|
Automatic meter reading, or AMR, is the technology of automatically collecting data from water meter or energy metering devices (water, gas, electric) and transferring that data to a central database for billing and/or analyzing. This saves employee trips, and in the case of estimates, billing can be based on actual consumption rather than on an estimate based on previous consumption, giving customers better control of their use of electric energy, gas usage, or water consumption. A typical residential water meter A water meter is a device used to measure water usage. ...
It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Electricity meter. ...
AMR technologies include handheld, mobile and network technologies based on telephony platforms (wired and wireless), radio frequency (RF), or powerline transmission.
Technologies
Touch Technology AMR With touch based AMR, a meter reader carries a handheld computer or data collection device with a wand or probe. The device automatically collects the readings from a meter by touching or placing the read probe in close proximity to a reading coil enclosed in the touchpad. 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. Since the meter reader still has to go to the site of the meter, this is sometimes referred to as "on-site" AMR. A coil is a series of loops. ...
Radio Frequency AMR Radio frequency based AMR can take many forms. The more common ones are Handheld, Mobile, and Fixed network. There are both two-way RF systems and one-way RF systems in use that use both licensed and unlicensed RF bands. It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Radio waves. ...
In a two-way or "wake up" system, a radio transceiver normally sends a signal to a particular transmitter serial number, telling it to wake up from a resting state and transmit its data. The Meter attached transceiver and the reading transceiver both send and receive radio signals and data. In a one-way “bubble-up” or continuous broadcast type system, the transmitter broadcasts readings continuously every few seconds. This means the reading device can be a receiver only, and the meter AMR device a transmitter only. Data goes one way, from the meter AMR transmitter to the meter reading receiver. There are also hybrid systems that combine one-way and two-way technologies, using one-way communication for reading and two way communication for programming functions. A transceiver is a device that has both a transmitter and a receiver which are combined in to one. ...
Broadcasting is the distribution of audio and/or video signals which transmit programs to an audience. ...
RF based meter reading usually eliminates the need for the meter reader to enter the property or home, or to locate and open an underground meter pit. The utility saves money by increased speed of reading, has lower liability from entering private property, and has less chance of missing reads because of being locked out from meter access.
The Technology based on RF is not readily acceptable everywhere. In several Asian countries the technology faces a barrier of regulations in place pertaining to use of the Radio Frequency of any radiated power. For example in India the Radio Frequency which is generally in ISM band is not free to use even for Low Power Radio of 10 milliwatt.
Initiatives in Radio Frequency AMR in such countries are being taken up with regulators wherever the cost of licensing outweighs the benefits of AMR.
Handheld Handheld AMR is where a meter reader carries a handheld computer with a built-in or attached receiver/transceiver (radio frequency or touch) to collect meter readings from an AMR capable meter. This is sometimes referred to as "walk-by" meter reading since the meter reader walks by the locations where meters are installed as they go through their meter reading route. Handheld computers may also be used to manually enter readings without the use of AMR technology.
These types of Handheld units are required to be robust and rugged with ease of handling. There are only a few manufacturers in the world which are capable of delivering such types of HHU. In Asian countries the typical weather and climate of the region requires extra rugged instruments.
Mobile Mobile or "Drive-by" meter reading is where a reading device is installed in a vehicle. The meter reader drives the vehicle while the reading device automatically collects the meter readings. Often for mobile meter reading the reading equipment includes navigational and mapping features provided by GPS and mapping software. With mobile meter reading, the reader does not normally have to read the meters in any particular route order, but just drives the service area until all meters are read. Components often consist of a laptop or proprietary computer, software, RF receiver/transceiver, and external vehicle antennas. Over fifty GPS satellites such as this NAVSTAR have been launched since 1978. ...
In biology, antenna (plural: antennae) refers to the sensing organs of several arthropods. ...
Fixed Network Fixed Network AMR is a method where a network is permanently installed to capture meter readings. This method can consist of a series of antennas, towers, collectors, repeaters, or other permanently installed infrastructure to collect transmissions of meter readings from AMR capable meters and get the data to a central computer without a person in the field to collect it.
There are several types of network topologies in use to get the meter data back to a central computer. A star network is the most common, where a meter transmits its data to a central collector or repeater. Some systems use only collectors which receive and store data for processing. Others also use a repeater which forwards a reading from a more remote area back to a main collector without actually storing it. A repeater may be forwarded by RF signal or sometimes is converted to a wired network such as telephone or IP network to get the data back to a collector. It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Network topology. ...
Bold text Star network layout Star networks are one of the most common computer network topologies. ...
For other uses, see Repeater (disambiguation). ...
The Internet Protocol (IP) is a data-oriented protocol used for communicating data across a packet-switched internetwork. ...
Some manufacturers are developing mesh networks where meters themselves act as repeaters passing the data to nearby meters until it makes it to a main collector. The Swedish city of Gothenburg is having their electric meters connected in this manner, using the ZigBee protocol.[1] A mesh network may save the infrastructure of many collection points, but is more data intensive on the meters. One issue with mesh networks it that battery operated ones may need more power for the increased frequency of transmitting. It also requires that the meter devices be receivers as well as transmitters potentially making individual transceiver cost higher. However, the additional cost may be outweighed by the savings of multiple collectors and repeater antennas and finding places to mount them. Mesh networking is a way to route data, voice and instructions between nodes. ...
For other uses, see Gothenburg (disambiguation). ...
The introduction to this article provides insufficient context for those unfamiliar with the subject matter. ...
A transceiver is a device that has both a transmitter and a receiver which are combined in to one. ...
RF technologies commonly used for AMR There are also meters using AMR with RF technologies such as cellular phone data systems, zigbee, bluetooth and others. Some systems operate with FCC licensed frequencies and others under FCC Part 15 which allows use of unlicensed radio frequencies. Spread-spectrum telecommunications is a technique in which a signal is transmitted in a bandwidth considerably greater than the frequency content of the original information. ...
In telecommunications, direct-sequence spread spectrum (DSSS) is a modulation technique. ...
Frequency-hopping spread spectrum (FHSS) is a spread-spectrum method of transmitting radio signals by rapidly switching a carrier among many frequency channels, using a pseudorandom sequence known to both transmitter and receiver. ...
The introduction to this article provides insufficient context for those unfamiliar with the subject matter. ...
Bluetooth logo This article is about the electronic protocol named after Harald Bluetooth Gormson. ...
Wi Fi The city of Corpus Christi became one of the first cities in the United States to implement city wide Wi Fi, which had been free until May 31, 2007, mainly to facilitate AMR after a meter reader was attacked by a dog.[2] Today many meters are designed to transmit using Wi Fi, even if a Wi Fi network is not available, and they are read using a drive-by local Wi Fi hand held receiver. Nickname: Location in the state of Texas Coordinates: , Country State Counties Nueces, San Patricio Government - Mayor Henry Garrett Area - City 460. ...
Wi-Fi (IPA: ) is the common name for a popular wireless technology used in home networks, mobile phones, video games and more. ...
It is noteworthy that the meters installed in Corpus Christi are not directly Wi-Fi enabled, but rather transmit narrow-band burst telemetry on the 460 MHz band. This narrow-banded signal has a much greater range than Wi-Fi, so the number of receivers required for the project are far fewer the number of Wi-Fi access points covering the same area. These special receiver stations then take in the narrow-band signal and report their data via Wi-Fi.
Most of the automated utility meters installed in the Corpus Christi area are battery powered. Compared to narrow-band burst telemetry, Wi-Fi technology uses far too much power for long-term battery-powered operation.
Power Line Communication AMR (PLC) AMR 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. This would be considered a type of fixed network system -- the network being the distribution network which the utility has built and maintains to deliver electric power. Such systems are primarily used for electric meter reading. Some providers have interfaced gas and water meters to feed into a PLC type system. For other uses, see Power band. ...
PLC communication's success is not fully approved as applications in North Europe and Italy are suffering. On the other hand PLC application in the other third world countries whose infrastructure is weak is almost impossible.
Brief History of AMR The primary driver for the automation of meter reading, is not so much to reduce labor costs, but to obtain data that is otherwise unattainable. Many meters, especially water meters, are located in areas that require an appointment with the homeowner. Gas and Electricity tend to be more valuable commodities than water, and the need to offer actual readings instead of estimated readings can drive a utility to consider automation. While early systems consisted of walk-by, and drive-by AMR for residential. Telephone based AMR served well for commercial or industrial accounts. What was once a need for monthly data became a need for daily and even hourly readings of the meters. Consequently, the sales of drive-by and telephone AMR has declined in the US, while sales of fixed networks has increased. The US Energy Policy Act of 2005 asks that electric utility regulators consider the support for a "...time-based rate schedule (to) enable the electric consumer to manage energy use and cost through advanced metering and communications technology." [3] The trend now is consider the use of advanced meters as part of an Advanced Metering Infrastructure. The Energy Policy Act of 2005 (Pub. ...
Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) or Advanced Metering Management (AMM) refers to systems that measure, collect and analyse energy usage, from advanced devices such as water meters, electricity meters and gas meters, through various communication media on request or on a pre-defined schedule. ...
Advanced AMR and AMI Originally AMR devices just collected meter readings electronically and matched them with accounts. 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. This can include events alarms such as tamper, leak detection, low battery, or reverse flow. Many AMR devices can also capture interval data, and log meter events. 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. Advanced Metering Infrastructure, or AMI is the new term coined to represent the networking technology of fixed network meter systems that go beyond AMR into remote utility management. The meters in an AMI system are often referred to as smart meters, since they often can use collected data based on programmed logic.
Explanation of demand response effects on a quantity (Q) - price (P) graph. ...
In fluid dynamics, the rate of fluid flow is the volume of fluid which passes through a given area per unit time. ...
Water conservation refers to reducing use of fresh water, through technological or social methods. ...
For the physical concepts, see conservation of energy and energy efficiency. ...
Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) or Advanced Metering Management (AMM) refers to systems that measure, collect and analyse energy usage, from advanced devices such as water meters, electricity meters and gas meters, through various communication media on request or on a pre-defined schedule. ...
A Smart meter generally refers to a type of advanced meter (usually an electrical meter) that identifies consumption in more detail than a conventional meter, and optionally communicates that information via some network back to the local utility for monitoring and billing purposes. ...
The Automatic Meter Reading Association (AMRA) endorses the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) resolution to eliminate regulatory barriers to the broad implementation of advanced metering infrastructure (AMI). The resolution, passed in February 2007 [4], acknowledged the role of AMI in supporting the implementation of dynamic pricing and the resulting benefits to consumers. The resolution further identified the value of AMI in achieving significant utility operational cost savings in the areas of outage management, revenue protection and asset management. The resolution also called for AMI business case analysis to identify cost-effective deployment strategies, endorsed timely cost recovery for prudently incurred AMI expenditures and made additional recommendations on rate making and tax treatment of such investments.
Benefits of Advanced Metering Advanced Metering systems can provide benefits for utilities, retail providers and customers. 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. Retail Providers will be able to offer new innovative products in addition to customizing packages for their customers. In addition, with the meter data being readily available, more flexible billing cycles would be available to their customers instead of following the standard utility read cycles. 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.
Notable Deployments Construction practices, weather, and the need for information drive utilities in different parts of the world towards AMR at different rates. In the US, there have been significant fixed network deployments of both RF based and PLC based technologies[5]. Some countries have either deployed[6] or plan to deploy[7] AMR systems throughout the entire country.
Addition Notable Deployments [5]PUCT Report 2006; Pennsylvania, (Exelon-PECO) 2.2 million meters deployed; Missouri, (Ameren) 1.7 million meters deployed.
References - ^ Forget municipal Wi-Fi, welcome to Zigbee City
- ^ EarthLink Dedicates Wi-Fi Network In Corpus Christi
- ^ [1] US Congress, Energy Policy Act of 2005
- ^ Resolution to Remove Regulatory Barriers To the Broad Implementation of Advanced Metering Infrastructure (from NARUC Committee on Energy Resources and the Environment Resolutions of 2007-02-21)
- ^ [2] PPL 1.3 million residential and commercial electric meters
- ^ [3] Italy, 10 million meters
- ^ [4] Sweden, (Vattenfall) 850k meters
See also Distributed generation generates electricity from many small energy sources. ...
Power meter redirects here. ...
A Feed-in Tariff (FiT, FiL, Feed-in Law or Solar Premium) is a procurement mechanism designed to promote the uptake off renewable energy through government legislation. ...
A residential gas meter of the usual diaphragm style A gas meter is used to measure the flow of fuel gases such as natural gas and propane. ...
Net metering is a electricity policy for consumers who own, generally small, renewable energy facilities, such as wind or solar power, or uses vehicle-to-grid systems. ...
For other uses, see Power band. ...
A public utility is a company that maintains the infrastructure for a public service. ...
A Smart meter generally refers to a type of advanced meter (usually an electrical meter) that identifies consumption in more detail than a conventional meter, and optionally communicates that information via some network back to the local utility for monitoring and billing purposes. ...
Mobile home parks often submeter their tenants Utility Submetering is the process in which a landlord, property management firm, condominium association, homeowners association, and many other multi-tenant properties allow the tenant to pay for the utility usage. ...
A typical residential water meter A water meter is a device used to measure water usage. ...
External links - Utilimetrics - Alliance for advanced metering and data management solutions (Formerly the Automatic Meter Reading Association) - Non-profit industry trade association
|
Feeds |
Contact