The Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) today said it is seeking comments from interested persons on potential minimum functionality standards and other criteria for advanced metering infrastructure.

In today's order, the MPSC noted that because Michigan utilities have plans to start AMI pilot programs this year that seek to deploy items such as remote meter reading, demand response programs, and other "smart grid" initiatives, guidance is needed to describe minimum functionality criteria and standards necessary for the rate recovery of this infrastructure development - especially because developments today will be a foundation for a continually evolving technology. 

Therefore, the MPSC is seeking comments from interested parties on those and related issues.  Some questions the MPSC will focus on include:  

·        Should the Commission prescribe functionality standards and criteria for AMI deployment approaches, technologies, and functions?

·        To what extent should advanced-metering technologies and functions be standardized and to what extent should utilities be able to select functions on behalf of customers? 

·        To what extent should standard protocols for the information produced by advanced meters be prescribed?

·        Should the Commission establish minimum functionality for the recovery of AMI investment by utilities?  The Commission is considering AMI minimum functionality guidelines that address:

o        remote software upgrade capability;

o        remote shut-off and turn on capability;

o        accommodation of net metering and distributed generation;

o        prepaid services options;

o        interoperability with future smart grid;

o        two-way connectivity with intelligent appliances and other enabling devices; and

o        customers' ability to monitor their energy use.  

·        In assigning possible deployment approaches and advanced-metering technologies and functions, how should the costs and benefits to utilities and customers be considered? 

·        The Commission is considering open-source, non-proprietary guidelines for advanced meters.  Have these systems been successfully implemented elsewhere?  If the Commission prescribes guidelines for open-source, non-proprietary systems, what should these guidelines say?

·        Should the Commission prescribe guidelines to deal with information transmission and storage issues?  Should it require a pilot project or gradual deployment of advanced meters, in recognition of the volume of information that the market participants will have available from advanced meters?

·        To what degree is the security of AMI a concern, and what level of security should be designed in the system?

Comments may be e-mailed to mpscedockets@michigan.gov   and documents in Word or PDF format may be attached to the e-mail message.  Comments may also be submitted electronically through the Commission's E-dockets Web site:  michigan.gov/mpscedockets .  Written comments should be mailed to the Executive Secretary, Michigan Public Service Commission, P.O. Box 30221, Lansing, MI 48909.  All comments should reference Case No. U-15620 and must be received by 5 p.m. on Aug. 1.  All information submitted to the Commission in this matter will become public information, available on the Commission's Web site, and subject to disclosure.

The MPSC is an agency within the Department of Labor & Economic Growth.

Case No. U-15620