Conservation and Demand Management Information Solution (CDM-IS) FAQ s

Transcription

1 Conservation and Demand Management Information Solution (CDM-IS) FAQ s This document is a living document that will be updated as frequently asked questions are raised with regards to the implementation of Conservation and Demand Management Information Solution (CDM-IS). Any questions or comments with regards to the information found within this document and/or on the CDM-IS Stakeholder Engagement website should be sent directly to the IESO Engagement at engagement@ieso.ca. General 1. What is the Conservation and Demand Management Solution (CDM-IS)? The Conservation and Demand Management Information Solution (CDM-IS) initiative will align IESO processes and systems with the new Conservation First Framework (CFF) and Industrial Accelerator Program (IAP) to achieve conservation goals. The new Conservation First Framework maps out Ontario s energy conservation goals between , emphasizing a coordinated effort within all stages of energy planning, as well as promoting more effective teamwork among sector partners, particularly in support of LDCs. The goal of the framework is a total reduction of 8.7 TWh of electricity consumption in Ontario by December, Why did the IESO decide to undertake this project? In response to the limiting functionality and lack of sustainability with existing tools and databases, the IESO has undertaken the provisioning of a centralized service with the intent of replacing the current icon 2011 system with a CDM-IS. The benefit of CDM-IS is that it will allow both the IESO and LDC users to leverage a central system that will improve transparency and access to data. This will ensure a reduction in costs associated with program design and implementation in addition to providing improved consistency of program definition and subsequent measurement across utilities. The deployment of a centralized service also increases consistent, accurate, and measurable energy savings through rapid adoption of programs and new technologies across all utilities while reducing time and cost associated with program planning, design, and deployment; as well as enabling a faster measurement and verification processes. 3. What is the scope of the project and how long will it take? Scope: Provisioning of Software as a Service environments; Modifying business processes to take advantage of the new solution; February 29, 2016 Page 1 of 5

2 Customization, Configuration, Testing and Historical Data Migration from the icon system; Training; and Ongoing Maintenance and Support. The CDM-IS project officially kicked-off January 11, 2016 and is anticipated to be complete within 12 months. 4. Does the CDM-IS project team include LDCs? The project team contains both IESO and LDC members and have been selected based on their subject matter expertise. Many of the LDCs who are members of the CDM-IS project team are also members of the Information System Sub-group (ISSG). 5. What is the release schedule for programs? Programs will be implemented in four quarterly releases as per the program prioritization matrix. 17 programs are scheduled to be implemented in 2016 with the Retrofit program being the first to be deployed. 6. Will the project team change for each release? What is the selection process for LDC team members? What is expected of LDC team members? Based on the program(s) being configured and implemented the subject matter expert(s) (SMEs) will differ for each release however the core project team members will remain the same. The project team consist of both IESO and LDCs many of whom are members of the of the Information System Sub-group (ISSG). Both IESO and LDC project team members are selected on their subject matter expertise and, availability. LDC project team members are expected to participate with defining and documenting requirements/user stories, assist with addressing requirement issues and decision and review and provide input into the configuration of the programs. 7. Which channels will IESO use to communicate information about this project? If I have questions or concerns how should I raise them with the project team? The IESO intends on using the CDM-IS Stakeholder Engagement (SE) website as the main vehicle for providing information about this project. In addition there is also an LDC e- blast that is published bi-weekly to the LDC community which also provides project information. February 29, 2016 Page 2 of 5

3 The project team encourages Stakeholders to send any comments or questions to the IESO Engagement at as we find their feedback valuable and key to the success of the project. 8. I have heard this solution called CDM-IS and ienergy DSM Central. What is the solution name and can you clarify the difference? Release 1 Conservation and Demand Management Information Solution (CDM-IS) is the initiative and solution that will align processes and systems with the new Conservation First Framework (CFF) and Industrial Accelerator Program (IAP) to achieve conservation goals. ienergy DSM Central is Nexant s software system, a market-leading demand side management (DSM) software system of record delivered via a Software as a Service (SaaS) model, comprising all hosting infrastructure, including software and hardware, support, and maintenance. ienergy DSM Central was purpose-built to serve as a single place for users to interact, track, manage, and report on program data. As a result, ienergy DSM Central will help streamline CDM program processes to support the Ontario Conservation First Framework and the roles and responsibilities of IESO and the LDCs within that framework. 9. Will CDM-IS Release 1 launch on March 31st? In response to feedback received from LDCs concerning adequate time to prepare for CDM-IS Go-Live, Release 1 will be rolled out in two stages. A soft launch of CDM-IS is targeted for April 4 with a go-live to follow (tentatively May 2). The soft launch will include the configured RETROFIT program, established roles and access permissions, data migration from icon, and foundational settlements & reporting. During the soft launch period (April 4 April 22) IESO/LDCs will be able to access the CDM-IS admin portal. LDCs will be strongly encouraged to perform the following activities during this period: Continue working with the RETROFIT application process and identify any defects Validate data migration Provide staff and service provider training Update relevant materials and website content Change impacted LDC tools February 29, 2016 Page 3 of 5

4 10. When will User Acceptance Testing (UAT) taking place for the Retrofit Program and who will be testing? User Acceptance Testing (UAT) sessions are scheduled to take place between February 29 - March 18, 2016 with members from the CDM-IS project team selected to participate. Testing will be conducted in a phased/iterative approach between IESO and LDC testers to ensure the highest level of accuracy when testing is performed. Testers contain both IESO and LDC members and have been selected from the CDM-IS project team to participate based on their subject matter expertise and those who actively participated in the Retrofit requirements gathering sessions that took place during the month of January. To allow for better collaboration and to optimize on addressing feedback as they occur it is preferred that testers be on-site (at the IESO Clarkson offices) during the testing timeframe however it is to note that testing times will vary depending on the role of the tester and may not require being on-site for the entire testing period. To be clear, testers volunteered to participate with UAT and it is assumed they have made arrangements to have their regular work covered during their absence. *A comprehensive test plan has been posted onto the CDM-IS Stakeholder Engagement site. Please refer to this document for additional information with regards to testing.* 11. What are Solution Trials? Solution Trials are similar to User Acceptance Testing (UAT) with the main difference being that the trials are open to all stakeholders within the Conservation First Framework and the general public whereas UAT is limited to the testers that are part of the CDM-IS project team. Solution Trials allow stakeholders the opportunity to test the solution based on the feedback/updates incorporated during the user acceptance testing. This can be done at the convenience of their home offices as long as they have access to the internet. Solution trials are scheduled to take place between March 21 st April 1 st. 12. What is Usability Testing? Usability testing involves bringing in participants individually to complete a task while a moderator watches and facilitates. Participants are encouraged to voice out loud their thoughts and questions about the task. Recording software will be used to capture the computer screen, and may be used to record their verbal narrative as well. The feedback from this testing will be compiled into a report that identifies areas that went well, areas that were difficult for participants, and some suggestions for improvement. February 29, 2016 Page 4 of 5

5 13. What is the plan with regards to training for Release 1? A detailed training plan has been posted onto the CDM-IS Stakeholder Engagement site. Please refer to this document for specific information with regards to training for Release 1 of CDM-IS. 14. Where will on-site training sessions be held? How long is each session? When will LDCs know details about dates and locations? When will registration open? Nexant in conjunction with the IESO will provide training on the ienergy DSM Central solution to LDCs on-site between April 4-22, Five (6) regional training sessions will be held for the following groups: GTA and Surrounding area LDCs KWCG area LDCs North-West and Central Ontario LDCs Niagara and Erie Region LDCs South-West Ontario LDCs Eastern Ontario LDCs. Each on-site training session will be 1 day in length A detailed training plan has been posted onto the CDM-IS Stakeholder Engagement site. Please refer to this document for specific information with regards to training for Release 1 of CDM-IS. 15. How will data be migrated from icon into CDM-IS and what quality assurance measures are in place verify the quality of the migration? A data migration plan has been posted onto the CDM-IS Stakeholder Engagement site. Please refer to this document for information with regards to data migration for the Retrofit Program (Release 1). February 29, 2016 Page 5 of 5