70 likes | 288 Views
AMR/AMI Metering Experiences. IURPA/SURPA/SCRPA Conference – June 2010 Eddie Fee, Jr. Revenue Assurance Administrator. AMR @ OUC. 1998 – Started using walk-by AMR (Itron) Mechanical meter w/ electronic AMR module Select ‘rear-lot’ subdivisions, installed by employees
E N D
AMR/AMIMetering Experiences IURPA/SURPA/SCRPA Conference – June 2010Eddie Fee, Jr. Revenue Assurance Administrator
AMR @ OUC • 1998 – Started using walk-by AMR (Itron) • Mechanical meter w/ electronic AMR module • Select ‘rear-lot’ subdivisions, installed by employees • Currently have ~55,000 AMR walk-by in field • 2001 – Started using fixed network AMR (Itron) • Pole or wall-mounted collection & concentrators • LSA apartment complexes, installed by employees • Eliminates ~28,000 trips annually for off-cycle read • Currently have ~20,000 AMR fixed network • Meters read twice daily
AMI @ OUC • 2005 – Started testing of AMI • Elster’s Energy Axis (REX) system • Remote Disconnect capability (under canopy) • Communicates meter to meter & back to collection point • 2008 – Installed AMI addt’l 7,500 AMI meters • Select neighborhoods, installed by contractors • Currently have ~30,000 AMI meters in field • Meter read twice daily
Contractor Installation of AMI • 100% in-shop testing of all removed meters • Wanted to gain better knowledge of meter tamper rates for service territory • Overall meter tamper rate of 3.7% with some neighborhoods as high as 14.4% • Even w/ training, only 26% of tampered meters actually reported by contractor
AMR Tamper Flags • Itron AMR Tamper Flags • Tilt & Inverse tamper flags associated w/ outage • Must be filtered against valid field orders • Sometimes sign of electronic module failure • Elster AMI Outage Flags • REX1 – dip in voltage recorded as ‘outage’ • REX2 – dips not recorded as ‘outage’ • Must be filtered against valid field orders and recorded OMS outages for area
AMR/AMI Exposures & Considerations • Contractor installs w/o meter testing may not give utility good understanding of tamper rates • Develop reporting tools during test phase & before major deployment • No monthly Meter Read visit to inspect seal, meter, & report safety hazards at location • Tampering during outages may go unnoticed • Pirated software to change/re-program meter