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Introduction .................................................................................................................................................... 2 Smart Meter Capabilities ................................................................................................................................ 2 Integration of SAP IS-U and Smart Metering .................................................................................................. 3 Difference between Conventional Meter and Smart Meter ...................................................................... 4 Benefits of a Smart Meter .......................................................................................................................... 5 Meter Data Management ............................................................................................................................... 7 Who Owns the Data? .................................................................................................................................. 7 Handling Meter Data Management (MDM) ............................................................................................... 8 Meter Event Data: Beyond Interval Reads ................................................................................................. 9 Potential Business Areas for Events Data Insights.................................................................................... 10 Deriving Business Value ............................................................................................................................ 10 Improving Outage Management through Meter Events .......................................................................... 12 Smart Meter Event Processing: Business Context Diagram ..................................................................... 14 Smart Meter Event Processing Solution ................................................................................................... 14 Conclusion: From Data to Insights ............................................................................................................ 15 Future of a Smart Meter: - Smart Home ................................................................................................... 16
Introduction
Many utilities today are evaluating the potential benefits of Smart Metering for all utility stakeholders. Deployment of smart meters and smart devices is gathering momentum all over the world. Around 60 million smart meters have already been installed in the last ten years and several large scale deployments by utilities have either already started or are in the advanced planning stages. While concerns on costs, privacy, safety and security continue to surface, utilities have conclusively moved from why smart meters debate to when smart meters planning. Active support from policy makers and regulators, and harmonization of standards are expected to accelerate the proliferation of smart meters in the current decade and beyond. However, deployment of smart meters constitutes only the first lap in a long and complex journey towards realization of Smart Grid - a system that ensures quality, reliability and security of power while empowering consumers and utilities to make informed and dynamic decisions. At a micro level, smart meters can be considered as distributed sources that produce data, analogous to the distributed generation sources that produce electricity. This humongous amount of data, generated at rapid frequency, needs to be acquired, stored, processed, analysed and used in near real time to achieve major Smart Grid objectives. At the same time, smart meters can be dynamically configured to respond to consumer choices and prevailing supply conditions. Availability of this data and configurability options, by themselves, provide opportunities for utilities to IT-enable and reengineer business processes like never before.
The above diagram shows the integration of SAP IS-U system with smart meters. This integration typically depicts Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) and its integration with SAP IS-U system. However simple integration is also possible wherein files are sent to and fro to establish communication between SAP and smart metering system. The below example shows interfaces designed for utility company where meter reading request is sent From SAP to smart metering system and meter readings taken by smart meters are uploaded into SAP IS-U. The above diagram shows the integration of SAP IS-U system with smart meters. This integration typically depicts Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) and its integration with SAP IS-U system. However simple integration is also possible wherein files are sent to and fro to establish communication between SAP and smart metering system. The below example shows interfaces designed for utility company where meter reading request is sent From SAP to smart metering system and meter readings taken by smart meters are uploaded into SAP IS-U.
Example 1: Meter Reading request from SAP IS-U to Smart Meter Database
This interface sends meter reading order with scheduled meter reading date for which meter reading is to be taken in a file and upload the same at SAP Application Server.
Example 2: Meter Reading Upload Interface from Smart Meters to SAP IS-U
Meter reading results are required to be uploaded into the SAP-ISU daily in order to bill the customers. The meter readings are uploaded to a common database of smart meters. The readings are sent from database based on the meter reading orders from SAP. The Meter reading files are then uploaded into SAP-ISU through this interface.
The basic difference between conventional meters and smart meters is that conventional meters provide one-way of communication whereas smart meters provide two-way communication. For instance, in order to carry out a meter reading using a conventional meter, the meter reader needs to physically visit the customer premise and take reading. This reading will be sent to the utility company for billing. But in case of smart meters, this can be done automatically. The system operator will create a meter read request from the utility company office. The smart meter sends the meter reading as per the request to the utility company. This avoids manual intervention during meter reading and provides more accurate, real-time data to the company.
From the Consumers Perspective Consumers have greater control over their energy consumption as they provide the ability to measure their energy usage in real-time or based on hourly increments. Consumers can select different pricing plans based on time-based rates and have the option to lower their consumption based on peak periods set by the utilities. This can give consumers significant savings on their monthly bills. Users can further increase their energy savings by changing their energy consumption habits based on their understanding as to what smart meters are telling them about their
usage in real-time. Consumers can shut down appliances during peak periods or preprogram appliances and devices to operate only at predetermined timeframes. More transparency can be reflected on consumer bill and thereby reducing the consumer grievance instances
From the Electricity Companies Perspective The automated meter reading capabilities of smart meters allow for automatic and remote readings on consumers energy consumption thereby removing the need for agents to go from house to house to read meters. A smart meter can be controlled remotely from the central information system proving utilities better management of the electric network. Faults and outages can be detected in real-time allowing for quick response times for intervention either by remote or by quick dispatch. Utilities can also monitor network irregularities and performance of transformers to detect and minimize losses. Most Smart Metering applications permit remote theft-detection tests geared to the type of meter and the type of utility service. They can ensure that almost all bills are based on actual meter reads rather than on estimates; this reduces calls to the contact centre and improves customer satisfaction. Smart Metering applications often permit utilities to check meter status (ping the meter) prior to sending a repair crew in response to a customer call. These checks prevent needless field crew dispatch to customer sites where problems are not the utilitys responsibility. Consumers are billed based on actual consumption and not just based on averages and estimates. Fraud can also be easily detected through the smart network. New Products and Services: Smart Metering systems can frequently accommodate prepayment meters with multiple options for payment, such as recharging or via Internet or telephone, and with emergency overrides. Some utilities are looking at the possibility that a single prepayment meter for gas, water, and electricity may bring down the total cost of prepayment and permit utilities to respond cost-effectively to an option many consumers request as a tool to help them budget.
Impact on the Environment Consumers who become more aware of their use through on-premises real-time displays will explore ways to reduce consumption. With a smart meter, consumers can use energy efficiently and thus lower their energy demands. With more accurate demand estimation based on consumer real time consumption pattern demand can be managed well, there will be no need to build additional power plants that will generate greenhouse gases. During peak demand hours, utilities are sometimes forced to use peaker plants which produce higher carbon emissions. With the use of a smart meter, consumers can reduce their demand during peak hours thus eliminating the need for peaker plants. Time-of-use rates also help even out grid use and thus reduce the need for habitat- and landscape-damaging grid expansions A smart home is a home that is equipped with special structured wiring to enable occupants to remotely control or program an array of automated home electronic devices by entering a single command. For example, a homeowner on vacation can use a Touchtone phone to arm a home security system, control temperature gauges, switch appliances on or off, control lighting, program a home theatre or entertainment system, and perform many other tasks.
MDM gathers and stores meter data. It can also perform the preliminary processing required for different departments and programs. Most important, MDM gives all units equal access to commonly held meter data resources. MDM provides an easy pathway between data and the multiple applications and departments that need it. It can more easily consolidate and integrate data from multiple meter types. It can reduce the cost of building and maintaining application interfaces. And it provides a place to store and use data, whose flow into the system cannot be regulated, such as the flood of almost simultaneous messages from tens of thousands of meters sending a last gasp during a major outage.
MDMs independent service function may be further refined through the addition of a meter data warehouse. In situations where both exist, the MDM typically manages realtime, transactional processing while the warehouse handles data extraction, reporting, and analytical processing.
Separating the MDM from the billing solution has clear advantages. It maintains bill production efficiency while providing even-handed data access to all departments. It
permits a utility to add security to meter communications and data without complicating customer access to bill payment and analysis websites. And it lets utilities change the source of the meter data with no negative effect on other IT systems and architecture.
The IT Implications of Meter Data Management (MDM) is, for most utilities, a new type of application. It shatters the typical utility IT model in which each department owns its own set of applications. MDM treats every department as its owner. It thus forces departments to work together. If MDM is to serve all equally efficiently, then the various stakeholders must share information. They must agree to application configurations that serve all needs optimally. This process of information sharing is proving eye opening to departmental heads. Suddenly, sharp minds have the knowledge and tools to propose better, more efficient program administration.
In other words, MDM is becoming an avenue for rethinking utility business processes independent of existing departmental boundaries. It is the first major utility silo-breaking application.
with various conditions, both event- and business-related, and, finally, predict the outcomes.
Key logical and statistical techniques that could be used include: Data filtering: This refers to the analysis of events and intelligent filtration of redundant data based on predefined conditions from the event data stream. This technique uses Boolean logic. Based on our experience, events like last gasp and power restore are relayed multiple times from the smart meters due to reliability considerations. These kinds of events have the same event occurrence intervals but different event insertion times. Hence, in such cases, duplicate traps could be filtered from processing using timing conditions.
Association rules: Algorithms or business rules to enable the discovery of relationships between events and other variables. Inputs received from other systems, such as work management systems (WMS), customer information systems (CIS) and supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems, may be associated with event information to determine device-level issues before rolling out to the field crews. Also, events received from the smart meters can be logically segregated based on the inputs received from such systems.
Point-of-detection algorithms: These algorithms can help develop patterns of their occurrence, which can help in taking proactive actions. For instance, time-wise and day-wise patterns for events can be developed. Further, filtration criteria can be applied to remove all patterns caused by electric, communication or network issues, and then the remaining patterns can used to explain occurrences of certain business outcomes, such as outages, power quality or device tampering.
Data clustering: This is an unsupervised model that uses data similarity to group the data points. Similar categories of events can be clustered together, with analysis performed to extract business value from the clusters of events. For example, we can identify clusters among all event types and then develop relationships between outcomes and clusters of events. Device status, meter tamper and power quality events can be a cluster to determine issues such as open neutrals or flickering lights.
Correlation: This measures the association between two variables, while assuming there is no causal relationship between the two. We can develop a correlation among various events and
other outcomes to determine future behaviour. For example, correlation between event type and consumption fluctuation can help with revenue assurance.
Factor analysis: This allows variables to be grouped into common sub-groups in order to reduce the number of factors to be initially analysed. For example, by performing factor analysis, we can identify dominating factors that contribute to events or a set of events or an outcome.
Regression: This refers to the statistical relationship between two random variables to predict the outcome. Commonly used for forecasting purposes, regression examines the causal relationship between two variables. An example is using regression to analyse the relationship between equipment conditions in the field, such as a prediction of transformer failure, based on the demand from meters associated with it.
Usually, more than one technique might be required to solve the problem. For example, to develop a relationship between device status and outage, a combination of correlation, factor analysis and regression will be required to obtain the correct results.
Hence, it is practically not possible for outage management systems3 to process raw event data in the same way as they currently process inputs from SCADA systems, customers and field staff. Many utilities realized this when they integrated event information from head end systems (HES) directly into their outage management systems. In order to effectively use events data, an event processing and analytics engine is required. This engine needs to have the capabilities of logical filtration based on uniqueness of events,
momentary and existing outages and capabilities of association based on physical network hierarchies. It also needs to have pattern analysis or regression capabilities to predict the outages. A multistage event processing and analytics framework identifies confirmed cases of outages that can be passed to the outage management system for restoration (see Figure). Stage 1: A set of conditions is used to filter duplicates from last-gasp events to identify unique cases of outage events. Such events are then correlated with power-restore events to remove the cases of momentary outages (outages with duration of less than 60 seconds). Further, inputs from other systems such as CIS and WMS are considered to segregate outage events that have occurred due to existing planned maintenance, meter exchange or customer disconnect. The remaining outage events are considered as realized events.
Event Processing and Analytics Framework
Stage 2: In this stage, the meter-level realized events from Stage 1 are escalated to a higher level of device hierarchies (lateral, feeder, transformer, etc.) and compared with other device inputs using association rules and conditions to identify an outage incident. These cases of outage are considered to be probable cases that need to be tested further. Stage 3: During this stage, the probable cases of outages from Stage 2 are verified using remote meter ping functionality, and only confirmed outage incidents results are communicated to the outage management system for further action. The event processing and analytics engine needs to be integrated into the utilities system landscape, comprising the head end system, CIS, meter data management (MDM), WMS, distribution automation and SCADA (see Figure 2). This will enable effective outage management and crew optimization by focusing on real outage events from smart meters.
The benefits of this approach include: Early and accurate outage detection, leading to improvement in power system reliability indices such as CAIDI, SAIDI, etc. Early detection of momentary and planned outages to help avoid costly field visits. Outage and restoration verification to avoid costly field crew movement. Improved intelligence due to inputs from applications such as CIS, WMS and SCADA .
Our Utilities Practice has designed a smart meter event processing (SMEP) solution for improving the outage management process. The SMEP solution is configurable to meet dynamic business requirements and is based on multistage processing and analytics. Our SMEP solution is designed to provide the functionality required to process huge volumes of real-time outage meter events data. The following are the key features of the SMEP solution: Near-real-time processing of a high volume of meter event data. Business rules-based engine to configure the algorithms and rules to process the events. Dynamic and flexible control based on requirements from other utility systems. Business process management to effectively route and manage events/incidents. Integration with other utility applications for validation, association and correlation. Visualization and dashboarding tools. In addition to the above features, SMEP has been designed using the event-driven architecture (EDA). EDA helps orchestrate the generation, detection and consumption of meter events, as well as the responses evoked by them. It helps effectively manage events and communication with various application processes using messaging (see Figure 3).
people skills. They should consider various approaches, including building analytics skills through a Center of Excellence for Analytics or developing collaborative models with vendors specializing in analytics.
The field of home automation is expanding rapidly as electronic technologies converge. The home network encompasses communications, entertainment, security, convenience, and information systems. A technology known as Power line Carrier Systems (PCS) is used to
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send coded signals along a home's existing electric wiring to programmable switches, or outlets. These signals convey commands that correspond to "addresses" or locations of specific devices, and that control how and when those devices operate. A PCS transmitter, for instance, can send a signal along a home's wiring, and a receiver plugged into any electric outlet in the home could receive that signal and operate the appliance to which it is attached. This embedded control protocol for digital communication between smart devices consists of a two-wire bus line that is installed along with normal electrical wiring. The Instabus line links all appliances to a decentralized communication system and functions like a telephone line over which appliances can be controlled.
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