LCRA Manages Meters and Interval Data in ERCOT

LCRA Manages Meters and Interval Data in ERCOT Tom Knutsen, LCRA SWEMA Corpus Christi, TX June 6, 2005 6 Jun 05

Lower Colorado River Authority • Wholesale only – 8 rural cooperatives – 33 municipal utilities – One anomaly Cap Rock Energy IOU – 30, 000 square miles 6 Jun 05 2

“Our” Colorado River 6 Jun 05 3

Wholesale Billing • LCRA bills its customers at the substation; our agreement is that ownership of electricity changes hands on the low side of the transmission transformer – Power arrives at transmission voltage – Power leaves at distribution voltage – Wholesale metering and billing have not changed 6 Jun 05 4

Value of Meter • “Everything stems from that meter working properly. That’s our foundation, it’s our measuring system, ” – Deena Hemphill, Cap Rock Energy 6 Jun 05 5

Solid State Interval Data Recorder • “Technology is now available that can track an intangible that cannot be stored. ” • Carolyn Kinsman, Automated Communications Links, Inc. 6 Jun 05 6

Metering and Data Changes • LCRA management decided to split generation and transmission functions physically in re-regulated environment • LCRA could no longer read and manage meters for Wholesale Customers’ Key Accounts – they are retail 6 Jun 05 7

LCRA and its Key Account Program • LCRA manages outside contractors for metering and data collection services for Customers’ Key Accounts • We adapted this set up to other markets 6 Jun 05 8

Metering and Data Services • LCRA offers meter services through Texas Meter and Device, Waco 6 Jun 05 9

Metering and Data Services • LCRA offers daily metering reading and data posting through Meter. Smart of Arlington, Texas 6 Jun 05 10

Key Account Data Flow 6 Jun 05 11

Key Accounts -- Education • Customers monitor their customers’ loads • End-Users plan operations and budgets 6 Jun 05 12

LCRA in Opted-In Area • LCRA owns three irrigation districts in AEP Texas Central Company • Since market opened, LCRA buys from another provider; AEP is Transmission and Distribution Service Provider (TDSP) 6 Jun 05 13

Three Irrigation Districts 6 Jun 05 14

Responsibilities • AEP owns, tests, and services meters • LCRA owns and oversees phone link • LCRA uses data 6 Jun 05 15

LCRA & AEP Texas Central Company 6 Jun 05 16

Value of Data • k. Wh / Ac. Ft by plant • k. Wh / Ac. Ft by pump • River Plant has 2 inefficient motors 6 Jun 05 17

LCRA in Austin • Until April 2003, LCRA’s energy use in Austin was netted vs. generation at shared plants • Transmission Services’ center now gets a bill 6 Jun 05 18

LCRA & Austin Energy 6 Jun 05 19

Communications “My allegiance goes to the first guy who shows me something that works. ” Leon Henderson, LCRA 6 Jun 05 20

We’re Guinea Pigs 6 Jun 05 21

Questions? 6 Jun 05 22