Getting Ready for Advance Metering Infrastructure

AMI by definition

• Infrastructure of metering systems • Automates most of the metering centred repetitive

activities• Collects granular consumption data to deploy dynamic

pricing mechanisms• New payment and customer service options• Control of electrical load control within the home and or

businesses to improve system diversity

The communications hardware , software, associated system and data management software that creates a network between

advanced meters and utility business systems which allows collection and distribution of information to customers and the utility.

Is AMI same As AMR

AMR is primarily focused on the ability to collect data

Primary purpose of AMR systems is customer billing, and reduced costs of meter reading.

AMR systems typically comprise of static meters fitted with communication devices, communication network (media) as well as supporting software to manage the data.

AMI includes not only AMR, but, a system that collects time-differentiated energy usage from advanced meters.

Capable of providing information which enables utilities to provide demand response products & customers participation.

System supports other operational and customer service, e.g. outage management, connect/disconnect, customer load management etc.

AMI vs AMR

Business processes

Automatic Meter Reading

(AMR)Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI)

Meters · Electronic · Electronic with LAN, HAN, load profile and disconnect.

Data Collection · Monthly · Remote using LAN communication, more frequent

Data recording · Cumulative kWh

· Half hourly so that dynamic prices can be applied.

Business opportunities

· Monthly consumption based billing

· Customer payment option· Pricing options· Utility Operations· Demand response· Emergency response

Key business processes

· Billing· Customer

information system

· Billing· Customer information system· Customer data display· Outage management· Emergency demand response.

Customer’s participation

None In Home Display, cost and environmental consciousness.

Demand response programsAdditional devices None Utility controlled customer load

Smart thermostats / Compressor

Benefits of AMI - Utility• Elimination of manual metering capital costs

• Fewer meter reading related issues and call center traffic.

• Utilities can have innovative time-of-use price offers to suit

consumers’ needs; and

• Interval data collection also helps to detect supply faults

and respond to them more quickly – Faster outage

detection and proactive restoration• Flexible billing cycle – Improved cash flow• Daily energy balancing for each DT

• Transformer load management

Much more…………………

AMI Components• Advance Meter• In Home display • Suitable two way communication system• Network management system (NMS)• Meter Data Management (MDM)

AMI Components – Advance Meter

• Electronic meter with • two way communication, • time differentiated registers• price based demand• connect / disconnect• load Control, • interface with In-Home devices.

• AMI / Smart Metering with various communication technology.

• The products are 1Phase, 3Phase,CT/PT operated meters.

AMI Components: In-Home Display

• A device which details the usage data in a graphical and user friendly manner.

• The inhome display device can be connected to a meter to create a Home Area Network via– Zigbee communication device– Hardwire connection between the meter and IHD

Secure Meters Limited

Network management System

• NMS is a combination of Hardware and Software used to monitor and administer a network.

• This NMS needs to be linked to the ERP system • What this system needs to do?

– Manage connect/ disconnect– Manage alarm, events and other notifications

Meter Data Management (MDM)

• The definition of a meter data management solution can vary based upon the implementation.

• At a minimum, MDM provides a database repository and utility-specific business logic to:– Automate and streamline the complex process of collecting meter

data from multiple meter data collection technologies– Evaluate the quality of that data and generate estimates where

errors and gaps exist– Deliver that data in the appropriate format to utility billing systems

• The critical role of an MDM system is to pre-process granular interval meter data at large volumes very quickly.

NMS Systems

Two Way communication

system

Advanced Meter

In Home Display

DLC

Mesh Radio

GPRS

GPRS

PLC

MDM

Z wave

WiMAX

Zigbee

Gas

1φ1E

1φME

3φ

DLC

CIP

HEC

HEC

Customer Web Access

B2B links

Technical Architecture / Landscape

AMI in India What are the main drivers –

Demand shortage

Theft management

Load control

System automization

Better system economics

Govt. has taken a step forward in long term AMI direction,

by defining a sort of similar system in RAPDRP.

Combination of RF, DLC, GPRS communication network

seems to be favorable for most of the areas.

More work needs to be done wrt - detailing out system

functionalities, overall implementation and technology trials.

AMI Features / Programs

• Demand Response• TOD switching• Dynamic Pricing

– Critical Peak Pricing– Real Time Pricing

• Load Control• Remote switching• Outage detection• Grouping of meters• Safety & Security

AMI - Functionalities

• Remote and local reading of interval data– Routine reads

– Special reads

• Customer supply control– Disconnection

– Re-connection

– Auto-disconnection

• Time Clock Synchronisation• Load Control

– Load control groups

– Controlled load management at meters

• Events for daily reporting and other events

• Quality of Supply & other event recording• Meter loss of supply• Under-voltage & Over-voltage

recording

• Interface to Home Area Network (HAN)

• Tamper Detection– Current reversal– Cover and terminal cover open

detection

• Remote Firmware Upgrades

Planning AMI Deployment

Identify the current challenges of your business process.

Identify the future challenges that your business, your customer and the society may encounter.

Define AMI vision statement based upon the above.

Start with a pay-back analysis. Telescopically plan your AMI rollout keeping the most rewarding benefits in the first few phases.

Don’t re-invent the wheel; take suitable help from vendors and consultants as the cost of advice is insignificant in terms of benefits and avoiding rework.

Planning AMI deployment

Select communication technology and backend system on the basis of above mentioned parameters.

Define specification accordingly.

Bids to be called on the basis of clear understanding of requirement of system NOT only product.

Bids selection should be on the basis of complete system implementation.

Few Similar Projects executed

• Northern Ireland: over 220,000 meters deployed• India: Largest grid metering project at MSETCL • 200,000 meters using low power radio• Australia: AMI projects, about 100,000 meters• EDF Energy, UK: Smart metering project (EDRP)• Other projects in the UK

Thank You

Thanks

Madhur Kumar Srivastava

+919971168418