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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
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
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
The Future of Metering:
What You Should Know About AMI/AMR
Great Potential
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
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
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
The Future of Metering:
What You Should Know About AMI/AMR
Getting Educated – Automatic Meter Reading vs.
Advanced Metering Infrastructure
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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3 AM
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all
on
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Irrigation
Leak
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
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
AMI vs. AMR – A Case Study
AMI Features - Using AMR Technology
• Data Profiling
• Customer Leak Detection
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100
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M
11 A
M
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M1 PM
2 PM
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all
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Irrigation
Leak
The Future of Metering:
What You Should Know About AMI/AMR
Having a Plan
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 _______?
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
The Future of Metering:
What You Should Know About AMI/AMR
Extra Information
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
