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

“Non-Traditional” Benefit Areas Increasingly Important Extend Life of Assets

Meter Reading

Conservation

Field Services Registration Recovery Other Staff Vehicles, etc. Adjustments

Planning Distribution System Management

Direct Savings Information

New Services Productivity Improvements

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 • 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?

Evolution of Meter Reading MANUAL READ

TOUCH READ

• 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 Pad

Handheld “Wand” Data Recorder

Evolution of Meter Reading MANUAL READ

TOUCH READ

MOBILE

• 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 MIU – Limited migratability – Meter reader can inspect MIU

Handheld/Laptop Computer Receiver

Evolution of Meter Reading MANUAL READ

TOUCH READ

FIXED NETWORK

MOBILE

• Fixed Network

MIU

– MIU’s get stronger…DCU’s introduced to backhaul data to central data receiver MIU – 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

MIU DCU Control Computer Receiver DCU

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?

Neptune Integrated R900

• Backhaul Modes – – – –

Cellular Ethernet Wi-Fi Fiber

Photo courtesy Aclara

Photo courtesy Itron

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

100 90 80

Irrigation

70 Gallons

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60 50 40

Leak

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• Staying on the leading edge of utility management

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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

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

100 90 80

Irrigation

60 50 40

Leak

30 20 10

A 10 M A 11 M AM 12 PM 1 PM 2 PM 3 PM 4 PM 5 PM 6 PM 7 PM 8 PM 9 PM 10 P 11 M P 12 M AM

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Gallons

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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

Questions? [email protected]

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

MIU MIU MIU

DCU

Repeater

Control Computer Receiver

MIU

MIU

DCU MIU MIU

MIU

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) MIU MIU MIU

MIU

DCU

Handheld/Laptop Computer Receiver

Control Computer Receiver

MIU

DCU MIU MIU

MIU

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

MIU DCU

MIU DCU

Control Computer Receiver

MIU

MIU MIU

MIU MIU

DCU

MIU

DCU 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

MIU MIU

MIU

DCU Control Computer Receiver DCU

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