the future of metering: what you should know about ami/amr...the future of metering: what you should...
TRANSCRIPT
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The Future of Metering:
What You Should Know About AMI/AMR
NCAWWA-WEA
Billing & Collection Systems Seminar
February 27, 2013
Jennifer Bell, P.E.
CH2M HILL
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Key TakeAways
• AMR/AMI Technology has great potential
– meters & billing are the most direct connection the utility has to its customers
– a successful program can enhance customer relations
• Get educated…or retain an objective third party to advise you
– vendors aren’t paid to know what’s best for you
• Have a plan!
– understand what features you need and when, and how you can get there
A well-designed and well-managed procurement & installation
process is the difference between failure and success
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The Future of Metering:
What You Should Know About AMI/AMR
Great Potential
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Why Invest in AMI/AMR?
• Typical Drivers for Water Utility AMI/AMR
– Cost control
– Water loss reduction and revenue recovery
– Customer service issues
– Conservation
– Reading frequency
– Labor or management issues
– Technophilia
• Traditional Benefits of AMR/AMI Implementation
– Reduced Operating Costs
• Reduced labor / vehicles
• Fewer re-reads
• Readily available finals
– Improved Accuracy / Increased Frequency
• No estimates needed
– Enhanced Customer Service
– Leak, theft and tamper detection
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Conservation
Planning
New Services
Productivity Improvements
Extend Life of Assets
Direct
Savings
Information
Meter Reading
Registration Recovery
Field Services
Other Staff
Vehicles, etc.
Adjustments
Distribution System Management
“Non-Traditional” Benefit Areas Increasingly Important
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Are you ready for AMR/AMI?
• Is something “broken”?
• Does the project have senior-level advocacy?
– Never a “trivial” effort
• Will there be political backlash from staff cuts?
• What is the condition of your existing meters?
• Is there flexibility in your procurement process?
STOP
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The Future of Metering:
What You Should Know About AMI/AMR
Getting Educated – Automatic Meter Reading vs.
Advanced Metering Infrastructure
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Evolution of Meter Reading
• Manual Read
– Water flows through CASE, documented by REGISTER
– Requires visual inspection of Register
– Still used by a majority of utilities
– How long does it take to read 50,000+ meters?
MANUAL
READ
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Evolution of Meter Reading
• Touch Read
– An early step toward automated readings
– Improved access, speed
– Helps reduce “human” error
– Adds a third component to metering
• case
• register
• TOUCH PAD – interface with register
TOUCH
READ MANUAL
READ
Handheld “Wand” Data Recorder
Touch Pad
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Evolution of Meter Reading
• Mobile
– interface with register can now transmit data short distances
by radio frequency (MIU)
– Relatively low cost
– Flexible deployment strategies
– Supports high read success rate
– Some mobile units can store profile data
– Successful installation readily confirmed
– “Sneaker-net” backhaul
– Limited migratability
– Meter reader can inspect
MOBILE TOUCH
READ
MANUAL
READ
MIU
MIU
Handheld/Laptop Computer Receiver
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Evolution of Meter Reading
• Fixed Network
– MIU’s get stronger…DCU’s introduced
to backhaul data to central data receiver
– Multiple readings per day, profiling capability
– Data management requirements
– Easy aggregation of meter readings
– Tamper, leaks, etc., detected quickly
– Collector siting issues, repeaters may be needed
FIXED
NETWORK MOBILE
TOUCH
READ
MANUAL
READ
DCU
DCU
Control Computer Receiver
MIU MIU
MIU
MIU
MIU
MIU
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Technical Misdirection
• Meter Interface Units
– Mounting options
– Meter pit issues
– One-port versus two
– MIUs as repeaters
– Batteries
– Warranties
• Data Collector Units
– Collector siting issues
– Repeaters may be needed
– Propagation Study
– Does SIZE matter?
• Backhaul Modes
– Cellular
– Ethernet
– Wi-Fi
– Fiber
Photo courtesy Itron
Photo courtesy Aclara
Neptune Integrated
R900
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MORE Technical Misdirection
• Radio Frequencies for MIUs
– UHF (450-470 MHz)
– ISM (902-928 MHz, 2.4-2.483 GHz, 5.725-5.875 GHz)
– MAS (928-956 MHz)
– 1.4 GHz
– Power, duration, interval
– Noise, “immunization” techniques
• AMR Data Characteristics
– Frequency of meter sampling (e.g., monthly, hourly)
– Frequency of data transmission (e.g., daily, monthly)
– Storage
– Granularity of meter reading
– Read success rate - reliability versus function
Photo courtesy Badger Meter
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AMI Features
• Customer Leak Detection
• Data Profiling
• System Balancing
• Conservation Enforcement
• Enhanced Customer Service
• Reduced Service Calls
• Staying on the leading edge
of utility management
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
1 AM
2 AM
3 AM
4 AM
5 AM
6 AM
7 AM
8 AM
9 AM
10 A
M
11 A
M
12 P
M1 PM
2 PM
3 PM
4 PM
5 PM
6 PM
7 PM
8 PM
9 PM
10 P
M
11 P
M
12 A
MG
all
on
s
Irrigation
Leak
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AMI vs. AMR – A Case Study
South Island Public Service District
• < 10,000 accounts
• Primarily residential
• Significant seasonal
population
• Quarterly billing (residential)
• Extreme Coastal Environment
• Difficult installs
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AMI vs. AMR – A Case Study
Key System Attributes
• Capital Cost
• Maintenance Costs
• Proven Technology
• Upgradeable
• Functionality
• Interoperability
• Warranty
• Billing Interface
• Accuracy
• Vendor Stability
• Deployment Strategy
Photo courtesy VSI
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AMI vs. AMR – A Case Study
AMI Features - Using AMR Technology
• Data Profiling
• Customer Leak Detection
0
10
20
30
40
50
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80
90
100
1 AM
2 AM
3 AM
4 AM
5 AM
6 AM
7 AM
8 AM
9 AM
10 A
M
11 A
M
12 P
M1 PM
2 PM
3 PM
4 PM
5 PM
6 PM
7 PM
8 PM
9 PM
10 P
M
11 P
M
12 A
MG
all
on
s
Irrigation
Leak
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The Future of Metering:
What You Should Know About AMI/AMR
Having a Plan
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Typical AMR/AMI Project Pitfalls
• Preferred Vendor or Premature Product Selection
– Favorable negotiations rely on perceived competition
• Developing Performance Specifications
– How do you translate expectations (and vendor promises) into contractual obligation?
• Warranty is not a Guarantee
– What is the true cost of FAILURE?
• AMR Installation success relies on data tracking and QA/QC practices
– If meters were ‘switched’, would you EVER know?
• Interface with billing system
– Who will ensure that data is usable, and that staff is trained properly?
• More FINE PRINT…
– What are STANDARD CONDITIONS?
– What is REPLACEMENT COST?
– Who’s responsible for _______?
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Key TakeAways
• AMR/AMI Technology has great potential
– meters & billing are the most direct connection the utility has to its customers
– a successful program can enhance customer relations
• Get educated…or retain an objective third party to advise you
– vendors aren’t paid to know what’s best for you
• Have a plan!
– understand what features you need and when, and how you can get there
A well-designed and well-managed procurement & installation
process is the difference between failure and success
![Page 22: The Future of Metering: What You Should Know About AMI/AMR...The Future of Metering: What You Should Know About AMI/AMR NCAWWA-WEA Billing & Collection Systems Seminar February 27,](https://reader033.vdocuments.site/reader033/viewer/2022060523/6052362c00ca2d7374051b34/html5/thumbnails/22.jpg)
The Future of Metering:
What You Should Know About AMI/AMR
Extra Information
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Fixed Base Networks Expanding the Coverage Area
• When meters are far removed from a DCU, additional infrastructure is needed
– REPEATERS relay meter data from MIU’s to DCU
DCU
DCU
Control Computer Receiver
MIU MIU
MIU
MIU
MIU
MIU
MIU
MIU
Repeater
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Fixed Base Networks Expanding the Coverage Area
• Some utilities may elect to use a “Hybrid” system
– may be part of a ‘phased’ approach
– often uses incompatible components (MIUs)
DCU
DCU
Control Computer Receiver
MIU MIU
MIU
MIU
MIU
MIU
MIU
MIU
Handheld/Laptop Computer Receiver
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Fixed Base Networks Expanding the Coverage Area
• Mesh Network
– MIUs relay data like mini-repeaters and extend the reach of AMI
– Data paths are redundant
MIU DCU
MIU
MIU
MIU
MIU
DCU
DCU
DCU
Control Computer Receiver
MIU
MIU
MIU MIU
MIU
MIU
MIU
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Fixed Base Networks One-way vs. Two-Way Communication
• Originally, fixed networks operated only with “one-way” data transmission
– MIU’s will “talk”, but not “listen”
– data is sent in regularly scheduled “bursts”
• Later generations of fixed networks employed
“two-way” transmission
– MIU’s can “talk” AND “listen”
– enables remote programming, upgrades
– potential for added functionality
– instant reads
DCU
DCU
Control Computer Receiver
MIU MIU
MIU
MIU
MIU
MIU
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Stages of An AMR/AMI Project
• Study & Planning
– Business Case (formal or informal)
– Strategic Plan
– AMR Master Plan
• RFP Development
• Contractor Selection & Negotiation
– Proposal Review
– Demonstrations/Interviews
– Site Visits & Reference Checks
• Implementation Start-up
– Pilot Programs
– QA Protocols
– Billing System Interface
• Meter Replacement & AMR Installation
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Doing the Right Thing at the Right Time
• Deployment Strategy CAN Affect Technology Choice, WILL Affect Cost
– Short versus long-term deployment
– Phased – where to start?
– Migration strategies
– Surgical (e.g., high cost to read areas, high volume customers)
– Opportunistic (e.g., all new construction, customer turnover)
– In conjunction w/ other projects (e.g., meter age change, system rehab)
– Economies of scale, price points
– Contractor versus in-house installation
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Typical Procurement
• Turn-Key Delivery Strategy
– PRO: Allow the formation of natural alliances, while maintaining market competition
– CON: May not offer the “right” combination of partners, relies heavily on well-crafted RFP
• The Teams
– Installer
– AMR Vendor
– Meter Manufacturer
– Supplier
• Who Should Prime?
– Largest, Most Solvent Entity
– Party w/Greatest Impact on Project Success
• A Twist?
– Pre-approve installers