the ESI IDs, a default load profile is always assigned according to the ERCOT Load Profiling Guide. Prior to the transition, Oncor plans to send 814_20s to update the load profile to match the Sharyland profiles.
Q9. Will Oncor retain the station IDs for Sharyland or will they assign new ones? Please confirm if there are any zone changes.
A. When Oncor creates the ESI IDs, a default station ID will be assigned. Prior to the transition, Oncor plans to send 814_20s to update the station ID to the correct Sharyland station ID. No zone changes are expected.
Q10. How will the information for the 2018 4CP billing determinant calculation for individual ESI IDs be maintained? How will this be accessed in the case of a dispute?
A. As part of the transition, Sharyland will provide Oncor with the interval data for their IDR ESI IDs. Oncor will use this data to establish the 4CP demand for each IDR ESI ID for 2018.
Transactions
Q11. Will there be a freeze period for switches?
A. Market discussion. See slide on Power Point deck.
Q12. Will there be a suspension of disconnects for non-payment (DNPs)?
A. Sharyland and Oncor recommend a suspension of DNPs for the five days immediately preceding the scheduled transition date to minimize the number of customers de-energized at the time of the transition.
Q13. If a REP is REP of Record for a customer with a current DNP status, how would transition be handled?
A. The transition is a read-only Move-in, therefore, if a customer is de-energized at the time of the transition, Oncor will leave them de-energized. It will be necessary for the REP to submit a DNP to Oncor after the ESI ID transitions in order to synch Oncor’s system with the actual condition of the premise.
Q14. Is it anticipated two ESIs will be active for the same address? Will the SU ESI be active and the Oncor ESI be de-energized?
A. It is not anticipated that two ESI IDs will be active for the same address if the REP submits the transactions according to the consensus process. The process requires the REP of Record to send a Move-out transaction to Sharyland with the same scheduled date as the Move-in transaction to Oncor, so the two ESI IDs will not be active simultaneously.
Q15. What actions will occur if REPs fail to send MVOs/MVIs during the 30-60 day transition period? POLR drop?
A. PUCT, ERCOT, Oncor and Sharyland will work with each REP in an attempt to assure Move-outs and Move-ins are submitted in a timely manner. At this time, a transition to POLR is not being considered.
Q16. How do we ensure that REPs do not submit Move-Ins without submitting corresponding Move-Outs becoming REPs of record twice for the same ESI-ID?
A. TDSPs cannot ensure REPs perform the necessary actions. On the daily transition calls, we will bring visibility to REPs who have not submitted the appropriate transactions. It should be noted that if a REP fails to submit a Move-out to Sharyland when they submit the Move-in to Oncor, they will be shown and settled as the REP of Record for both ESI IDs until they submit the Move-out.
Q17. Is there a cut off date for move-ins to current Sharyland ESI IDs? If so, is this a fixed date or a rolling date based on cycle?
A. No, not for true Move-ins (new customer actually wants to move-in).
Q18. If a true MVO (customer actually wants to move out) is to occur on the scheduled transition date, should a REP contact the SU Call Center at 1-800-442-8688 to report?
A. Yes.
Q19. Do there need to be any special considerations for the MVO/MVIs on guard lights?
A. No.
Q20. Will a spreadsheet with key dates (ex. when are we not doing switches) be provided?
A. Yes.
Q21. Will there be a cross reference list that ABC’s can get once ONCOR assigns new ESIID’s to Sharyland accounts? We will need this list to update our records so moving forward we can assist our customers with their questions and renewals.
A. We plan to place a list that cross-references the Oncor and Sharyland ESI IDs in the secure area of the ERCOT MIS. Market Participants will need a digital certificate to access it.
Q22. Oncor is targeting the end of September to provide a complete list of all new corresponding ESIs to the market. What information will be provided at that time? (e.g. address, old Sharyland ESI, new Oncor ESI)? When will the new Oncor ESIs be posted to the TDSP extract file available for download?
A. Once Oncor creates the ESI IDs and submits the 814_20s, the ESI IDs will be available on Oncor’s TDSP extract file.
The following information will be available on the cross reference list:
· Sharyland ESI ID
· Oncor ESI ID
· Address
· Oncor Meter Cycle Number
· Sharyland Meter Cycle Number
· Transition Date (date wanted for the move-in and move-out)
Q23. REPs requested “one list” of REP-specific ESIs with rate classification and transition date (MR cycle) to be provided “closer to transition”. When does Oncor plan to provide?
A. Oncor intends to post the ESI ID cross reference list on or before September 30, 2017. This cross reference list will not include the Oncor rate code assignment. Prior to the start of the transition, Oncor will provide rate code information to the respective REP of Record for each ESI ID.
Q24. If an actual meter reading is unavailable on the scheduled transition date, will the meter read be estimated?
A. Oncor intends to use an actual meter reading for the transition to the extent possible.
Q25. Will Oncor have all the meter/ESIID data on the 814_05 or will there be 814_20s generated after MVI with Oncor?
A. Oncor plans to include the premise characteristics of a new premise on the 814_05 such as the station ID, meter cycle, load profile and distribution loss factor. The meter data will be sent on 814_20s and included in the 867_04.
Q26. If future dated transactions will be unexecuted via an 814_28 (e.g., a MVI on a Sharyland ESI post transition to Oncor), will the 814_28 be coded specifically indicating the transaction will need to be submitted on new Oncor ESI?
A. Sharyland will use the unexecute code T018-Other and state “Submit to Oncor” in the REF03.
Q27. How will pending and future dated service requests be handled during the transition?
A. 650 service order transactions scheduled for a date beyond the transition date will be unexecuted and the REPs will need to resubmit them to Oncor.
Q28. Is it possible for a REP to receive the Oncor ESI ID for a current Sharyland customer with a future dated transaction?
A. Oncor intends to post the cross reference list on or before September 30, 2017. The REP can use the list to determine what transactions for Oncor ESI IDs will need to be submitted.
Q29. How far in advance of the transition date will the REP of Record and CSA CR receive the transition plan outlined in RMG Sec 7.11.7(1)(i)?
A. Oncor plans to post the transition plan as outlined in the RMG Sec 7.11.7(1)(i) on or before September 30, 2017.
Q30. Will REPs receive a master list of all ESI IDs where they are REP of Record or CSA CR or individual lists in advance of each billing cycle/transition date? We would prefer both.
A. Oncor plans to post the cross reference list on or before September 30, 2017. Additionally, the current plan is for ERCOT to provide each REP of Record a cross reference list of their ESI IDs on a schedule yet to be determined. ERCOT will provide each CSA REP of Record a list of their CSA ESI IDs prior to the beginning of the transition.
Q31. How will CSAs stack in the timeline? When will CSA CRs be required to delete existing CSA and be able to establish on the new ESI IDs? Can CSAs be established before the move-in?
A. We request CSA REPs to delete their CSA agreements on Sharyland ESI IDs prior to the start of the transition. CSA REPs are encouraged to establish CSA agreements on the Oncor ESI IDs as soon as the cross reference list is provided.
Q32. If a customer currently has a DPP switch-hold and the switch-hold is removed to allow for the transition, when will the REP be able to submit a new switch-hold on the account?
A. The Move-out sent to Sharyland will remove any switch hold. The REP may submit a new DPP switch hold once they become the REP of Record with Oncor.
MarkeTraks
Q33. What process will be used to resolve in flight IGLs involving Sharyland customers?
A. The gaining CR will be financially responsible for inadvertently gained ESI IDs if the backdated MVI has not been completed at the time of the transition. Sharyland is currently working on approximately 10 inadvertent issues; REPs are asked to work closely with Sharyland staff to resolve IGLs as soon as possible.
Q34. What process will be used to resolve active MarkeTraks pre and post transition? To be closed within 100 days post deal closing? How will MarkeTrak issues be cleaned up prior to the transition?
A. All transactional MarkeTraks, such as inadvertent gains and cancel with approvals, will have to be completed or cancelled at the time of the ESI ID’s transition. Billing MarkeTrak’s, such as disputes, will be resolved as soon as possible after the transition by Sharyland.
Outage Reporting
Q35. How long will Sharyland’s outage number be available post transition?
A. The Sharyland outage number, 1-800-545-4513, will transition to Oncor. At this time, we cannot provide a date certain as to when that number will be disconnected. However, it will not be disconnected before all premises have been added to Oncor’s Outage Management System in 2018. Sharyland customers may call either Sharyland’s outage number or Oncor’s outage number, 1-888-313-4747, to report outages.
Historical Usage Requests
Q36. How will the 12 months of historical data for the ESI-IDs being transitioned as described in the Retail Market Guide, section 7.11.6(g) be handled? Will the TDSPs ask for relief from this requirement? Does ERCOT have a need for these? How will REPs request and get this data even if it is available? Has Oncor determined if at least 12 months of former Sharyland customer historical usage will be available to Market participants?