The following aspects have to be kept in view while using the technology:
•Reliability of Communication
The communication media has to be reliable and should promise a very quick up-time. Its data integrity also needs to be checked by asking for the error correction or any other technique deployed for the purpose.
•Tamper Resistant
One of the prime applications of AMR is “remote patrolling” whereby a pilfer-prone consumer is monitored on real time to ensure that the consumer does not tamper with the meter/metering installation. For such applications, the media that should be selected should not be easily accessible to the consumer or the common public. For example, the PSTN line can be cut, damaged or abused by high voltage by any one as it is publicly accessible. GSM technology is being used to prevent environmental/ man-made disturbances.
•Secrecy
The communication media should have sufficient security at the physical and data level so as to prevent eavesdropping and/or data modification.There are many communication service providers who provide restricted calling whereby a target subscriber cannot be accessed except by the registered caller. Besides the network security, the utility should enquire from the energy meter suppliers about the security that is embedded in the energy meter and the meter reading station.
•Reliability of Communication
The communication media has to be reliable and should promise a very quick up-time. Its data integrity also needs to be checked by asking for the error correction or any other technique deployed for the purpose.
•Tamper Resistant
One of the prime applications of AMR is “remote patrolling” whereby a pilfer-prone consumer is monitored on real time to ensure that the consumer does not tamper with the meter/metering installation. For such applications, the media that should be selected should not be easily accessible to the consumer or the common public. For example, the PSTN line can be cut, damaged or abused by high voltage by any one as it is publicly accessible. GSM technology is being used to prevent environmental/ man-made disturbances.
•Secrecy
The communication media should have sufficient security at the physical and data level so as to prevent eavesdropping and/or data modification.There are many communication service providers who provide restricted calling whereby a target subscriber cannot be accessed except by the registered caller. Besides the network security, the utility should enquire from the energy meter suppliers about the security that is embedded in the energy meter and the meter reading station.
•Issues Related to AMR
The following issues relate directly to the use of AMR by the utility:
− No Separate Modem Rectification Team: An exclusive field team with all the relevant knowledge base has to be developed within the
utility for early detection and rectification of any technical snag. There is no need for separate team for rectifying the Modem.
− Reading of Non-Communicating Connections: The reason for non-communication can be attributed to
Optical chord failure
Modem failure
Network failure
Power failure
The field team should not only be procuring the reading through CMRI but also be able to rectify the bugs mentioned above.
•Modem Installation in LT CT ABB Meters
At present, the gap between the optical port of the meter and the meter box is not of appropriate size as required due to which connectivity cannot be established in the CT meters manufactured by ABB. The optical port is being redesigned for the ABB meters.
• Error in downloaded data in ABB meters
• Software Bugs
We end this unit by presenting the case study of IT use in metering by NDPL.Automatic Meter Reading: A Case Study of NDPL NDPL installed a pre-identified consumer’s meter with a GSM modem with a unique Cell number allocated to it. The AMR & DA system communicates with the meter by dialing into its modem through a master PSTN modem. The number of master PSTN modems is based on the system load and meter reading frequency. The meters are read based on a pre-defined, user configurable schedule.
All CT operated meters in NDPL are targeted to be brought under this AMR & DA system. Currently, NDPL is reading about 15000 meters through AMR & DA system. These high-end consumers need to be monitored rigorously because although they constitute about 2% of the total consumer population,they contribute to about 50% of the revenue. NDPL has standardized the meter vendors. The metering vendors are Secure Meters (SEM), Larson & Toubro (L&T), ABB. Each meter manufacturer is storing the data in an encrypted format and the communication protocols employed by them are proprietary. Specifications for Remote Meter Reading unit with GSM Modem and power supply Used at NDPL are given in Table:
The following issues relate directly to the use of AMR by the utility:
− No Separate Modem Rectification Team: An exclusive field team with all the relevant knowledge base has to be developed within the
utility for early detection and rectification of any technical snag. There is no need for separate team for rectifying the Modem.
− Reading of Non-Communicating Connections: The reason for non-communication can be attributed to
Optical chord failure
Modem failure
Network failure
Power failure
The field team should not only be procuring the reading through CMRI but also be able to rectify the bugs mentioned above.
•Modem Installation in LT CT ABB Meters
At present, the gap between the optical port of the meter and the meter box is not of appropriate size as required due to which connectivity cannot be established in the CT meters manufactured by ABB. The optical port is being redesigned for the ABB meters.
• Error in downloaded data in ABB meters
• Software Bugs
We end this unit by presenting the case study of IT use in metering by NDPL.Automatic Meter Reading: A Case Study of NDPL NDPL installed a pre-identified consumer’s meter with a GSM modem with a unique Cell number allocated to it. The AMR & DA system communicates with the meter by dialing into its modem through a master PSTN modem. The number of master PSTN modems is based on the system load and meter reading frequency. The meters are read based on a pre-defined, user configurable schedule.
All CT operated meters in NDPL are targeted to be brought under this AMR & DA system. Currently, NDPL is reading about 15000 meters through AMR & DA system. These high-end consumers need to be monitored rigorously because although they constitute about 2% of the total consumer population,they contribute to about 50% of the revenue. NDPL has standardized the meter vendors. The metering vendors are Secure Meters (SEM), Larson & Toubro (L&T), ABB. Each meter manufacturer is storing the data in an encrypted format and the communication protocols employed by them are proprietary. Specifications for Remote Meter Reading unit with GSM Modem and power supply Used at NDPL are given in Table:
 |
| Technical Specification Requirement and Compliance |
NDPL has opted for Wireless in Local Loop technology. Idea and Airtel are the vendors for providing services for GSM while Tata Indicom has been chosen for CDMA.
Prioritization and Phasing
While the installation part of the KCG and SPD consumers are complete at NDPL, and have been incorporated into the billing cycle, more than 7000 meters in the HRB category are yet to be affixed with AMR. Moreover,the meters which have been installed with AMR in HRB category are yet to be brought to the billing cycle due to lack of the infrastructure mentioned in the previous sections. Thus, there are two parallel things to be done.One, ensuring that the existing consumers where modems are already in operation are billed through this AMR technology and the data analysis is done in the common framework software with in-built artificial intelligence for flagging out cases ca lling for further investigations and actions. Next, the remaining CT consumers in HRB category need to be listed with respect to the load and units consumed, based on which a time bound plan is to be devised for phase wise installation of AMR and modems.
Prioritization and Phasing
While the installation part of the KCG and SPD consumers are complete at NDPL, and have been incorporated into the billing cycle, more than 7000 meters in the HRB category are yet to be affixed with AMR. Moreover,the meters which have been installed with AMR in HRB category are yet to be brought to the billing cycle due to lack of the infrastructure mentioned in the previous sections. Thus, there are two parallel things to be done.One, ensuring that the existing consumers where modems are already in operation are billed through this AMR technology and the data analysis is done in the common framework software with in-built artificial intelligence for flagging out cases ca lling for further investigations and actions. Next, the remaining CT consumers in HRB category need to be listed with respect to the load and units consumed, based on which a time bound plan is to be devised for phase wise installation of AMR and modems.
Work Processes
 |
| Occurrence of the Types of Tampers as Generally Faced |
• Installation
• Testing
• Dial up Networking
• Data Acquisition
• Data Analysis
• Data ArchiveMetering : IT
Application
The experiences of NDPL are presented in Figures and Tables given below.
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| Recorded Demand Vs. Contract Demand |
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| Ratio of RD/CD Vs Load Factor |
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| Time Series Analysis |
Exceptions for investigation
1 Load Factor Above 100%
2 Power Factor >1
3 Recorded Demand > Contract Demand
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