forms and functions of ami meter reading technologies
TRANSCRIPT
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
0
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
