The Markets and Reliability Committee last week heard first reading on proposed deadline changes recommended by the Market Settlement Subcommittee. Assuming they clear the Market Implementation Committee Wednesday, the issues will be brought to an MRC vote at its next meeting Aug. 21.

Power Meter and InSchedule Deadlines

More than two-thirds of Market Settlement Subcommittee members polled supported the following changes:

o    Extending the deadlines for electric distribution companies (EDCs) to submit Power Meter and InSchedule data to address problems with reporting output for non-utility generators. The delay will allow a higher percentage of actual load data to be reported in InSchedule, particularly for EDCs with smart meters, and reduce the reconciliation adjustments.

• Power Meter deadlines would be extended by an hour effective Oct. 1.

o    Monday – Thursday Operating Days: Next business day @ 4 p.m. Eastern Prevailing Time (EPT)

o    Friday – Sunday Operating Days: Monday @ 4 p.m. EPT

• InSchedule deadlines would be extended by a day effective Oct. 1.

o    Monday – Thursday Operating Days: Two business days @ 4 p.m. EPT

o    Friday – Sunday Operating Days: Tuesday @ 4 p.m. EPT

o    Extending meter correction data deadlines by one month. The change would allow more time for generators and EDCs to gather data, improving accuracy of submitted corrections and reducing or eliminating later bilateral adjustments. PJM also would gain additional time to process and include the meter corrections in the bill.

o    Allowing load reconciliation data to be considered in balancing operating reserve (BOR) for deviation calculations, effective Jan. 1, 2015. The change will affect all participants with BOR deviations. Load reconciliation billing would be performed under the current 60-day schedule.

Capacity Charge Reconciliation

About 78% of Market Settlement Subcommittee members polled indicated support for a change to provide relief for Pennsylvania EDCs squeezed by PJM and Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission deadlines.

PJM requires EDCs to upload their Peak Load Contribution (PLC) and Network Service Peak Load (NSPL) data to eRPM 36 hours prior to the operating day. The Pennsylvania PUC issued an order in April requiring that EDCs switch customers to new energy suppliers within three business days of notification of the switch. Under the PUC’s previous rules, it took 11 to 40 days to switch electric suppliers.

The new rule gives EDCs only one day to update their records to recognize the change and correct the PLC and NSPL values, raising the possibility of retail suppliers receiving inaccurate capacity charges.

The subcommittee proposal would retain PJM’s 36-hour advance submission deadline but allow corrections to be made until noon the next business day.