mi.net - mueller infrastructure network for utilities

The Mi.Net® Mueller Infrastructure Network for Utilities

I. About Mueller SystemsII. The Mi.Net® System

I. OverviewI. AMR and AMI II. Multi-path and star networkIII. Smart metering

II. System ComponentsIII. Mi.Net User InterfaceIV. Beyond MeteringV. Questions

Agenda-Introduction to Mueller Systems & AMI

Who We Are

• Subsidiary of Mueller Co. & Mueller Water Products (NYSE: MWA)

• Fortune 1000 company

• >4,000 employees

• Over 150 years in the utility business

• The leading manufacturer of water

infrastructure and flow control products and services

Why Mueller Systems?

• Full 2-way AMI for water AND combined (water/electric) utilities

• Drive-by AMR for water utilities• Full line of Hersey® water meters• Focus on mid-sized municipalities• Known in 100% of municipalities • Access to additional Mueller Co. & Mueller

Water Products resources and expertise (e.g.: Echologics)

• Focus on TOTAL water systems

About us

Current AMI/AMR Deployments

Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI)

Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI), is the complete automation of the metering process which includes meter reading, distribution monitoring and remote control for connection and disconnect

What is AMI?

The Mi.Net® Mueller Infrastructure Network for Utilities

Field Monitoring

System Management

Network Communications

Consumer Engagement

Information and Alerts to

Consumer Portal, Cell and/or PDAs

Mi.Host(SW + Server)

Mi.Hub

Mi.Hydrant

Mi.Node

Devices

Cellular/Broadband/

Private Network

Information to Third-party Billing, OMS and other software /

devices

Mi.Data

Major Components for AMI

Mi.Node

• Radio transmitter & receiver for smart meters

Mi.Hydrant

• Radio transmitter & receiver for smart hydrants

Mi.Hub

• Data collector

Mi.Host

• Host server & user interface

Mi.Data

• Consumer portal

Mi.Node (2-Way RF Transmitter)

Mi.Node for Water

• Compatible w/multiple brands of water meters• Consumption Monitoring• Leak detection• Usage profiling• Scheduled & on-demand readings• Remote connect/disconnect• Tamper detection and notification• Reverse/no flow alerts• Zone metering• Meter sizing

Enclosed RF transceiver

• Replaces pumper caps of existing fire hydrants• Provides multi-path RF coverage.• Internally stores & transmits meter data to other devices

within the Mi.Net™ System. • Extends two-way network coverage when employed in a

multi-path configuration.

Mi.Hydrant Overview

• RF enabled wireless device, communicates in the unlicensed 900 MHz band.

• Eliminates moisture intrusion through use of a watertight enclosure, coated electronic board and potting compound.

• No external power supply required • 10-year battery life• Notifies the system of low battery level for preemptive

maintenance• FCC Compliant

Mi.Hydrant Features

Mi.Hydrant supports the relay of data to & from other Mi.Node & Mi.Hydrant units.

1. Data collected from water meters are temporarily stored in the Mi.Node unit’s internal memory.

2. The Mi.Node unit transmits readings, leak, backflow, tamper & alarm data to Mi.Hydrant.

3. Mi.Hydrant transmits the data to the Mi.Hub collector.

Mi.Hydrant-- How it Works

How Radio Frequency (RF) Works

• Spread spectrum frequency hopping• Utilizes 50 channels• Sophisticated addressing & sequencing• Designed for high performance in "noisy" RF

environment

Mi.Hub Data Collector

Mounting Options• Electric lamp poles• Municipal buildings• Water tower• Small and light

7"x10"x3"2.5 lbs.4.8 lbs. with battery backup

Power Options• 120 volts AC • Light pole adapter• Solar power 12 Volt DC • Battery backup ~4

hours

Backhaul Options• Cellular, Ethernet• Fiber, WIFI, RF

Managed Hosting-Simplified network hosting and management

Secure, enterprise-class data centers in multiple locations• Quick & reliable access to stored metering

data• Reduced risk of potential network failure• No upfront software costs • No need for in-house server to support

network

Managed by highly-trained metering network specialists• 24/7 network monitoring• Ensures network is properly functioning &

transmitting data• Provides significant time & cost savings• Additional software & upgrades added as

needed

Engineered routes between nodes• Nodes can all connect to each

other via multiple hops• Self-healing = very reliable• Up to four data paths to Collector

Multi-Path Networking

In a star network environment, communication signals are transmitted from each meter to the receiver and then to the utility.

Star Networking

• 900 MHz Radio Technology• Stable technology• Battery backup

Mi.Net is both Multi-Path and Star

Utility Cost Savings of AMI Systems

• Meter reading and billing• Reduced vehicle expenses/emissions• Redeploy meter reader resources to revenue generation• On demand meter readings• Eliminate Lost Time accidents—Worker’s Comp. claims• Reduce meter reading/billing errors• Reduce clerical errors• Improve cash flow

• Customer Service• Reduce consumer calls• Resolve disputes• Empower your customers

Empowering Consumers and Utility

Access real time & historical meter data

Meter Data Management with Mi.Host

Offers•Hosted or utility owned options•Transfers appropriate billing data•Time of Use (TOU) billing•GIS Routing tools

Provides•Customer account access•Real time e-mail and SMS messages•Temperature and precipitation data

Reports

•Meter tamper/theft•Leak detection•Consumption profiling

Meter Data Management

Easy Navigation

ALL Meters

Water Tab • View accounts for your water customers.• Generate on demand readings, bills, and reports.• Search for account information by customer, service

address, and meter ID.• Click the on Account ID link to view detailed information.

By Account

Consumption

Readings

Alerts

Swap information

Billing

Location

Meter Type

On-demand Reads “to the Meter”

BillingIntergrated CIS Data

Reports

On-Line Graphs to Export to

Excel

Numerous Report Formats

Generating On Demand Reads• Select On demand read• Message: Meter has been updated successfully• Last reading is displayed

Alerts Tab View

• The Alerts tab allows you view alerts and reconfigure email alerts

Meter Sizing & Flow StudiesIf flow rate is below the operational capacity, the meter is oversized & its accuracy may be questioned.

Replace with a type/size suited for measuring the volume of water used by the account.

Automated Leak Detection (ALD)

Solves leak detection problems of 1-way networks

No need for separate network

• Added through 2-way network

Minimizes False Alerts

• Verifies leaks• Collects data from

surrounding sensors

• Analyzes data through correlation

Improves accuracy

• Narrows down leak location

• Crews can reliably locate leaks between hydrantsReduces

NRW

Consumer Portal

Initially popularity in:•Telecom•Financial services

•Online retail

Now used by water utility customers to:• Monitor

consumption• Receive budget

alerts• Compare usage to

previous cycles

Uses 2-way AMI to improve:•Customer Service

•Billing transparency

•Conservation

Remote Disconnect Meter (RDM)

Remotely connect & disconnect water through 2-way AMI

Ideal for high #’s of • Seasonal residents

(students, retirees, vacationers)

• Move-in/move-out rates

Efficiency & Customer Service• Reduces labor & customer

wait times• Customer can request

service to be disconnected

Benefits Beyond Metering

• Detect meter tampering/theft• Remotely reconfigure meter• Consumer and distribution system leak detection• Consumer engagement• Remote connect/disconnect• Meter right sizing• Zone metering• Conservation tool

For more information, please visit:http://www.muellersystems.com

info@muellersystems.com

Questions or Comments?