Dashi Naidoo

 

AMR concept evolution to AMR concept evolution to AMMAMM

Presentation scope

IntroductionIntroduction Smart metering trendsSmart metering trends Leveraging the ability to communicateLeveraging the ability to communicate Technology and PerformanceTechnology and Performance ConclusionConclusion

Introduction

Communication technology evolution:Communication technology evolution:

Enables affordable communication to Enables affordable communication to large numbers of residential meters large numbers of residential meters previously only feasible for C&I previously only feasible for C&I applicationsapplications Opens the potential to integrate a Opens the potential to integrate a number of traditionally separate number of traditionally separate applications.applications.

Smart metering Trends

Trend is to apply C&I functionality at a residential level Higher frequency reading of meters Increase residential Load profiling Monitoring of Power Quality

Automatic Meter Management (AMM) / Smart metering

Smart metering Trends

Integration Increases cost efficiency

Integration of traditional separate AMM systems, AMR systems Load management systems, Revenue protection systems

Disconnection/reconnection Prepayment

Automatic meter reading

Prime Objective:Reduce the cost of manual meter

readings.

Added benefits: Improved accuracy and reliability of

the billing data. Higher frequency of the readings Better history to analyze

consumption habits

Load Management

Prime objective: To maximise the efficiency of the network infrastructure

Most popular is implementation: Ripple control receivers to switch off

specific appliances with a change in tariff.

Load and current limiting to lower the maximum consumption at a service point.

Revenue Protection

Prime objective:Reduction of fraud, debt repayment

With the link to the meter, revenue protection functionality becomes feasible in the following ways:

Real time tamper detection Real time consumption reconciliation

between the substation and residences Remote disconnection and reconnection Token less prepayment

Technology and performance

Upfront capital and installation cost

There is no network installation cost for GPRS (hardware and labor).

The GPRS modems is more expensive than a PLC or RF module

PLC and RF networks require 5%-10% clean-up and revisit of installed meters

GRPS requires 1% revisit and clean-up

Technology and performance

Operational cost  PLC and RF

Utility owns the network, Communication is free, Maintenance and monitoring is expensive

and to achieve reliable communication to all meters requires experience and expertise.

GPRS Utilizes experienced mobile phone network

operators, who will maintain infrastructure and manage disaster recovery.

Technology and performance

Performance

There are significant performance differences between the technology options as they exist today.

GPRS and RF are better suited for Higher level of Smart metering functionality

(Load Management) Low density installed base (bad payers)

PLC is attractive when The supply network is established and reliable The performance expectation is lower. High density installations

Conclusion

  The potential owners of these

systems needs to decide What Smart metering can do for them,

practically and commercially. What level of integration bring cost

efficient solutions What communications technology is

best suited from an installation, capital and operational maintenance point of view