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Automatic Meter Reading

Hunt?. SpreadSprectrum?. Turtle?. RF?. RJ11?. Archnet?. Nexus?. BPL?. Cellnet?. AI?. Maxstream?. TWACS?. SilverSpring?. Fiber?. Wireless?. FireFly?. MasterMeter?. Intranet?. TCP/IP?. IR?. PLC?. Internet?. WiFI?. RS232?. Automatic Meter Reading. Selecting the Technology.

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Automatic Meter Reading

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  1. Hunt? SpreadSprectrum? Turtle? RF? RJ11? Archnet? Nexus? BPL? Cellnet? AI? Maxstream? TWACS? SilverSpring? Fiber? Wireless? FireFly? MasterMeter? Intranet? TCP/IP? IR? PLC? Internet? WiFI? RS232? Automatic Meter Reading Selecting the Technology Dave Hallquist Vermont Electric Cooperative

  2. Why Do AMR? • Billing and Meter Reading Benefits • Reduce Meter Read Costs • Reduce Error • Eliminate Entry Liability • Eliminate Member Complaints about Meter Readers • Improve Billing Flexibility • Improve Financial Predictability • Reduce HR issues

  3. Other AMR Benefits Carefully select the technology, there is more to AMR than reading meters.

  4. Rates • Rate Setting has been more of an art than a science • AMR allows detailed analysis of peak demands – critical to setting rate structures by class • Reduces the tension between residential commercial and industrial As Vermont Public Interest Research Group has charged “The poor residential ratepayers are subsidizing big business!”

  5. System Planning • System load studies often use gross assumptions (i.e. – 1.1kw/home). This can result in substantial errors as VEC has found certain substation residential home loads are significantly higher, while others are significantly lower • Unusual spot load growth have caught utilities by surprise • R-T AMR provides the local data to significantly improve the accuracy of system planning

  6. Load Control • Many systems provide optional load control packages • R-T AMR enables verification of load control • R-T AMR enables significant flexibility in load control • By using a greater number of shorter off times, member satisfaction with load control programs is markedly improved

  7. Phase Balancing • Phase loading is typically done once in a lifetime on many systems • Retro versus pro-active • AMR shows what phase each meter is on • Results: • Better system balancing • Improved transformer efficiency • Greater safety for line personnel

  8. Voltage Profiles • R-T AMR allows flexibility in time buckets for analyzing member issues • Accurate voltage analysis' can identify connectivity issues • Improved member satisfaction (implicit versus explicit needs) • Identify voltage sag issues • I-D neutral problems early to prevent member equipment failure (burn out resulting from excessive voltage)

  9. Voltage Profile

  10. Voltage Profile

  11. Load Profile • R-T AMR allows flexibility in time periods for profiles • Good for managing high bill complaints • Commercial and Industrials can use system to reduce peak demand charges

  12. Load Profile

  13. Transformer Sizing • AMR transformer studies reveal sizing issues • Prevents transformer failures due to members’ lack of planning • Correct transformer sizing reduces line loss cost • Elimination of electric heat left many transformers oversized

  14. Load Profile for Transformer

  15. Distribution Automation • R-T AMR infrastructure can often be used for SCADA • Many companies have interfaces for SCADA equipment • AMR communications is lower cost than dedicated (fiber, copper, radio)

  16. Outage Restoration • R-T AMR is a very powerful tool when combined with an Outage Management System (OMS) and Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system • Predictive feature of OMS eliminates need for ticket sorting • IVR reduces call volume by 80% with significant improvements in member satisfaction • Combined with Map Presentation program (Mapview, Arcview) provides dispatch with visual outage tracking • Eliminates need to call member to verify outage has been restored

  17. Connect and Disconnect • R-T AMR allows for “soft” disconnect without additional infrastructure • Great for move in / move out • Disconnect devices available for many product platforms • Devices are plug-in; underneath the meter • Allows for disconnect from the office

  18. Load Controlat Florida Powerand Light (FPL) Load Control Device Mounted to control a Water Heater and an Air-Conditioner at a Florida Power andLight (FPL) Customer’sHome

  19. Billing • Significantly improves billing predictability • Eliminates ties to read schedules that are based on meter routes • Reduces outstanding receivables by reducing billing lead-time • Virtually eliminates mis-reads and requisite member revisits • Allows for industrials/commercials to close monthly books earlier

  20. Time of Use (TOU) Billing • R-T AMR simplifies TOU reading and billing process • Allows for multiple TOU rates • Load shifting a good strategy for reduction of system coincident peaks thus reducing power supply cost • Allows for tailored incentive programs • Many utilities have reduced system peak by 10%

  21. Customer Service • No longer tell member to “check the meter” • Find out about outage before member calls • No need to call member to verify restoration • With IVR and OMS, member can get outage status anytime • Turn Customer Service Reps into usage experts through usage profile • Make the moving process easy for your members • Minimize the ‘hand-offs’ to improve the member experience

  22. Potential R-T AMR Savings

  23. VEC ROI Analysis

  24. VEC’s Choice • DCSI TWACS for all but the largest users • Electro-Industries Nexus for Large users (>500kw) and substations • Why TWACS? • DCSI had significant experience and a variety of options • Very good references • Outage Monitoring and Reporting • Ability to ‘ping’ on demand • Integrates with many CIS and Billing Systems including NISC

  25. VEC’s Choice (con’t) • Why Nexus? • Built-in web server • Dual ports for maximum security • On-demand usage, billing, history • Transient Recording • Record up to 512 Samples per Cycle Peak • Voltage Surge and Sag Recording • EN 50160 Flicker Analysis • Interharmonic Recording • Fault Recording and Analysis • Harmonic Analysis to 255th Order • DNP 3.0 and Modbus capability

  26. What Worked • Organization was committed • Four years of discussion created a high level of desire from everyone • Board of Directors was involved in these long-ranging discussions • Detailed project planning • Microsoft project used to identify every action item • Weekly status/action meetings for six months prior to commissioning • Project Manager and CFO co-own project • Operations really wanted AMR • TWACS a great product - Commissioning was highly successful and exceeded all expectations

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