[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6262614,"mediaKeyId","3113207-4676a898508a4d23c0af1a5534655dba","parentId",3113207,"title","Stakeholders urge CPUC harmonization of data formats, sampling rules and re‑examination of NEM exclusion","audioSeconds",9415,"startMs",3320000,"endMs",12735000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3113207-4676a898508a4d23c0af1a5534655dba&start=3320&end=12735","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3113207-4676a898508a4d23c0af1a5534655dba/thumbnail_3320000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6262614/California/Stakeholders-urge-CPUC-harmonization-of-data-formats-sampling-rules-and-reexamination-of-NEM-exclusion","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6262614-61c29cf4a1978f4c09200aee5eac8ff0/orig.mp4?Expires=1770751743&Signature=CIe-3KuNf8ohE~OojQW~Hn0x1K2KDcOl5Ob4ru~rmEf~AqW5KGuXmjf7kwNtlw~8xtKHldsANpUgALjRLT8lF-tVD-QzB1FNcxwO8TMr99zxJoDZ0JF0tRf~EbLboqwJIzDFKn7sf1CRPczLJMBFotQQa-pogCFeS~rHTRCeAHw8ffK0XOxScn8--okrnZ9honSrG~Q~wCfsCs77FeXmlafiN9VY38cUAZ4og7LzcmlHhOynEBu6MUZ9k7l58y8iIGCD0oPebQ9F0prO~GtSmBxmwLKbhO8ex9dxQYP0KDHlvYDCPg2Tc6CupsSS380fscEjMe5bc208MeP0aVZZVQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","California Public Utilities Commission","date","2025-04-24T21:21:50.13Z","article","Industry and utility participants pressed the California Public Utilities Commission for clearer, harmonized rules covering data format, secure transfer and device certification, and called for a targeted review of the decision that excludes NEM customers from submetering.

SDG&E project manager James McCloskey described the operational exchanges his billing system expects: “there's effectively 3 CSV files of note, 2 that are inbound and 1 that is picked up by the EVSP … the inbound 1 is the meter data file that's used for billing. And then there's an enrollment file … and then we have an enrollment response.” McCloskey said SDG&E implemented secure file transfers (SFTP) for daily file pickup and that CSV/SFTP is a baseline that allowed the utility to build automated enrollments for single‑customer (S‑core) use cases.

On data formats and security

The transcript shows differing stakeholder preferences for standardized machine‑readable formats: the CPUC’s submetering protocol references ESPI (the PEV profile of the Energy Service Provider Interface) as one option, while utilities and vendors have used CSV files and SFTP or considered API approaches. McCloskey argued that CSV/SFTP is a pragmatic baseline for broad participation, while APIs and TLS‑based exchanges are technically feasible for more sophisticated participants. He said the utilities do not generally share personally identifiable information in the transfers because customer identifiers are aliased in the MDMA enrollments.

On certification and sampling

MDMAs and vendors asked the CPUC to reconsider the burden of annual field sampling and certification. Vendors noted that many commercial metering programs employ long recertification intervals (for sealed, certified meters) and said annual sampling imposes high per‑device costs when MDMA meter counts are small. SDG&E and other IOU speakers emphasized the utilities’ responsibility to ensure billing accuracy and said they will validate data quality and provide feedback to MDMA partners.

On NEM exclusion

Multiple participants urged the CPUC to revisit the decision that excludes NEM customers from submetering. Vendors argued that the exclusion prevents sites with rooftop solar or storage from participating even when separate submeter subtraction could be performed accurately. GridTractor and other MDMA speakers said the exclusion reduces addressable markets and urged a carefully scoped review to allow submetering arrangements for NEM customers where the metrology and data flows can ensure correct billing and exported‑energy accounting.

Ending

Stakeholders recommended the CPUC adopt a pragmatic, layered approach: accept CSV/SFTP as a baseline interchange format for MDMA integration, allow secure API/TLS options for advanced participants, convene a working group on sample‑plan and certification intervals that considers MDMA scale, and open a targeted review of the NEM exclusion to permit limited, verifiable submetering use cases.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Submetering and Telematics Workshop 04/17/2025","oneSentenceSummary","In discussion panels IOUs and vendors asked the CPUC to align data formats (ESPI vs CSV/SFTP), clarify acceptable transport protocols, and reconsider annual sampling and the exclusion of net energy metering customers from submetering. SDG&E described the practical CSV/SFTP files it needs to onboard MDMA partners.","taxTitle","California Public Utilities Commission, Boards and Commissions, Executive, California","taxId",77657,"location","California","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6262618,"Telematics vendors press for telematics pathway in non‑rate programs; EPRI testing and NIST standards proposed as next steps",1637,8924000,10561000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3113207-4676a898508a4d23c0af1a5534655dba&start=8924&end=10561","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3113207-4676a898508a4d23c0af1a5534655dba/thumbnail_8924000.jpg","/articles/6262618/California/Telematics-vendors-press-for-telematics-pathway-in-nonrate-programs-EPRI-testing-and-NIST-standards-proposed-as-next-steps","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6262618-adcb58acc2893a36eca5051ed0b972ea/orig.mp4?Expires=1770751743&Signature=ZIdMMD0YG40dQHtwMhMzerrrrXaDOVfCjAQqywxtK1k7HjK~BaluBG2b4e4RW18mA688ka4wGLqzPTnOjIoSXaFhSTkS0PmFrParyNI1nfIGxEbOE6c1gobC-xGRFFKme~rwREgWvRnGSKgavVn4O4xRs3JQ7iMwpyelVeghEwum1Ra9CjbWqM2Prrc~y8QDlK7PBk0QTmAU2wQ6xJ5pr6RG0bGjKzrEc-vBkWpufDQrbkaU9GPXlsGBRh~0o9mU~d41XZS2cnCC0doUc5N8FwmTHpz-9Go8alG77VsaIvm1UE2gxnDWZmg8iXtVAH8vGuRRqTAymJ-NDFwWGgn~wg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Telematics providers, auto industry representatives and managed‑charging platforms told the CPUC workshop that telematics already supports successful load‑management pilots and should be explicitly permitted — and standardized — for program use while a longer‑term, scalable protocol for billing is developed.

“Most of today’s telematics capabilities were not purpose built for revenue‑grade use cases,” said Zack Wiggin of the Vehicle Grid Integration Council (VGIC), describing EPRI’s recent testing effort as a useful step. He noted the EPRI work developed a testing protocol and found variability across configurations; however, in at least one test case the telematics‑derived readings closely tracked reference meters.

“We want to be able to make sure there’s an easy way to enroll customers and measure performance for these programs,” Wiggin said. He urged the CPUC to allow telematics participation in non‑rate program pathways and recommended the Early Load Reduction Program (ELRP) explicitly permit telematics enrollments so that program administrators can use the approach while a long‑term protocol is developed.

Authorized vs. unauthorized integrations

Matthias (WeaveGrid) and other telematics platform speakers emphasized a distinction between authorized OEM integrations (documented APIs or custom partner integrations) and unauthorized approaches that rely on customer credentials or reverse‑engineered endpoints. “Direct authorized is very different,” a WeaveGrid presenter said, explaining authorized integrations enable more reliable data streams and facilitate improved enrollments and operational controls.

Speakers proposed near‑term and long‑term steps: near term, CPUC clarification allowing telematics in non‑rate programs (for example, ELRP subgroup A5) and pilot testing; long term, adoption of an accuracy standard (VGIC suggested aligning with NIST Handbook 44’s revenue‑grade thresholds: roughly 1% lab / 2% field) and a geotagging approach (CARB/LCFS precedent for 110‑meter home/220‑meter nonresidential geofences) to assign charging to locations for billing. Vendors argued that once a clear accuracy target exists, automakers and telematics providers can converge on solutions.

Ending

Telematics proponents urged the CPUC to treat telematics as a complementary pathway to EVSE‑based submetering: allow immediate program use where appropriate, fund testing to characterize accuracy across makes/models, and adopt clear technical and accuracy milestones that automakers and platforms can target.","Industry groups and telematics vendors told the CPUC workshop that vehicle telematics are already being used effectively in managed‑charging programs, urged the CPUC to permit telematics in non‑rate programs like ELRP, and proposed accuracy and geotagging guidance to support long‑term use for rates and billing.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6262623,"MDMA vendors say commercial submetering can save fleets; NEM exclusion and certification costs hinder wider adoption",2181,5443000,7624000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3113207-4676a898508a4d23c0af1a5534655dba&start=5443&end=7624","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3113207-4676a898508a4d23c0af1a5534655dba/thumbnail_5443000.jpg","/articles/6262623/California/MDMA-vendors-say-commercial-submetering-can-save-fleets-NEM-exclusion-and-certification-costs-hinder-wider-adoption","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6262623-05905dcf116cc61786bc92b85804eedc/orig.mp4?Expires=1770751743&Signature=aFZ-R7hTE7mbFSqQQFvIBbCcZpTal8DAQoO1D4bfOcnmvlCPWgdJTh~U4iaKNX7Hw8e2rLuzgd0Ptji2~x7XTbevcBFuDBfKJX1zTxXR1gnYjZSysQRrVUNdtfBw5phyvnYY8PiNlFivmLoYXbcDTQbN54-zay15wPKN87~46leFnnvvWFBnxKkCNjtOKaX50GmoXK8r9ufVxlUpZSwTwBfWnzXtz9jIaZ85nzK2jvFJMWiF3BGm~gFPdZawn7F0OnH98IHSlXgAFbUOwwZek~DnaATZBz7fgM6LWdXeTMlnF35aK4V43D9dT9sa5cTjjHiwLis4HgYDH3Ue7mNxYg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","MDMA representatives and commercial charge‑management vendors described use cases where submetering delivers clear value for fleet, workplace and commercial hosts, but warned that policy and certification choices are shrinking the feasible market.

“Customers want to be able to reduce their electricity costs,” said Zack Lee, director of research and development at PowerFlex, which manages large, commercial charging portfolios. Lee presented portfolio examples showing annual energy‑cost savings of about $72,000 (roughly 65%) for a workplace customer and about $55,000 for a fleet customer. He argued these savings create a commercial case for submetering at medium and large sites and suggested MDMA business models should route a large share of the per‑kilowatt‑hour benefit to drivers while preserving a portion for site hosts and MDMA operators.

David Myers of GridTractor described the practical hurdles his company faced becoming the first MDMA through the approval processes. “It took us a year from our first inquiry,” he said, describing long lead times to find an approved external submeter and to integrate with utility systems. Myers emphasized that the ecosystem for external submeters is not mature the way utility meter supply chains are, creating procurement and testing frictions.

NEM exclusion and device certification

Multiple MDMA speakers urged the CPUC to review the decision that currently excludes customers on net energy metering (NEM) tariffs from submetering. GridTractor and others said the NEM exclusion prevents many otherwise‑eligible sites — particularly those with solar or storage — from participating even when a technical subtraction of a submeter’s export/charging data is feasible.

Vendors also criticized certification and sampling requirements. MDMA representatives said utilities’ requests for annual field sampling and certification create high recurring costs; by contrast they said CTEP (third‑party metrology oversight) typically uses a 10‑year recertification interval for sealed meters. MDMA speakers said utilities’ current sampling plans are appropriate for very large meter populations but impose onerous per‑device costs when MDMA meter counts are small.

Business models and partnerships

PowerFlex and GridTractor both outlined partnership models: MDMA software or a charge point operator can operate the submeter account, bill drivers directly or share savings with site hosts. Vendors said embedded‑meter (EVSE‑integrated) approaches could reduce hardware cost and retrofit complexity but that existing chargers and platforms may lack the full set of data fields MDMA platforms need. They called for a CPUC working group to align device, reporting and metrology requirements — and to clarify whether NEM/exclusion rules can be modified for specific, well‑defined cases.

Ending

MDMA operators and charge‑management vendors told the CPUC that commercial customers represent a near‑term market where savings justify investment, while residential applications remain marginal unless hardware, certification and MDMA cost structures change. Vendors urged a targeted review of NEM exclusions, certification frequency, and a national‑level, or at least statewide, alignment of device and data standards to lower barriers and speed adoption.","Meter data management agents and charge‑management vendors told the CPUC workshop that submetering offers meaningful savings for commercial and fleet customers but that the CPUC decision’s exclusion of net energy metering customers, high certification/sampling costs and uncertain MDMA revenue models are blocking scale.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6262627,"PG&E, SCE and SDG&E report partial submetering rollouts; automation, vendor interest remain challenges",2220,1049000,3269000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3113207-4676a898508a4d23c0af1a5534655dba&start=1049&end=3269","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3113207-4676a898508a4d23c0af1a5534655dba/thumbnail_1049000.jpg","/articles/6262627/California/PGE-SCE-and-SDGE-report-partial-submetering-rollouts-automation-vendor-interest-remain-challenges","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6262627-d00ef8c071c8673e755e9bc94b00d484/orig.mp4?Expires=1770751743&Signature=BGNHFVDT~kX32XQeIP0NoPd3cOsLoZDFPP--g6jiZ5za83koaHrD3rHERhy44vKSMAQIHoBRnGBSeqaNk02uEUUX4fXrnEB9d5nuyXolVCQuG11RrDE5HYcuFzTDtPNVhaoWkQaJT15qR2KCGb7jL5jMM3JtlhDTKTa4YezwrKnXoR83ayKMQIaNa-0j2xTJbmyBjqPobqc45BbGaFF5itw2TT4hL8ZKGp5YpL~~bcElTTGoRR9V1pNxPp2sshvbINlDMDOjP0Az72J2UYDUzJDesG--UoXY9g6x44zXIg8ePkOFpQEe76FlB3xKkzNrPG0iEKb9vA1r6OP-065Deg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representatives of California’s three largest investor-owned utilities reported progress and remaining obstacles in implementing the CPUC’s submetering protocol, but said full automation and broad vendor participation are not yet in place.

“I'm Ben Motherstead. I am the program lead at PG&E for the submetering program,” said Ben Motherstead, describing PG&E’s direction to have “a fully automated billing system ready by the end of 2024” that was delayed by the utility’s billing modernization work. He said PG&E has implemented a partial automation solution and expects the interim approach to be ready by mid‑year (date not specified). Motherstead emphasized that PG&E views submetering as part of a broader vehicle‑grid integration portfolio and cited pilot results showing load shifting and high customer satisfaction.

Aaron Dyer of Southern California Edison said SCE has an approved equipment Approved Product List (APL) and has been working to qualify Meter Data Management Agents (MDMAs). “We have 1 fully active currently, Grid Tractor. We have 2 that are in the pipeline,” Dyer said, adding that outreach has produced interest from roughly 40–50 potential MDMA candidates but relatively few completed applications. He told the workshop SCE updated its billing systems for a hybrid billing approach and secured an extension for full automation implementation to 2026.

San Diego Gas & Electric said it completed the billed system buildout and enrollment flows on schedule and is ready to onboard MDMA partners. “We've built out our billing system to accept the MDMA data … and we've built out our enrollment process,” said James McCloskey, SDG&E senior project manager. McCloskey said SDG&E had little need to spend manual‑billing or marketing funds because, so far, no MDMA partners have completed integration; enrollments remain automated where customers enroll via a single‑customer (S‑core) flow, while the multiple‑customer (M‑core) scenario still requires manual handling.

Why progress is partial

Utility speakers identified three recurring constraints: (1) high upfront metering costs and differing meter types; (2) limited MDMA interest because vendors find customer enrollment and revenue models uncertain; and (3) integration and internal IT prioritization delays. Motherstead cited Nexant Phase 2 pilot cost estimates (reported in 2018) of roughly $1,500–$3,000 per metering installation as a barrier to residential offerings and urged the CPUC and stakeholders to consider lower‑cost metering alternatives such as smart circuit breakers or CT clamp solutions.

Dyer described an operating challenge inside utilities: vendor integrations are infrequent, so IT teams must “relearn” the integration process for each MDMA candidate, which stretches timelines. McCloskey said SDG&E’s implementation covers the three minimal data flows the utilities expect — enrollment, enrollment response, and meter data — and that SFTP‑based CSV transfers are the baseline that has been implemented.

Who is being targeted

All three IOUs said commercial customers and low‑port‑count commercial deployments are currently the most promising early adopters. SDG&E and SCE noted that many make‑ready and dedicated‑service programs already require separate metering for larger deployments, so submetering is most likely to add value where customers prefer to stay on existing service panels (for example, small commercial sites or multifamily owners with shared parking).

What the utilities say they need

Speakers asked for clearer, standardized device and data requirements and urged stakeholders and the CPUC to consider a path that allows flexibility for emerging metering technologies. Motherstead called for CPUC and industry cooperation to refine goals for submetering so it can be an enabling technology for managed charging and deeper VGI rather than solely a separate billing mechanism.

Ending

Utility project leads said the work completed to date positions the IOUs to onboard customers when MDMA partners do complete integrations, but they urged the CPUC and vendors to address the cost, standardization and MDMA onboarding obstacles that are preventing scalable residential enrollments and broader vendor participation.","At a CPUC workshop on submetering, program leads from Pacific Gas & Electric, Southern California Edison and San Diego Gas & Electric said they have built billing and enrollment systems but face delays to full automation, limited MDMA vendor interest and cost barriers for residential deployments.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Stakeholders urge CPUC harmonization of data formats, sampling rules and re‑examination of NEM exclusion

Telematics vendors press for telematics pathway in non‑rate programs; EPRI testing and NIST standards proposed as next steps

MDMA vendors say commercial submetering can save fleets; NEM exclusion and certification costs hinder wider adoption

PG&E, SCE and SDG&E report partial submetering rollouts; automation, vendor interest remain challenges