Credible Energy Meter Management - ESI-Africa.com · Credible Energy Meter Management Pro’s and...
Transcript of Credible Energy Meter Management - ESI-Africa.com · Credible Energy Meter Management Pro’s and...
Credible Energy
Meter Management Pro’s and Con’s of deploying
different meter types and meter reading technology
in Nigeria
Presented by:
Engineer Abiodun Ajifowobaje – CEO - Ikeja Power Distribution Company
Riaan Naude – Technical Specialist – Consolidated African Technologies
David Baugh – MD – Power and Automation Technologies Limited
Overview
Metering options available:
Smart Metering (Automated Meter Reading)
Walk-By AMR (Pulse Count)
Radio / Mesh Network Technology
PLC (Power Line Communications)
Cellular Technology (SMS / 3G/ GPRS Communications)
Conventional Credit Metering (Electro Mechanical Meters)
Legacy Electro Mechanical Meters
IR Communications Port Enabled Meters
Pre-Paid Metering
How
many of
these do
you
have?
The Problem
Due to perceived inaccurate accounts customers do not pay
regularly and want pre-paid meters.
Accounts are not necessarily inaccurate, but rather a result of a
billing & distribution distortion caused by:
varying billing cycles
Irregular electricity supply results in variations in consumption.
Infrequent and limited access to premises
Estimation of accounts based on inconsistent history
Faulty and obsolete meters
The Problem
IKEJA DISCO already has 250 000 good quality Electro-
Mechanical meters installed (typically 3million countrywide)
Replacing them will come at a huge cost especially if replacement
is not necessary
Pre-Paid Meters - PRO’s & CON’s
PRO’s
Upfront payment
Reduced need to visit meters
Relatively cheap hardware
CON’s
Susceptible to Theft / Fraud -
Irregular visits results in bypasses
Reliable & Accessible Payment
(Vending) should be available 24/7
to the public
Vending from ‘non-utility points’
provide fraud opportunity
Smart Metering - PRO’s & CON’s
PRO’s
Reduced need to visit meters
Remote Cut-offs are possible
No need for cash vending
CON’s
Susceptible to Theft / Fraud -
Irregular visits result in
bypasses
Increased Capital Outlay
Users pay for power after they
have used it
Conventional Metering - PRO’s & CON’s
PRO’s
Less susceptible to theft &
fraud due to regular visits
No need for external cash
vending
Relatively cheap hardware
Possibility of using ‘field billing’
CON’s
Need to regularly visit meters to
obtain readings
Remote Cut-offs not possible
Labour intensive reading process
Restricted access leads to
estimated billing
Users pay for power after they
have used it
The Requirement
The solution employed may not be a single strategy.
Multiple measuring and reading technologies are often necessary
to serve different types of customers / areas
The Requirement
Whatever solution is installed must be agreeable the the end users
Users should be able to trust the results of both the measuring and
reading solutions.
The Requirement
The utility needs to know all the advantages and disadvantages of
every solution in order to best manage risk & return on investment.
The Solution
Deploy technology best suited to the demographic, location and
application
Devise strategies to strengthen the deployed solutions in the areas
where it comes up short or is open to abuse
Inspect meters even when the manufacturer claims they are
tamper proof or tamper resistant
Over 400 sites
in 13 Countries
Representation
in 17 Countries
CAT’s African Footprint Benin
Cameroon
Ghana
Lesotho
Mozambique
Nigeria
South Africa
Tanzania
Zambia
Botswana
Egypt
Kenya
Malawi
Namibia
Rwanda
Swaziland
Uganda
Zimbabwe 13
RouteMaster Handheld Computer
Ultra Rugged - IP67 - Waterproof & Submersible.
Communications: USB, Ethernet, WiFi & Bluetooth.
Optional Modules: Integrated GPS, RFID, 3G,
Colour Imager or Barcode Scanner.
Backlit Easy Keyboard designed for meter reading.
Color touch-screen.
Intelligent Lithium-Ion battery pack.
Additional battery packs.
2 x PCMCIA Expansion Card Slots.
Microsoft Windows CE .NET 5.0/6.0
RouteMaster – Loader Chargers
Single & Multi-unit loader/chargers
Simple drop-in operation
Simultaneous communications and
charging
Ethernet or USB communications
Intelligent Software allows unattended
communications operation.
Internet
Other Hardware
Software is hardware agnostic and
could be run on most devices with
limited development.
Superior Ruggedness, Reliability and
IP rating is essential.
RouteMaster Device Software
User Friendly Software
In-field verification of captured
readings
No-Access / Notes
Changed Meters / New Services
Search Capabilities
GPS location
Remote communications capable
Import: Customisable Data Integrity Checks
Meter Reader Routes are created in a hierarchical structure
Support for all Radix and select other handheld computers
Customisable Reading Exceptions
Problems need to be resolved by supervisor before the reading
route is audited and exported.
Global Positioning System (GPS)
Stores Geographical Information.
Can be used to locate meters with Radix FW950
Ensures meter reader goes to meter.
Tracks meter readers using Google Earth.
Google Earth
Remote Mobile Service (RMS)
Downloads and uploads in the field using Radix FW950 with
integrated 3G card
Downloads and uploads from remote offices via wired ethernet
Ideal for remote sites
Regular updates from the field, checks meter readers progress
Reporting
Reports customisable
New reports easy to generate
Reports:
Activity
Productivity
Reading Summary
Route Trend
Confirms visit to meter
Allows visual confirmation of the reading
No-Access: proven by condition photograph
Forced Imaging rules are settable.
Imaging
Field Billing
Electricity Bill is printed on the customers premises.
Accelerates meter reading to billing cycle – Improved cash flow.
Customer can see reading on bill and confirm actual reading on
meter.
Reduces Queries
Improves Credibility
Rugged Radix FP400 Printer
Bill is water & fade resistant
Bluetooth communications
IP54
One moving part only
Field Billing Process
Billing System RMA.Net
Fieldworker
And Printer
Meter Reading
Route
Consumer
Account
Billing system provides
Meter reading and Account Data
RouteMaster.Net sequences and
Loads meter reading data Fieldworker is dispatched
Equiped with printer
Meter Route is visited
And readings captured
User Account is printed
On Site as meter reading
Is captured
Return data is uploaded
Accounts are flagged to
indicate if they were printed
in the field or not
Data is returned to the
Billing System for
processing
Typical Field Bill
FR
ON
T B
AC
K
Client – Server architecture
Utilises Microsoft SQL Server 2005 / 2008
Built using latest Visual Studio.Net Platform
Online automatic updates and service patches
Up to Windows 8 and X64 (64 Bit variants)
Architecture
Support
If enabled through your firewall:
Online support
Centralised settings repository
Remote update client
Direct Telephonic Support
Automatic Updates
RMA.Net stays up to date using Microsoft Update Services
Ensures Secure Communications
Ensures latest available version and patches
Summary of RMA.net Features
Latest supported Microsoft platform and Tools
Completely Scalable Enterprise Solution
Billing system independent Route Management
Modular expansion of web and communications abilities
SQL Server Based Security
WAN Communications (RMS)
Automatic Updates
GPS capable
Field Billing
C.A.T.’s Customer Base
34
WHY DO BUSINESS WITH CAT?
Reliable & Ultra Rugged Mobile Technology
CAT - Leader In Remote Data Collection
Reliable IT Engineering Company with Excellent Customer Service
with a Proven track record exceeding 20 years
Customer Partnership Focus: Technology
and Knowledge Transfer
System design to user requirements
Training and Skills Transfer
Peace Of Mind