Questions and Answers
What is metered billing?
A pricing model in which you pay for a service only based on the level of usage.
What is metering of electricity?
A method of utilizing devices to measure the amount and direction of electrical energy flow.
Which of the following are key factors of metering and billing? (Select all that apply)
The _____ is connected between the grid and a junction point in a series connection configuration.
Signup and view all the answers
In a parallel connection configuration, all loads are metered by individual meters.
Signup and view all the answers
Time of Use (TOU) pricing has three periods: Off-peak, Mid-peak, and _____ period.
Signup and view all the answers
What is the purpose of the Global Adjustment in electricity billing?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the Ontario Electricity Rebate (OER)?
Signup and view all the answers
Tiered pricing allows customers to use a certain amount of electricity at a lower price before a higher price applies.
Signup and view all the answers
Study Notes
Metering of Electricity
- Metering is a method of utilizing devices to measure the amount and direction of electrical energy flow, particularly for end-use.
- Metering is a way of measuring the amount of physical quantity of electricity transmitted when activated by a powered device.
Metering and Billing
- Metered billing is a pricing model in which you pay for a service only based on the level of usage.
- The cost of a service might depend on time used, volume of data processed, or CPU cycles, depending on the type of service.
- Key concepts for PaaS (Platform as a Service) metering and billing include:
- Incoming and outgoing network bandwidth
- CPU time per hour
- Stored data
- High availability
- Monthly service charge
Smart Meters
- Smart meters are advanced metering infrastructure that can measure electricity consumption in real-time.
Utility Metering
- Utility metering refers to the measurement of electricity consumption for billing purposes.
- Types of connections:
- Series connection
- Parallel connection
- Series connection involves one meter connected between the grid and a junction point, and another meter connected between the junction point and one of the loads.
- Parallel connection involves each distinct load and/or generator connected directly to the grid through individual meters with no common interconnection on the non-grid side of the meters.
Types of Meters
- Single phase type meter: 120/240 V, single phase, 3 wire
- Three phase meter: 120/208 V, three phase, 4 wire; 347/600 V, three phase, 4 wire
Utility Metering Notes
- Only CSA approved meter sockets are to be used.
- Meter sockets shall be mounted so that the midpoint of the meter is set at 1700 mm.
- Where the supply is grounded, 600 V metering shall be 4 wire.
Meter Asset Stakeholders
- Asset Management: CIR filing, strategy based on metering requirements, manage GSP program, verify wholesale metering amounts
- Meter Operation and Data Management: meter installation, meter replacements, execute replacement programs, operate data acquisition systems, ensure accurate billing data
- Control Room / Dispatch: real-time power status check from smart meters, outage/restoration
- Billing: generate bills based on meter reads
- Vendors: Olameter, Trilliant, Optima, Rodan, Honeywell Elster, ITRON
Meter Data Flow
- Meter data flow involves the collection and processing of meter data for billing and other purposes.
Types of Electricity Rates
- Time of Use (TOU) rates
- Tiered rates
Time of Use Rates
- TOU rates vary depending on the time of day
- Off-peak hours: lowest demand, lowest price
- Mid-peak hours: moderate demand, moderate price
- On-peak hours: highest demand, highest price
Tiered Rates
- Tiered rates involve a certain amount of electricity at a lower price, with a higher price applying once the threshold is exceeded
- Threshold changes with the season to reflect changing usage patterns
History of TOU and Tiered Rates
- TOU rates introduced in 2010
- Tiered rates introduced in 2006
Billing - TOU
- TOU billing involves charging customers based on the time of day they use electricity
About TOU and Tiered Pricing under the Regulated Price Plan
- Both TOU and Tiered prices are set under the Regulated Price Plan (RPP)
- RPP is designed to provide stable pricing, encourage conservation, and ensure that the price customers pay for electricity better reflects the price paid to generators
Charges on the Bill
- Delivery charges:
- Customer Service Charge: fixed charge for costs related to meter reading, billing, customer service, and account maintenance
- Distribution Charge: variable charge for the cost of building and maintaining the distribution system
- Transmission Charge: variable charge for the costs of transmitters to operate and maintain the high-voltage transmission system
- Line Loss Adjustment: adjustment for power lost as it travels over the utility's power lines
- Regulatory Charges:
- Wholesale Market Service Charge: includes the cost of services provided by the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) to operate the wholesale electricity market and maintain the reliability of the high voltage power grid.### IESO and Regulatory Charges
- IESO purchases reserve electricity to restore balance on short notice
- IESO Administration Fee: a fee to manage high-voltage power system and operate wholesale electricity market in Ontario
- Fee covers costs for planning, generation, demand management, conservation, and transmission
- Rural and Remote Electricity Rate Protection (RRRP): a charge to offset higher costs of providing service to rural and remote areas
- Renewable Connections: recovery of costs for connecting renewable generation facilities (e.g., solar, wind)
- Standard Supply Service Charge: an administrative fee to cover costs for local utilities
Ontario Electricity Rebate (OER)
- Provided to eligible customers: households, farms, long-term care homes, and small businesses
- 17% rebate on the subtotal of the electricity bill, effective November 1, 2021
- Grandfathering period for consumers who were receiving the 8% rebate as of October 22, 2019, until October 31, 2022
Global Adjustment
- Difference between the guaranteed price for electricity generation and the money earned in the wholesale marketplace
- Covers costs of some conservation programs
- All electricity consumers pay a share of the Global Adjustment
- Included in Time-of-Use and Tiered electricity prices, or as a separate line on the bill for contract customers
- Calculation of Global Adjustment involves customer's peak demand factor and provincial GA cost
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
Description
This quiz covers the concept of metering in electrical grids, including how it works with distributed energy resources (DERs) and its relation to electricity bills.