forms and functions of ami meter reading technologies

Confidential. Copyright 2006.Property of Neptune

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Forms and Functions of AMI Meter Reading Technologies

Presented by:Kelly ByrdMid-Ohio Territory Manager

• Founded in 1934 as a family owned and operated business based out of Cincinnati, Ohio

• Providing Distribution Sales & Services featuring NeptuneTechnology Group Meters & Meter Reading Products

• Neptune Technology Group has manufactured meters and equipment for over 125 years

• Experience – 95% of our business is Meters & Reading Equipment– Remote Control Shut-Off Valves & Data Services

• All Field Sales People are Factory Trained- 2 Level-One trained representatives for AMR system training

• Complete Services – Project Management, Meter Installation & Testing and Technical & Data Services

• Formerly known as Neptune Equipment Company

History of NECO

There are various forms of Advanced Metering Infrastructure available now and more to come in the near future. This is a discussion of how some of those different forms are constructed and how the resulting data can be applied by different utility groups.

Abstract

Register Dial Face

Sweep hand

Register Dial

Low flow Indicator

Communication wire connection

E-Coder Register Face

Solar Panel

Leak, Tamper & Backflow Indicator

Icons

Flow Indicator

Communication wire connection

Residential Register

Encoder Comparison

23456789

.11101001K10K100K1M

0 0 0 0 00 101001K10K100K1M

.1

.01

0Historical6-wheel

9-digit

Fixed 0

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Leak Detection without High Resolution

• Undetected leak standard with 6-digit resolutionUsage Profile

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5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

Day

Gal

lons 6 Digit Encoder

Leak present @ residence but not being detected with a 6-digit encoder

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E‐Coder 8‐digit Resolution

• 8 Digit Resolution = 1/100 GPM

• True Leak Detection Demands High Resolution

Usage Profile

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

Day

Gal

lons 8 Digit Encoder

Residence with an E-Coder with a 4GPM leak

ProCoder Register

Radios & Cell Comm

• Signals• Memory

Register/Radio Combo

Smart Meters

• Higher Resolution• Leak Detection• Reverse flow Detection• Tamper Detection• Data Logging – 96 Days

• Actionable Information• Improved Customer Service• Ongoing Data Stream

Meter Performance

Increased Operating Costs

Decaying Facilities& Infrastructure

Rising WaterDemands

UnaccountedFor Water

Meter Reading Efficiency

The Market Drivers

Increased Focus OnRevenue Recovery

DecliningGovernmentFunds

Repair or Replace Meters?

How Is Revenue Lost?

• Meter Failures• Meter Inaccuracies• Misapplication• Sizing• Undetected Leaks• Theft• Other Free Water

• AMR – Automated Meter Reading

• AMI – Advanced Metering Infrastructure

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AMR vs AMI

• AMR – Easy Data Entry– Inexpensive

• AMI– Using Data for a Purpose– Higher cost– Higher performance

AMR vs AMI

AMR vs AMI – Various Levels• AMR – Automated Meter Reading

• AMI - Advanced Metering Infrastructure

Remember This?

I wish we had AMI….

The Evolution of AMR

• Labor intensive • Unsafe for meter readers • Unscheduled/special reads cost ineffective • Customer intrusive

Manual

Touch

Mobile RF

Fixed-NetworkParadigm Shift in Metering– From Reads to Data to Valuable Information

• Cost ineffective for more than monthly read

• Potentially unsafe • Minimal automation • Customer intrusive

• Enables cost-effective monthly reads

• Faster meter reading and collection

• Reduced labor costs • Unscheduled/special reads cost ineffective

• Revenue Enhancement• Eliminates Estimated Reads• Daily Leak Detection• Daily Theft Detection • Interval Metering for Usage Profiling• Customized Value-added Services• One –way or Two-way capabilities

AMR and AMI Overlap Somewhat

• Basic Meter• Electronic Meter• Intelligent Meter• Smart Meter• Remote Shut-Off

Valves• Leak Detecting

Sensors• Pressure Sensors

• Basic Meter• Electronic Meter• Intelligent Meter• Smart Meter• Remote Shut-Off

Valves• Leak Detecting

Sensors• Pressure Sensors

AMIAMR

AMI Fixed Base System Architecture

• Readings Collected from Meter via RF or Cellular Transmission• R900 or 450-470MHz Licensed Band or 2G/3G/4G LTE• Full Data Transmission• Multiple Backhaul Options• Server Based or Hosted – This can be difficult and/or costly

Meter RF or CellTransmitter

Data Collector

Utility ServerOr Host Software

WANLAN

Data Transmit

Types of AMI Systems• Tower Based

– Radio Frequency (RF)– Cellular

• Mesh Network• Combined

– RF– Cell– LoRa– Emerging Technology– Multiple Comm Paths

Tower Based AMI

• Data Collector Antenna on a Tower– > 150 feet preferred antenna height– Antenna can be located on rooftops,

towers, light poles, utility poles, etc. (lower heights reduce coverage area)

• Data Collector is mounted at the base • 110 V or Solar power requirement• Multiple Backhaul Options

– Cellular– Ethernet– Other

Pros & Cons• Reduced number of collectors• Ease of access to equipment• Lower maintenance costs• Capital Expenditure• Limited Coverage Radius• RF Coverage varies

Tower Based - RF Collector

• Individual Transmitters Work Independently

• Using Cell Provider Assets• 2G, 3G, 4G LTE, 5G, ??• RF to Cellular Option

Pros & Cons• Less Infrastructure• More Data• Higher Up-front Cost• Operating Expense• Changing Future

Tower Based - Cellular

Mesh Network• Relaying data information

from one unit to another to a collector to the host computer.

• The individual units gather their own data but also pass other data along

Pros & Cons• Less Infrastructure• More Data• Self Healing• Limited Connection Range• Higher Complexity• Battery Life Limits• Hop Limits & Data Integrity

Combined NetworkRelaying data information from one unit to

another or from multiple unit types to a tower to the host computer.

• LoRa• Power-Line• WiFi• Smart Grid

• RF• Cellular• Mesh• Tower

AMI Provides Classes of Benefits

• Meter Reading for Revenue & Savings

• Higher Level of Operations with Data

Automated Data Collection

Example• 10,000 meter Utility• Currently reading monthly• 10,000 x 12 months = 120,000 reading/per year

• With AMI, the Utility will have hourly data• One customer: 24 Hours X 365 Days = 8,760 per year• All customers: 87,600,000 meter readings with flagged

data per year

AMI System Drawbacks

• Cost - both initial and ongoing• DECREASED REVENUE• Customer Contact• Customer Expectations• Eyes on the meters• What if the system goes down?• Will you use the Data?

Customer Benefits of AMILeak Detection Customer can be notified of a leak flag

Customer Service Easily accessed and daily reading data allows utilities to improve customer service and resolve billing disputes

High Usage Notification Relatively high usage can be flagged to let customer know that unusual consumption is occuring

Remote Information Access Customer can access info from anywhere via a Customer Portal?Remote Information Control Customer can set their own parameters: Usage? Leak? High Volume? Unusual Timing? Unusual Volume?

Customer Web Interface

Individual Customer Info Page

Business Customers• Real Time Usage• Date/Time Correlation• Weather Cycle• Production Cycle• Conservation Efforts• Reclaim Success

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AMI Application:Value Throughout the Utility

General ManagementGeneral Management

FinanceFinance

MaintenanceMaintenance

Water OperationsWater Operations

Customer ServiceCustomer Service

Leak Detection Daily reception of leak flags

Customer Interaction Easily accessed and daily reading data allows utilities to improve customer service and resolve billing disputes

Off-Cycle Reads Daily readings from the Gateway are available to support off-cycle readings without rolling a truck, saving time and money

Usage Profile Analysis Data allows a utility to provide more info to industrial/commercial customers so that those customers can manage usage

Tamper Detection Advanced tamper detection provided daily

Customer ServiceCustomer Service

Enhanced Customer Service

• Precise consumption information

• Clear and accurate billing• Automatic leak notification• Better & Faster Customer

Service• Billing disputes are resolved

faster because of better information

• Flag potential high consumption before customers get the high bill

Less Stressed, More Effective

Customer Service Web Interface

Data Controls

Data Detail

Temperature and Precipitation

Long-term View

Customer Service Web InterfaceCustomer Example

E-Coder intermittent leak alert triggered

Customer leak starts

E-Coder intermittent leak alert triggered

Customer repairs leakE-Coder continuous leak alert triggered

Usage back to normal

Automatic On/Off Control

• Non-Payment• Snow Birds• Vacation• Emergencies• Ownership transfer• Move in/out for rentals• Exercise valves• Customer Controlled

Automated Billing Process

• Fixed base reads go directly to billing• Billing executed without human input• Customers can check usage• Customers can pay on-line

• Meter Reader Safety & Security• Reduced meter-reading labor

• Utility Technology Dependent• Utility Size Dependent• Labor Deployment Strategy

Retirement; Alternate tasks

• Balance production & usage• Complete system Monitoring, Integration & Control• Predictability• Resource allocation

• Reduced truck rolls for reading issues• Use that labor for higher-level tasks

• Reporting to government oversight agencies• Enhanced asset management

Water Operations ManagementWater Operations Management

• “At-a-glance” view of the efficiency of the system– MIU efficiency– Collector efficiency

• Orange bar represents“Owned” MIUs (MIUs the collector is receiving thestrongest signal strengthfrom)• Grey bar representsall of the MIUs the Collectorhas received transmissionsfrom

– Collector sync times

System Health Screen

• “At-a-glance” trouble-shooting

• Missed Reads 103• Collector down • Collector failed to

sync with Host at 2:00PM Monday

System Health Screen

Water Losses

Leaks on Distribution Mains

Unauthorized Consumption

High Consumption

Leakage on utility side of the meter

Daily Production – Metered

Distribution Leak Monitoring – Sensors

Water District Monitoring

End User Leaks – High Resolution Meters

Daily Tools to Analyze your System

Reverse Flow Events

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AMI Host Software – Master Meter Monitoring

• Group prefix –”transfer” pulls up all transfer meters

• Usage graph– Daily profile

Utility View - Example Group Detail

Consumption of every meter in the system compared to the water Pumped from the Water Plant

Water Pumped – Total Water Used = Unaccountable Water (non-billed water)

AMI Can Help Track and Identify Non-Revenue Water

Controllable NRW constant level suggests source is leakage

Metered Usage

NRW

Supply to system

Variable NRW level suggests source is meter error or theft

Metered Usage

NRWSupply to system

Monitoring - Units• Identify areas of concern or interest such as:

• Leak• Reverse Flow• Zero Consumption• Soft-Disconnect• Not Heard From• Major Reverse Flows

• Missed• Inactive with Usage• Collector Types• Collector Status• All Endpoints• Continuous Leaks• Endpoint Groups

Monitoring - System• Identify areas of concern or interest such as:

• Production Balance• District Balance• Major Reverse Flows

Integration• Link other monitoring systems with GIS

• Leak• Reverse Flow• Zero Consumption• Valve Position• Pressure Monitoring• Water Temp• Water Quality

Control• Link other monitoring systems with GIS

• District Shut Off• Area event notice• Street shut-off if needed

• Ongoing meter monitoring• Falling usage or failing meter?• Pre-set meter change-out plan (time versus usage)• Total usage & usage profile versus meter type

• Full data set helps with diagnostics• Service order reduction with better data• Early system leak detection = lower repair costs

MaintenanceMaintenance

Large Meter Revenue

• Large meters = Large Revenue • You can’t afford to have them running inaccurately• At just 5% off:

Revenue Loss$10,000 $500$50,000 $2,500$100,000 $5,000$500,000 $25,000

The Reality

REVENUE LOSS100% -

50% -

0 -24 months 48 months

100%90%80%

In many water systems the large meters are operating at only 80% to 90% accuracy.

FinanceFinance

• Reduced Unaccounted-for-Water• Improved Bottom Line• Multiple Savings Modes• Increased Cash Flow

General ManagementGeneral Management

• Financial Accountability• Resource Conservation and Direction• Government Reporting• Fiscal Responsibility• Overall Utility Efficiency• Good information leads to good conservation

Improving AMI System Operations

• Meter selection and accuracy• Non Revenue Water Evaluation• Water Loss Analysis• System Leak Monitoring• System Backflow• System Pressure• Water Quality Monitoring• Use the Data!

Things to Consider• Evaluate what type of system works best in for YOUR

Utility• What is the total real cost? Up-front and long-term• Review a long-range plan with various departments

(Distribution, Customer Service, IT)• Determine if you want to use the existing assets (meters

& existing mobile RF) or replace everything• Compare the system offerings & weigh Pros and Cons• Communicate with other Utilities who have systems

installed• Determine if you have personnel to evaluate the

additional data

The Future?

• Integration• Communication• Automation• Prediction