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

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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