Automatic meter reading
This technology mainly saves utility providers the expense of periodic trips to each physical location to read a meter.
This timely information coupled with analysis can help both utility providers and customers better control the use and production of electric energy, gas usage, or water consumption.
With touch-based AMR, a meter reader carries a handheld computer or data collection device with a wand or probe.
When a button is pressed, the probe sends an interrogate signal to the touch module to collect the meter reading.
The software in the device matches the serial number to one in the route database, and saves the meter reading for later download to a billing or data collection computer.
In a two-way or "wake up" system, a radio signal is normally sent to an AMR meter's unique serial number, instructing its transceiver to power-up and transmit its data.
In several Asian countries, the technology faces a barrier of regulations in place pertaining to use of the radio frequency of any radiated power.
This network requires a clear view to the sky for the satellite transmitter/receiver, but eliminates the need to install fixed towers or send out field technicians, thereby being particularly suited for areas with low geographic meter density.
There are also meters using AMR with RF technologies such as cellular phone data systems, Zigbee, Bluetooth, Wavenis and others.
WiSmart is a versatile platform which can be used by a variety of electrical home appliances in order to provide wireless TCP/IP communication using the 802.11 b/g protocol.
The meters installed in Corpus Christi are not directly Wi-Fi enabled, but rather transmit narrow-band burst telemetry on the 460 MHz band.
PLC is a method where electronic data is transmitted over power lines back to the substation, then relayed to a central computer in the utility's main office.
[2] In 1977, he launched Metretek, Inc.,[3] which developed and produced the first fully automated, commercially available remote meter reading and load management system.
As technology has advanced, additional data could then be captured, stored, and transmitted to the main computer, and often the metering devices could be controlled remotely.
The logged data can be used to collect or control time of use or rate of use data that can be used for water or energy usage profiling, time of use billing, demand forecasting, demand response, rate of flow recording, leak detection, flow monitoring, water and energy conservation enforcement, remote shutoff, etc.
The resolution, passed in February 2007,[6] acknowledged the role of AMI in supporting the implementation of dynamic pricing and the resulting benefits to consumers.
Benefits will be recognized by the utilities with increased efficiencies, outage detection, tamper notification and reduced labor cost as a result of automating reads, connections and disconnects.
With timely usage information available to the customer, benefits will be seen through opportunities to manage their energy consumption and change from one REP to another with actual meter data.
[10] AMI in Australia has grown from both government policy which sought to rectify observed market inefficiencies, and distribution businesses who looked to gain operational efficiencies.
[11] The Victorian government subsequently announced a moratorium of the program[12] With the growing adoption of AMI meters and systems, AMR has been in decline in the U.S. electric utility sector.
[15] Going forward, utilities face a choice to replace AMR with AMI—often at great expense and time investment—or to explore an AMx strategy using modern signal collection and processing technology that allows for more frequent wireless data collection from existing AMR meters (in some cases down to every 30 seconds) while offering increased interoperability with other (potentially more advanced) meters in areas where they make offer incremental benefits.
