Dr Martin Anda Principal Engineer Sustainability, ENV Australia Pty Ltd Chair Environmental Engineering, Murdoch University

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SMART METER TRIAL Residential Water Efficiency

Outline •  H2omeSmart Program •  The Smart Meter Trial

–  Implementation – Participating households – Engagement Strategies – Data Analysis – Participant feedback – Future Lessons

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Perth H2omeSmart Aim: 12% water use reduction in 10,000 households Methods:

–  Target 18 high use suburbs –  Database 33,000 O/Os –  Apply CBSM techniques –  July 2011 – Aug 2012 –  Invitation to participate, media –  Meter reading, feedback letters, eco-coaching –  Waterwise fixtures retrofit for pensioners

Outcomes: Projected savings 10% by 10,949 households.

CBSM methods

CBSM methods

Typically, 4-6 rounds over 6-12 months

CBSM 1: Research

1.  Focus groups, surveys, interviews, etc. 2.  Identify the barriers to change! 3.  Create the correct messages! 4.  Design the locally relevant strategies!

CBSM 2: Recruitment

CBSM 3: Reading your meter

CBSM 4: Data Analysis

CBSM 5: Feedback Letter

How use compares to others

Agreed actions

Raw data & water use calculations

Total savings by H2ome Smart households

CBSM 6: Eco-coaching

Prizes, newsletter, media promotions

After

Before

Start again: Read meter

Benefits of Smart Metering Utility •  Eliminate manual meter reads •  Ability to bill more frequently •  Integrate asset management, customer

account & billing systems in one database. Customer •  Identification of leaks •  Improved customer service experience •  Water consumption more tangible

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Smart or Advanced Metering Infrastructure (SMI or AMI)

All of the hardware, software and connectivity required for a fully functional smart metering system.

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The Water Meter

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Smart Water Meters

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Wireless Smart Water Meters

•  No cabling from meter back to switchboard. •  Reduces installation costs •  (No trenches or fixed wiring).

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Value in CBSM BCPs

•  Actions can be directly linked to their consumption

•  Flexibility in level of engagement •  Eco-coaching can be personalized and

targeted •  In-house display provides real-time data

WATER SAVINGS!

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The H20me Smart Trial 1. Test how real-time water use

monitoring and online feedback could be integrated into the Perth BCP.

2. Test the use of real-time comparative/ normative feedback.

3. Greensense was the industry partner. 20

Implementation - Technology

Greensense Platform is a ‘multi-utility’ service.

Greensense Process three parts; 1.  Collection of data 2.  Processing in real time 3.  Present data on GreensenseView dashboard

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Implementation - Data Collection

•  Pulse head & data logger installed onto water meter at house.

•  Logger notes a pulse every 1L or 5L used.

•  Sends data through mobile 3G network

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Implementation - Greensense View

•  Launch Smart Meter Challenge dashboard •  Extract water consumption & # occupants data in number of formats. •  Compare water consumption between weeks through a weekly profile •  5-minute interval profiles that showed specific end-uses to be identified

(e.g. distinguishing toilet flush from shower from garden irrigation)

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Implementation - Quintile module

Implementation - Heatmap Report

Implementation- Online Dashboard

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Water use in real time

Competition between households

Daily weather/ quintiles

Waterwise tips

Participating Households •  Selection criteria, •  Selected participants offered meters. •  9 households accepted the offer •  Pulse head and data logger also installed at Josh

Byrne family home, ABC TV’s Gardening Australia.

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Results: Engagement

Engagement with dashboard lower than expected; •  Letter & info packs sent as physical reminder of

smart meter challenge (Round 4). •  Phone calls to prompt dashboard use (Rounds 4

and 5). •  Letter insert in response to participants

forgetting log-in details/or not logged on to their dashboards (Round 5).

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Results: Data Analysis

•  Heat Maps - help identify anomalies & patterns of water use.

•  Weekly Profile Comparison Reports - water use averages & maximums tabulated & graphed for 2 periods of time.

•  Nature of this program means water reduction cannot be solely attributable to real-time data through online dashboard.

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Results - Water Savings Most households made a water savings!

Note: Season effect on consumption - large decrease in consumption coincides with winter & not direct result of smart meter installation.

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Participant Feedback Initial feedback encouraging:

“We have been using the dashboard for just over a week now and have been checking the dashboard on a daily basis. Seeing how we compare to other households is very motivating. When we first logged in we were above the average now we are below and trying to get lower - I don't know how they can use so little water - if you have some insights please pass it on!.

My partner has become very competitive about what we are calling the "Shower Peaks" on the graph; he is trying to use less water than me for each shower. When we first started I used considerably less water than him for showers now we are about even. So I think this Greensense meter has really helped him monitor his water usage because where I always think about my water usage he never did so it really has improved his water usage.”

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Lessons for the future •  Understanding meter limitations •  Visual display of real-time data

& analysis for households must be used carefully.

•  Effort required for successful engagement

•  Carefully integrate the dashboard & data into eco-coaching

•  Future programs can fully integrate smart metering with a CBSM BCP

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THANK YOU

ANY QUESTIONS?

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