amr technology then and now

AMR Technologythen and now

Metering, Billing CRM/CIS Middle East

February 2, 2005

Jason Lewis & Amos Tsikayi

Profile

FirstPoint Energy Corporation (FirstPoint) transforms energy, water, natural gas and sub metered interval data into efficiency solutions that maximize resource and cost savings. The technical solutions include an enterprise-wide data management warehouse platform; data acquisition and management services; energy information services via Web-based presentation, and automated meter reading (AMR) including remote interval meter data collection hardware and software. The company boasts more than a dozen patents related to AMR and is one of the pioneers of telephone-based data collection technology.

FirstPoint is managed and staffed by energy and utility professionals, and it is one of the few companies in the U.S. certified as a meter services provider (MSP) and meter data management agent (MDMA). Additional services include advanced metering, site evaluations, and demand-side consulting services.

From the corporate headquarters in Portland, Oregon, FirstPoint runs the development, engineering and manufacturing of its COMPASS Data Management Warehouse, DAS Data Acquisition Services, EIS Energy Information Services, and AMR Automated Meter Reading. FirstPoint is owned by TSG Equity Partners, LLC, located in Stow, Massachusetts.

Experience

FirstPoint is unique in that its product offerings incorporate all phases of the data acquisition and management process. The company ' s portfolio includes AMR meter-interface hardware and software, proprietary data acquisition, management and warehousing software, and specialized metering services that facilitate data acquisition and system implementation of leading customer information systems. FirstPoint's products are known throughout the industry for accuracy, flexibility, scalability and value.

FirstPoint has more than 500,000 installations (patented hardware technologies) worldwide of its automated metering technology and software solutions. Its customer base exceeds 100, and includes utilities, energy service providers, organizations, institutions and end-users. Among users of the FirstPoint’s product are: Portland General Electric, APSES (Arizona Public Service Energy Services), The Portland (OR) Water Bureau, Strategic Energy, Kroeger Foods, the City of San Francisco Public Utilities, Eugene (Ore.) Water and Electric Board, City of Ipswich Mass., City of Longmont CO. and EPCOR Water Services.

Old Paradigm

Customer reviews weeks laterUtility reads meters once a month

day 1 day 30

Utility records monthly consumption, assembles information, issues monthly bills.

30 reads laterMonday AM –Consume energy

New Paradigm

Tuesday AM – Have Answers

Utility retrieves interval data in support of billing, load research, demand side management, etc.

Resulting benefits: Reduced cost, accelerated cash flow, increased customer retention, and increased billing accuracy

FirstPoint Mission

FirstPoint is dedicated to providing hardware and software solutions that enable utilities and end use customers to make vital business decisions, reduce cost, and increase revenue through interval data.

Strategic Partnerships

• Al Yamama • Davies Northern• SLC/RIO• Kells Innovations• nPhasys• AMR Systems• Datamatic

Representative FirstPoint Clients(Electric, Water, and Gas)

IOUs Munis End Users

PGE Ipswich Kroger

PPL Sioux City APSES

PG&E Hartford MDC

Johnson Controls

Only FirstPoint provides a family of products and services that effectively bridges the gap between you and your data…and delivers it when and how

you need it.

Hardware Software Services

• An AMR leader for more than a quarter of a century

• Holds more than a dozen patents for AMR technology

• Deployed the first community wide system in the U.S.

• Developed the first dial inbound system


• Monitors gas, water, electric, and sub-meteringMonitors gas, water, electric, and sub-metering• Cost-effective – one device serves up to four Cost-effective – one device serves up to four

independent metersindependent meters• Self-powered with field replaceable batterySelf-powered with field replaceable battery• Universal meter compatibilityUniversal meter compatibility• General purpose I/O ports to support remote General purpose I/O ports to support remote

connect/disconnectconnect/disconnect• Multi-host capabilitiesMulti-host capabilities• Multiple communication options (Telephone, Multiple communication options (Telephone,

Radio Frequency, Ethernet, Power Line Carrier)Radio Frequency, Ethernet, Power Line Carrier)

Built with flexibility in mind:Built with flexibility in mind:


A new generation of AMR products

TDS-2 TDS-4M


Telephone

• Ability to read up to four meters with one device• Compatible with all major electric, water, and gas

meters (pulse and encoded signals)• Collects interval data down to 5 minutes• Patented off-hook detect circuit allowing for

shared line applications• Offers real-time power outage and tamper

notification• MV-90 compatible


Ethernet

• Provides real-time access to meter data• Compatible with all major electric, water,

and gas meters (pulse and encoded signals)• Available Wi-Fi capability Auto-sensing integrated 10/100 Mbit

network interface (RJ-45) Power over Ethernet


Radio Frequency

• Highly scalable with multiple configuration options (walk-by, drive-by, fixed area network, or combination)

• License free band• Collectors can be used as Wi-Fi access

points for laptops, PDAs, etc.


Remote Connect/Disconnect

• 50 to 200 Amp service• Extended service life (over 50,000 cycles)• Fully integrated into AMR Software• Optional pager driven technology


Power Line Carrier

• Two-way communication• Can be embedded into electric meter for Can be embedded into electric meter for

rapid deploymentrapid deployment• Compatible with RF reading software Compatible with RF reading software

allowing for mixed technologies that can be allowing for mixed technologies that can be read with a single softwareread with a single software


Hardware Features Summary

Telephone Ethernet Radio Frequency

Power Line Carrier

Read up to 4 Meters

Interval Data

Two-way Communication

Demand Read

Field Replaceable Battery


FirstPoint offers a suite of software applications that handle data acquisition, storage and distribution.These products include:• Compass • Mozart/TDM• SRAC• nPointe

ServicesHardware Software Services

COMPASS• Provides customizable interval data processingProvides customizable interval data processing • Creates centralized meter data management system Creates centralized meter data management system

enabling easy accessenabling easy access • Integrates all energy information requirements for you Integrates all energy information requirements for you

and your customersand your customers• Secure access for internal use and external data accessSecure access for internal use and external data access• Supports multiple ‘head-end’ meter polling softwareSupports multiple ‘head-end’ meter polling software• Supports multiple data publishing needsSupports multiple data publishing needs• Delivers performance reporting and process status Delivers performance reporting and process status

reportingreporting



MV-90 QuadlogicTDMSiemensHuntABB

AMR SERVERS

Billing SettlementCSRCIS

Customer 1 Customer 3Customer 2

COMPASS SYSTEM

Internet

COMPASS SERVER

EISWEB SERVER

DATA WAREHOUSE

INTERNAL BUSINESS SYSTEMS

DMZ

PUBLIC ACCESS

LEGENDAMR Automated Meter ReadingCIS Customer Inf ormation Sy stemCSR Customer Serv ice AgentDMZ Demilitarized zoneEIS Energy Inf ormation Sy stemGUI Graphical User Interf ace

Forecasting Load Research

Compass Web Server

Web Based GUI(Compass Operator)

COMPASS SYSTEM OVERVIEW

Hand held/Manualmeter readsCommSTAR

FirstPoint PGE Install


Pager Network

AMR Server

P+4 Handheld

M32 (Sm artSynch)1,700 Meters

Itron P+4800K Meters

MV901300 Meters

Van

Apartm ents

C om pass

Intervals

Intervals

Readings

Intervals

Hunt3,500 Meters

Reading andInterval data

PowerlineCarrier

Mview75 Meter

P ilot

Readi

ngs

Inte

rval

s

Banner C IS

Load Research

SB1149

SystemPlanning

E-M anager

Custom er DataRequests

Com plex B illing

Interval data

Energy Monitor

P B S

In te rface 73

In te rface 23

F orcas ting

E xce le rgy

S e ttlem en t

E S S

O S I-P I

S iE nergy

C ustomE xports

C us tomE xports

S A S

RF Network

W EB Front EndW in 2000 Server

Com paq ProLiant DL360x86 Fam ily 6 Model 8 S tepping

6 GenuineIntel ~797 Mhz

Com pass ServerSun Enterprize 5500

6X400 Mhz6 GbUnix

Oracle 8I database900 G ig storage

PL/SQL applicationC for the incom ing

Interfaces

Mozart/TDM

• Versatile data acquisition softwareVersatile data acquisition software• Supports multiple communication types Supports multiple communication types

(Telephone, TCPIP, Satellite, and Cellular)(Telephone, TCPIP, Satellite, and Cellular)• Support inbound and outbound Support inbound and outbound

communicationcommunication• Easily exports data into other systems Easily exports data into other systems

(Billing, CIS, Load Management)(Billing, CIS, Load Management)


SRAC

• Developed to support outbound telephone reads

• Scalable to read several hundred thousand meters

• Utilizes cutting edge technology to manage and route outbound calls

• Eliminates need for specialized telephone company equipment


nPointe

• Complex billing system designed exclusively for electrical utilities, energy service providers and large Commercial and Industrial (C&I) customers

• Ideal for all utilities in need of a structured C&I billing engine, for rate prototyping and what-if scenarios, and C&I customers for supplier auditing purposes


BillingEngine

GUI

CustomerInformation

RatesSchedule

TOUSchedule

Meter ReadAnd/or

Consumption

TOUMV-90

IntervalMV-90 PRN

DeterminantsData & Reports

Archive

ExportTo

External Systems

Bill

nPointe

FirstPoint offers the following services:FirstPoint offers the following services:

• DData ata AAcquisition cquisition SServices ervices • EEnergy nergy IInformation nformation SServiceervice• Software Support ServicesSoftware Support Services• Installation ServicesInstallation Services• TrainingTraining


Data Acquisition Services (DAS)

• In-house meter operations expertiseIn-house meter operations expertise• Daily reads web-based for instant accessDaily reads web-based for instant access• Brand-able web-sites for Brand-able web-sites for youryour customers’ customers’

convenienceconvenience• Secure data access via PINSecure data access via PIN• Certified and tested capabilities meet all utility Certified and tested capabilities meet all utility

standards in CA, AZ and other states as they standards in CA, AZ and other states as they deregulatederegulate

• Uses proprietary and MV-90 softwareUses proprietary and MV-90 software• Results in billing-quality dataResults in billing-quality data• Data storage for minimum 3 yearsData storage for minimum 3 years

Software Services


Web Based EIS

• Web-based EIS data presentations• Brand-able platforms• Reliable delivery of accurate and secure usage

information to end-use customers 7X24• Raw meter data becomes dynamic information Raw meter data becomes dynamic information

leading to effective energy managementleading to effective energy management• Creates a web-based presence for your companyCreates a web-based presence for your company• Becomes a value-added service that Becomes a value-added service that

strengthens your customer relationshipsstrengthens your customer relationships


Data becomes a dynamic tool for you and your customers through EIS!


SummaryFirstPoint products and services offer the following benefits:• Reduce demand• Conduct dynamic load profiling• Provide value-added products & services• Create a branded e-business presence• Manage curtailment better• Improve asset utilization• Enhance meter reading accuracy & frequency• Increase cash flow• Improve customer response & relations• Reduce data collection costs • Increase operational efficiency

amr technology then and now

Documents

das data acquisition

consulting services

additional services

epcor water services

sub meteredinterval

specialized metering

strategic energy

software solutions