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Automatic Meter ReadingSelecting the Technology
AI?TWACS?
Wireless?
BPL?
Fiber?
IR?TCP/IP?
Internet?Intranet?
PLC?
Archnet?Hunt?
RS232?
RJ11?
Maxstream?
MasterMeter?
RF?
FireFly?
WiFI?
SpreadSprectrum?
SilverSpring?
Cellnet?Nexus?
Turtle?
Dave HallquistVermont Electric Cooperative
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
Other AMR Benefits
Carefully select the technology, there is more to AMR than reading meters.
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!”
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
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
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
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)
Voltage Profile
Voltage Profile
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
Load Profile
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
Load Profile for Transformer
Hourly Profile Data
0.00
10.00
20.00
30.00
40.00
50.00
60.00
70.00
1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23
Hour
KV
A
19-Jan
18-Jan
17-Jan
16-Jan
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)
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
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
Load ControlDevice Mounted to
control a Water Heaterand an Air-Conditionerat a Florida Power andLight (FPL) Customer’s
Home
Load Controlat Florida Powerand Light (FPL)
Lake Region Electric Cooperative Pelican Rapids, Minnesota (the red star)
25000 members 7c/kwh residential rate Mainly coal 80 mw non-coincidental
peak (peaks in winter – slightly larger than summer peak)
10% peak shaving using disconnects switches –a load shedding strategy - not a load shifting strategy
65mw coincidental peak
7000 peak disconnect switches (primarily for hot water heaters)
70% penetration on existing water heater users (10k total) Water heater credit – straight credit – $4/mo./40gal heater - $8/mo./80gal heater An off-peak incentive rate exists – 40% savings off-peak – on-peak rate same as
residential – few residential takers – mainly storage heat
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
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%
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
Potential R-T AMR Savings
VEC ROI Analysis
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
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
VEC’s Choice (con’t)
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