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Thabo Mahlatsi

Automated Meter Reading in EMM: A Harsh Experience to cognize and apply technology to serve the needs of client and customers. Thabo Mahlatsi. Contents. Inception of AMR Visionary thinking in EMM From Concept to reality First years of AMR operation Problems in the second year

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Thabo Mahlatsi

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  1. Automated Meter Reading in EMM: A Harsh Experience to cognize and apply technology to serve the needs of client and customers Thabo Mahlatsi

  2. Contents • Inception of AMR Visionary thinking in EMM • From Concept to reality • First years of AMR operation • Problems in the second year • Understanding AMR • Further envisaged developments in the application of AMR • Conclusions

  3. Inception of AMR in EMM • What is AMR and should it do • 1998 – interaction between contractor and EMM engineer starts on the development of AMR

  4. From Concept to Reality • 2000 – first 30 large customers at 500kVa meters automated • 2000 amalgamation of 11 erstwhile authority to form EMM • Talks to Expand the AMR to customers in other region of EMM

  5. From Concept to Reality • AMR solution to manual and tedious meter operation • Solve errors made • Buy in of councilors and development of specifications • 2003 council approved expansion to other regions of EMM • Tender awarded

  6. First year of implementation of AMR • Contractor ran with the project • Tedious calculations of complex tariffs and billing customers minimized • Customers and council happy • Council engineers oblivious of the chaos belying the AMR problems

  7. Second year of implementation of AMR • Tender expires • Appointment of new contractor • The begin of chaos • Meter Communication Protocols becomes an issues • Extension of the previous contractor on a month to month basis

  8. Second year of implementation of AMR • Threats to the contractor • Protocols resolved- a sigh of relieve • Modems are wrong- headaches starts • CT/VT ratios are wrong therefore tariff multiplications is equally wrong • Meter records Zeros and what do the Zero reading imply

  9. Second year of implementation of AMR • Alluta continua • Problems with Communication medium • Council engineers at sixes and sevens • Every thing is wrong and therefore AMR does not work • Blame everything on the contractor

  10. Second year of implementation of AMR • Storm subsides once contractor and engineers communicate • Problem- contractual obligations limited contractor to do own the project as in previous contract • Communication began between contractor and council

  11. Second year of implementation of AMR • Council engineer grabbled with the AMR concepts and began to help the contractor where and when necessary • Problems of data integrity, meter and modem inter phase communication, data manipulation, understanding of complex tariffs structure and dedicated council personnel all helped to resolve the problems encountered

  12. Further developments of the AMR • Move from measurement of kVa and kWh • Include Power Quality Parameters- dips, voltage fluctuations, harmonics and total harmonics distortion • Present QOS data to both council and customers • Monitored compliance of both

  13. CONCLUSION • Application of AMR is not without problems • Understanding of the technology and ancillary equipment is a prerequisite • Perpetual monitoring of AMR operations is required • Constant communications between contractor and customer • Contract must be specific

  14. CONCLUSION • Defining the limits of the contractor and those of the client • Move abreast with the development of technology and ancillary equipment to enhance AMR operations

  15. ? CONCLUSIONS

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