Are You Smart Enough to Implement Smart Grid?
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Transcript of Are You Smart Enough to Implement Smart Grid?
Are You Smart Enough to Implement Smart Grid?
Angela Riley, Metering Supervisor City of San MarcosSan Marcos, TX
Home of Texas State University◦ 29,500 students
San Marcos River◦ Spring fed river◦ 72 degrees year-round
Population approx. 50,000◦ 19,500 electric customers◦ 9,200 water customers
Why Why AMI?AMI?
2-way communication Quicker connects and disconnects
◦ 2,300 remote disconnect meters installed◦ Read And Leave agreement with most apartment
complexes System integrity
◦ 6,100 voltage recording meters◦ Includes all commercial meters, AX meters, and
remote disconnect meters Customer service
◦ Interval usage data available on line◦ On demand meter reads
A common mistake some people make is thinking an AMI system will result in a reduction of workforce.
Please know that an AMI system will not necessarily result in salary savings.
The meter reading function will mostly go away, but personnel will need to be reallocated to different positions.◦ Meter Technicians
Trouble shooting meters Connects/disconnects Tampers
◦ Meter reading will be limited Fire hydrant meters Missing reads for meters that will not communicate (isolated areas)
Interval reading data from an AMI system◦ Creates more work – detailed reports from interval data◦ Requires more data storage than the monthly read you get from an AMR
system
Hired a Consultant◦ Cost-benefit Analysis and ROI for Council Approval◦ RFI/RFP for a Wireless Mesh Network◦ Assisted with Vendor Selection◦ Recommendations to Maximize Functionality of
AMI◦ Future Business Designs◦ Assisted with Pilot Program and Deployment
Planning
We are using one product for Water and Electric
Meters/RadiosHardware
Network Software
Network Manager
Meters Communicate through a Data Pathway
Cellular/Fiber
Local Area Network (LAN) – meter to meter◦ Random encryption for each transaction
Wide Area Network (WAN) – network to host◦ Banking level security
Annual code, but can be changed at any time if Eka sees a possible security breech
◦ 256 bit encryption Host – user operations
◦ Password protected◦ Set internally by the utility based on specific user
needs
Pilot Pilot ProgramProgram
Headed by a Project Manager Include Representatives in all Involved Departments
◦ Electric Metering Supervisor Meter Technician/Analyst
◦ Water Water Distribution Manager Utility Crew Leader
◦ Utility Billing Manager Q/A Specialist
◦ Technical Services (IT)◦ Geographic Information Services (GIS)◦ Upper Management (as required)
Key People are the Key to Success Weekly Status meetings to include vendor from testing
through deployment
7 months of testing Contract written so vendor is at risk, not the City Alpha
◦ 1 month long◦ 50 meters installed (5 water)◦ To ensure the wireless mesh was running and
communicating to the network Beta
◦ 6 months◦ 450 meters installed (50 water)◦ To test the functionality of the wireless mesh and
communications◦ To test integration with our Harris billing system
500 Meters Installed◦ Electric was relatively simple◦ Water had some problems
Node installations (node = transmitting device) Nodes not transmitting Meter lids
Challenges◦ Water meters◦ Integrating with our Harris billing system
Achievements◦ 99.5% success rate for previous week’s reads◦ Identified a customer with a water leak during the first week
What We Learned◦ Testing took longer than expected◦ Strong, cooperative relationship is necessary with the vendor
During integration, the utility must take an active roll to coordinate relations between the Billing system vendor and the AMI vendor.
Added Three Servers◦ One for interval read data coming into our Harris billing
system (NorthStar Interval Data - NSID) Billing purposes Customer web view
◦ Two for Eka’s network system (Network Manager) and reporting module (Data Manager)
Views Created between Eka’s Reporting Module and our NSID◦ Allows real-time access to the databases◦ Reduces workload by automating processes◦ Reduces chances for human error
We have not purchased a Meter Data Management System, so the NSID is our temporary solution at this time
Fully Integrated Eka Functionality into our Harris Billing System◦ Service connects/disconnects◦ On-demand reads◦ Demand resets◦ Interval reads for viewing
Where to Store?◦ Lots of discussion: Eka or Harris?◦ Multipliers are being stored in the billing system
Harris Systems added the multiplier to the view for Eka to use for reporting purposes only in Data Manager
Water Meter Multipliers Changing◦ Before AMI, all readings were modified to calculate
usage based on a multiplier of 100.◦ With AMI, we changed the way we read water meters.
All dials are read and the meter multiplier depends on the type of meter (0.1, 1.0, or 10)
◦ The multiplier had to be changed so we could see the resolution for leak detection and water loss
Meters Can’t Always Communicate with Collectors◦ Eka ‘nodes’ allow meters to backfill data in the network
once communications re-establish◦ However, when polling reads for billing, some meters may
not be reporting Created a Gap Fill function in the billing system to fill the holes
Calculates the gap automatically Important because future functionality to include Time Of Use billing Reason: No Validation, Editing, Estimation (VEE) yet
Demand resets Can’t guarantee demand reset at time of reading, so demand
calculations are set in the billing system Demand calculations are based off of interval readings
Demand meters report reads every 30 or 15 minutes Resets will still be requested through the network monthly as required
Reporting is very important! Allows you to discover problems in the network, such as:
◦ Communication failures – meters not reporting◦ Tampers◦ Duplication of data in meter inventory◦ Hi/Low voltage◦ CT installation problems◦ Outage reporting◦ Possible dead meters◦ Continuous Flow - leak detection◦ Negative consumption
Some reports developed by Eka Systems as part of our contract
City of San Marcos requesting special reports to fit our needs
Full Full DeploymentDeployment
Steps to take1. Plan and deploy ‘collectors’ first
• By the end of deployment, you will probably install more than expected to increase redundancy in the network
2. Plan electric meter installations starting around the collectors first and move outwards• Allows meters to form to the network faster• Reduces pockets in the network
3. Plan water meter installations to follow electric• Water meters only communicate to electric meters or
collectors, not other water meters
4. Always work schedules around your meter reading and billing schedules
Two Schedules1. Electric
• Contracted with TMD through Eka• 6 months to complete
2. Water • In-house• About 12 months to complete• Follows electric
Customers◦ Mailer and Maps (not a bill stuffer)◦ Press Releases◦ Maps in Lobbies of City Facilities◦ Webpage◦ Door Hangers
Completed change-out Access issue
◦ Information Cards Employees
◦ Very important!!!◦ Same education as customers◦ Training sessions for Workflow Changes
Time consuming process Multiple tasks to prepare Organize a “To-do” list
◦ This list will be lengthy◦ Divide amongst departments
Prioritize Empower staff with assignments Project manager follow up
Electric examples:◦ Deployment schedules◦ Determine quantities of meters & locations◦ Order extra metering supplies (seals, locks, disc sleeves)◦ Storage space (new & old meters, extra supplies)◦ Supplies for contractor (ID’s, vehicle magnets, keys)◦ Meter Exchange testing◦ Train staff◦ Customer Notification & schedule◦ Custom reports & specs◦ Increase staff in office
Meter shipments/inventory File creations & uploads for exchanges Review upload files for exchanges
◦ Service upgrades & emergency meter base repairs Who will take responsibility? Budget? City of San Marcos took the responsibility
Contract with an electrician for the project Objective: keep the project on target and restore power quickly for customers
Water - Be prepared for replacing damaged boxes, resetting boxes, and repairing leaks
Install a Variety of Meters◦ Increase Functionality of the AMI System◦ Reporting Capabilities
Meters San Marcos Selected◦ Landis & Gyr AL (14,000)◦ Landis & Gyr AX (2,000)
Report line voltage◦ Landis & Gyr AX-SD (2,300)
Allow remote service disconnect Report line voltage
◦ Elster A3D (1,800) Demand meter Report line voltage
Programming
Before AMI, minimal meter data stored◦ Meter number◦ Residential vs. commercial◦ Multipliers
With AMI, changed inventory to include many more details◦ Meter number is prefaced by meter form number
2s meter numbers start with 2 (ex: 200222), 4s meter numbers start with 4, and so on…
Helps meter technicians identify meter types easier◦ Meter Form◦ Meter Manufacturer◦ Meter Type
A3D (demand) AL (regular residential) AX (voltage recording) AX-SD (service disconnect)
◦ Purchase date◦ Purchase cost
Important changes for analyzing the meters in your network and inventory, especially through GIS
Test the Program◦ Test as much as possible before deployment◦ Start deployment slow to work out unexpected
problems Verify Removal Reads to Avoid Overbilling
Customers◦ Photograph final read on meter◦ Review final consumption (hi/low) to locate
misreads and make edits before uploading the file into the billing system
Prepare Meter Dept. Staff for Problems – everything funnels here and to Billing staff
Water Services Extend Outside of our Electric Service Territory
Negotiations with Neighboring Utilities were Necessary to Establish Communication1. Pedernales Electric Cooperative (PEC)2. Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative (BEC)◦ Metering points were not necessary,
just installation and attachment fees
Future Future PlansPlans
Customer Web View◦ Interval Read Data◦ Energy Profile Chart◦ Energy Conservation Tips
Meter Data Management System (MDMS) Outage Management System (OMS) Time of Use Billing Conservation Reporting (water)
QuestionsQuestions??