Oncor’s total distribution base revenues in the three months ended March 31, 2021 as compared to the prior year period increased 9.0% (1.6% increase on a weather normalized basis). The change in Oncor’s total distribution base revenues in the first quarter of 2021 included an increase in revenues from residential customers of 17.8% (1.2% increase on a weather normalized basis) and an increase in revenues from large commercial and industrial customers of 2.6% as compared to the first quarter of 2020. Financial and operational results are provided in Tables A, B, C and D below.
Winter Weather Storm Impact
In February, Oncor, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (“ERCOT”) market, and the state of Texas, experienced an unprecedented winter weather event. Over the course of storm restoration, as of March 31, 2021, Oncor had incurred approximately $90 million in operation and maintenance restoration costs, which were booked to a regulatory asset. As with any major storm, Oncor will seek recovery of these costs in a future rate proceeding. In addition, Oncor incurred approximately $12 million in capital expenditures and will seek recovery of these capital expenditures in future tracker filings.
As a result of financial impacts from the winter storm, certain retail electric providers (“REP”) filed for bankruptcy or transitioned customers to other REPs. Oncor has deemed certain charges owed by these REPs to be uncollectible. Oncor is entitled to book these REP uncollectible amounts to a regulatory asset and seek recovery in a future rate proceeding. At March 31, 2021, the amount of REP uncollectible amounts totaled $10 million.
Oncor Service Territory Growth
Despite the continued impacts of COVID-19, Oncor’s service territory continues to experience strong growth. In the first quarter of 2021, Oncor connected approximately 19,000 additional premises to the grid as compared to approximately 18,000 additional premises in the first quarter of 2020. Additionally, the growth across Oncor’s service territory required the construction or upgrading of approximately 277 miles of transmission and distribution lines.
As of March 31, 2021, Oncor had a total of 302 active requests for retail and generation transmission interconnection, representing a 26 percent increase in active transmission interconnection requests quarter-over-quarter. At quarter end, Oncor had a total of 44 new requests for transmission interconnection, representing an 83 percent quarter-over-quarter increase in new transmission interconnection requests. If new requests continue at this pace, Oncor projects it will set a company record for new annual transmission interconnection requests in 2021.
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