Conservation Voltage Regulation using AMI Data

IESO Conservation Fund Pilot

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VVO/CVR Primer

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VVO/CVR Background Acronyms and Definitions VVO – Volt-VAR Optimization CVR – Conservation Voltage Regulation or Reduction CVR is a technology for reducing energy and peak demand

by lowering the voltage on the distribution system. History CVR has been used as a short duration energy conservation

measure over 30 years in North America. • In 1973 New York PSC ordered voltage reductions of 3.0%

and 5.0% to conserve energy during the oil embargo. • PJM requested 5% voltage reduction

during Polar Vortex of 2014. • IESO conducts Voltage Reduction Tests

every 18 months (3% and 5%). 3

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IESO Voltage Reduction Tests

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Over 450MW of Demand Reduction

Chart courtesy of the IESO: http://www.ieso.ca/Documents/ircp/ieso/IESO_REP_0649-Voltage-Reduction-Test-20100715.pdf

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CVR Voltage Delivery

• Electricity delivered to customer’s meter

required to be within 110V – 125V (Residential Service in Ontario per CSA)

• Utilities typically deliver electricity to customers’ meters around 120+V • Consumer devices are designed to operate

with 108V input

CVR for Energy Efficiency Higher customer voltages result in higher usage and

bills.

Voltage optimization will reduce incoming

voltage leading to lower electricity

usage and lower bills

125V

120V

110V

Maximum Allowed Voltage

Nominal Voltage

Minimum Allowed Voltage

Excess voltage results in wasted energy!

95% of energy savings are behind the meter

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Example CVR Factors by Circuit

Results From EPRI Green Circuits Project Research

CVR Factor = % Δ kWh % Δ Volts

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CVR Factor by Load Type

Incandescent Light Bulb

Oscillating Fan

Compact Fluorescent Light

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VVO/CVR Methods Various VVO/CVR Methods

Manual VVO (CVR) typically used as an emergency

energy conservation measure • Dispatch personnel to the substation to

adjust the tap of the transformer Load Tap Changer (LTC)

Automated VVO/CVR Methods

• Model Based (DMS, SCADA) • Primary Sensor Based • AMI Based (Smart Meters)

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VVO/CVR Background

Substation Load Tap Changers

Voltage Regulator

Capacitor Bank

Electric Meters

Electric Meters Electric Meters Electric Meters Electric Meters

Distribution System Model

DMS or SCADA Model

Advantages • Does not require AMI (Smart Meters)

Disadvantages • Does not monitor secondary voltages • Potential safety issue due to lack of

secondary visibility • Cannot be as aggressive on energy

savings (Typically maximum of 2%)

Model Based and/or Primary Sensor Based

VVO/CVR

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Smart Meter Based CVR

Substation Load Tap Changers

VO Control System

Voltage Regulator

Capacitor Bank Switch

Smart Meters

Smart Meters Smart Meters Smart Meters Smart Meters

Control

Control Control

Voltage Measurements

Advantages • Direct visibility of voltage at all customers • Extremely cost effective if AMI is already in place (low LCOE) • Maximum savings potential versus other approaches Disadvantages • Requires AMI (Smart Meters)

110V 120V

117V

118V

118V

119V

122V

114V

114V 121V

119V

117V 108V

117V

118V

116V

120V

117V

117V

117V

Voltage Measurements

Voltage Measurements Voltage

Measurements Voltage

Measurements

Dynamic Bellwether AMI Voltage Feedback

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AMI Based CVR Pilot at Hydro Ottawa

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Why a Pilot CVR has been around a long time but is currently not well understood and Ontario LDCs typically do not manage their delivery voltage for energy efficiency.

• Confirm that CVR reduces energy consumption for consumers

• Demonstrate the feasibility of using the AMI network to read and precisely regulate voltage.

• Removing the uncertainty that has to date stalled CVR projects in the Province by conducting solid E, M and V

• Demonstrate the value of CVR in achieving Conservation targets

• Include in CDM initiatives 2015 - 2020

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Pilot Overview • Pilot Funded by IESO Conservation Fund • Partnered with Dominion Voltage Inc. (DVI) and Elster Metering • All parties Contributing Financially • Awarded December 2014 • Project Start: May 2015 • End Date August 2016 • Initial Deployment

• One Substation (Kanata MTS), Two transformers • Five Circuits, Approximately 6,000 meters, 40 MVA

• System Go Live: September 22, 2015 • Expected Savings: 5 GWh

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Why DVI, Elster and CVR

• DVI EDGE software is compatible with Elster AMI • Smart meters read the voltage right at the delivery point • Does not overwhelm AMI network as it reads only a small

subset of meters • Constantly looks for abnormalities to add into the subset • Guard Rails and Back outs keep voltage with guidelines • Can cut power usage by a few percentage points • Cost Effective compared to other CDM Initiatives • All customers benefit

Read, Manage, Adapt and Validate

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What we Did • Elster REX1, REX2 and A3 nodes, capable of providing the

required voltage readings. • Installed Two Servers and DVI’s EDGE software • Replaced telephone based Gatekeepers (GKs) with high

bandwidth cellular GKs (Elster WIC). Installed 12 WICs, disabled 40 GK.

• Set up Voltage Read Schedule in AMI head end to read 20 bellwether meters every 15 minutes, 24 hours a day.

• Readings made available to Edge via Web Services. • Setup Station Voltage Control via DNP3 (No SCADA

integration) • Secure connection • Modem • RTAC • Beckwith M2001-D Voltage Controller

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Internal Project Team • CVR is complex and involves many areas of the

LDC (Meter Shop, Meter Data Services, CIS Support, IT, Stations, Operating, Planning, Smart Grid, CDM, Finance, Etc.),

• CVR is both an IT and a Wires Solution (two pilot leads)

• Engagement necessary to enjoy the reward of extra team effort

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Station Equipment on the Bench

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Elster Wireless Gatekeeper

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Typical WIC Install

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Indoor WIC Install

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Lesson 1 - AMI RF Network is a Living

Organism • There is no predicting the network path,

nodes have a mind of their own • Installed 12 WICs, Disabled 40 Gatekeepers • We went too fast and affected Meter to Cash • Deployment took a few weeks allowing a couple of days to settle after each WIC install

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Lesson 2 – Sag Alerts • EDGE uses Sag alerts to vote meters onto the

Bellwether set • Rex 1 - not able to provide sag alerts, work

around required • Rex 2 (pre Ver 4.X) - provide sag alerts but

not a ‘Return to Normal’, configuration change required

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Lesson 3 – AMI Data Gaps

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Lesson 4 – Distribution Network Changes

Distribution system configuration changes can move Bellwether meters to alternate supply • Developed Operating Instruction • Conservative approach, if in doubt turn it off • Automatic adaptation to circuit changes is on the Road Map

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Still To Do • Resolve Outliers where practical • Tune for best CVR Factor • Work with IESO E, M and V group and

DVI Validator Module • Refine Business Case • Conservation Fund Report • Acceptance as CDM Program

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Bill Zollars, PE Dominion Voltage Inc. Technology Solutions Engineer 412-996-6925 (mobile) wzollars@dvigridsolutions.com

Thank you! Dan Roberts Hydro Ottawa Limited Conservation & Demand Management 705-657-8025 (office)

danroberts@hydroottawa.com