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ORDER NO. PSC -2018 -0435 -TRF -EI DOCKET NO. 20180088 -El PAGE 2 (small commercial) customers is set to begin in November 2018. Upon completion of the deployment, expected by December 2021, smart meters will become DEF's standard meter. Associated with the AMI project is meter communication infrastructure needed to enable communication with the meters and DEF's information technology system. DEF's current meters are Automated Meter Reading (AMR) meters that emit a radio frequency signal. That signal is picked up once a month by a meter reading vehicle driving by the neighborhood. DEF installed the AMR meters in 2005 and 2006 and states that at the time there was no public opposition to the AMR meter deployment. In the last five years, DEF has received a small number of complaints regarding radio frequency transmission, which is similar between the AMR and AMI smart meters. In all complaints so far, the AMR meter was retained as Duke does not have an opt -out tariff. However, DEF stated that some customers specifically requested an opt -out option and a meter that emits no radio frequency signal. DEF anticipates that some customers will elect to forego the new AMI smart meters and request a non-communicating meter; therefore, DEF filed the instant petition and associated opt - out tariff. The opt -out tariff is applicable to customers that request a non-communicating, i.e., non-standard, meter and includes an initial one-time set-up fee of $96.34 and a monthly surcharge of $15.60. The requested charges are based on DEF's incremental costs to provide the opt -out tariff. We approved a similar opt -out tariff and charges ($89.00 one-time set-up fee, $13.00 monthly surcharge) for Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) in 2015.3 Several municipal electric utilities, City of Lakeland and Orlando Utilities Commission, and rural electric cooperatives, Sumter Electric, Talquin Electric, Tri -County Electric, and Peace River, also provide optional opt -out tariffs. On April 18, 2018, DEF waived the 60 -day file and suspend provision per Section 366.06(3), Florida Statutes (F.S.). DEF responded to several Commission staff data requests on May 3, June 4, June 20, and July 17, 2018. On May 23, 2018, DEF provided revised tariff sheets reflecting a minor correction. On July 23, 2018, DEF provided revised tariff sheet No. 6.400 to include language that an opt -out customer who already has a non-communicating meter installed would not be required to pay the $96.34 one-time set up fee. The legislative version of the revised opt -out tariff sheet No. 6.400 is shown in Attachment A to this Order.4 We have jurisdiction pursuant to Sections 366.03, 366.04, 366.05, and 366.06, F.S. Decision DEF is offering this opt -out tariff ahead of AMI deployment after reviewing the experiences of other utilities with their customers and smart meters. In its petition, the Utility states that FPL began deploying smart meters in 2010, but received customer complaints regarding smart meters and subsequently filed a petition for an opt -out tariff in August 2013. 3 Order No. PSC-15-0026-FOF-EI, issued on January 7, 2015, in Docket No. 130223 -EI, In re: Petition for approval Of optional non-standard meter rider, by Florida Power & Light Company. 4 DEF's petition included other non -substantive tariff changes that have not been attached to this order. lq-�_