July Emerging Technology Solutions AMR/AMI Comes of Age

July 2009Cordova AMR/AMI Coming of Age 2 Outline Wireless Comes of Age Wireless Comes of Age Long Range two-way Tower Gateway Base-stations (TGBs) Long Range two-way Tower Gateway Base-stations (TGBs) TGB Options TGB Options Emerging Technology Emerging Technology Communications Options QoS Communications Options QoS

July 2009Cordova AMR/AMI Coming of Age 3 Coming of Age Human meter readers – were relatively cheap; quick and easy to install; rugged and extremely reliable over long periods of use Human meter readers – were relatively cheap; quick and easy to install; rugged and extremely reliable over long periods of use Multiple types of AMR techniques and technologies Multiple types of AMR techniques and technologies Wireless emerged- new problems including range limitations, spectrum interference and reliability issues Wireless emerged- new problems including range limitations, spectrum interference and reliability issues Financial concerns about future operational and support costs Financial concerns about future operational and support costs Advanced AMR networks would provide the best solution to the “cash flow delay” – typically days Advanced AMR networks would provide the best solution to the “cash flow delay” – typically days 25% of water meters in the United States are now equipped with AMR 25% of water meters in the United States are now equipped with AMR

July 2009Cordova AMR/AMI Coming of Age 4 Long Range two-way Tower Gateway Base-stations (TGBs) AMR fixed base networks typically need hundreds (sometimes ) of cellular pole-top, or meter-based data concentrators, collectors or repeaters AMR fixed base networks typically need hundreds (sometimes thousands) of cellular pole-top, or meter-based data concentrators, collectors or repeaters High infrastructure cost mostly from limited range of devices High infrastructure cost mostly from limited range of devices TGB system delivers superior performance, lower infrastructure costs, minimizes maintenance overhead and reduce long-term deployment risks TGB system delivers superior performance, lower infrastructure costs, minimizes maintenance overhead and reduce long-term deployment risks Designed specifically to minimize infrastructure while maximizing range and signal reliability Designed specifically to minimize infrastructure while maximizing range and signal reliability

July 2009Cordova AMR/AMI Coming of Age 5 TGB Range Criteria Use the tallest existing radio towers and efficient high- gain antennas capable of receiving very weak signals Use the tallest existing radio towers and efficient high- gain antennas capable of receiving very weak signals Acquire clear nationwide primary use licensed radio spectrum with a low noise floor Acquire clear nationwide primary use licensed radio spectrum with a low noise floor Design high power endpoints (2 Watts) with state-of- the-art, all digital modulation techniques Design high power endpoints (2 Watts) with state-of- the-art, all digital modulation techniques Design highly sensitive (-120 dBm to -130 dBm) all DSP based receiver base stations Design highly sensitive (-120 dBm to -130 dBm) all DSP based receiver base stations Develop meter-to-meter “Buddy” relay mode for hard to reach meters (those in basements, behind line-of-sight barriers, mountainous regions, etc.) Develop meter-to-meter “Buddy” relay mode for hard to reach meters (those in basements, behind line-of-sight barriers, mountainous regions, etc.)

July 2009Cordova AMR/AMI Coming of Age 6 Existing Tower Infrastructure Over 4,000 existing tower sites covering over 90% of the population Over 4,000 existing tower sites covering over 90% of the population Integrate seamlessly with existing paging equipment, which allows the sharing of power, antennae and data back-haul channels Integrate seamlessly with existing paging equipment, which allows the sharing of power, antennae and data back-haul channels Critical service real-time TGB tower monitoring and maintenance Critical service real-time TGB tower monitoring and maintenance Patented technology, long-range radio communications, low infrastructure cost, high reliability and existing tall towers provide a scalable fixed based network with high level of availability Patented technology, long-range radio communications, low infrastructure cost, high reliability and existing tall towers provide a scalable fixed based network with high level of availability Mature and proven technology Mature and proven technology

July 2009Cordova AMR/AMI Coming of Age 7 Illustration of a Long Range Radio Network Backhaul connectivity WiMax Mesh Topology Backhaul Connectivity

July 2009Cordova AMR/AMI Coming of Age 8 Option-Licensed/Private Frequency Licensed for a section of the radio spectrum Licensed for a section of the radio spectrum Tower based radio infrastructure placed 5-15 miles apart Tower based radio infrastructure placed 5-15 miles apart Towers placed at a much lower density than data concentrators Towers placed at a much lower density than data concentrators Each tower will have a modem to provide the backhaul connectivity Each tower will have a modem to provide the backhaul connectivity Speed of data transmission will depend on the frequency used Speed of data transmission will depend on the frequency used Sensus FlexNet solution is widely used in North America, particularly for one-way gas and water AMR services Sensus FlexNet solution is widely used in North America, particularly for one-way gas and water AMR services Britain uses this type of communication mainly by National Grid as part of their SCADA systems Britain uses this type of communication mainly by National Grid as part of their SCADA systems Sensus FlexNet solution provides 2 watts of broadcast power from the meters and 20 year battery life for gas and water AMR meters for daily updates Sensus FlexNet solution provides 2 watts of broadcast power from the meters and 20 year battery life for gas and water AMR meters for daily updates Municipal utilities in the US are utilizing existing metropolitan WiFi infrastructures for multi-utility metering services in cities such as Lafayette, Burbank and Corpus Christi Municipal utilities in the US are utilizing existing metropolitan WiFi infrastructures for multi-utility metering services in cities such as Lafayette, Burbank and Corpus Christi Anything wrong with this idea? Anything wrong with this idea?

July 2009Cordova AMR/AMI Coming of Age 9 Sensus Flexnet Infrastructure Illustration TGB – Tower Gateway Base-station RNI – Regional Network Interface

July 2009Cordova AMR/AMI Coming of Age 10 Option-WiMax Also known as 4G, WiMAX is a ‘last mile’ wireless solutuion Also known as 4G, WiMAX is a ‘last mile’ wireless solutuion Based upon a cellular antenna infrastructure Based upon a cellular antenna infrastructure Where Wi-Fi is viewed as a local technology, WiMAX is a neighborhood/metropolitan technology Where Wi-Fi is viewed as a local technology, WiMAX is a neighborhood/metropolitan technology Meter Hardware requires WiMAX chipset Meter Hardware requires WiMAX chipset Requires the installation of antennas in a cell Requires the installation of antennas in a cell Structure with typical spacing of 3 to 10km, cost is falling Structure with typical spacing of 3 to 10km, cost is falling Data speeds vary by distance of the endpoint from the antenna, and the number of endpoints using the connection from that antenna Data speeds vary by distance of the endpoint from the antenna, and the number of endpoints using the connection from that antenna IEEE (x) defines the WiMAX standard IEEE (x) defines the WiMAX standard Power consumption of WiMAX hardware is high Power consumption of WiMAX hardware is high

July 2009Cordova AMR/AMI Coming of Age 11 Emerging Wired/Wireless Options Femtocells are networks where low power wireless access points operating in licensed radio spectrums connect standard mobile devices to a mobile operator’s network using broadband connections Femtocells are networks where low power wireless access points operating in licensed radio spectrums connect standard mobile devices to a mobile operator’s network using broadband connections Could be applicable in the future of Metering Systems Could be applicable in the future of Metering Systems

July 2009Cordova AMR/AMI Coming of Age 12 Emerging Wired/Wireless Options, cont’d Active Line Access (ALA) is a model whereby a gateway within premises is provided to support a range of services Active Line Access (ALA) is a model whereby a gateway within premises is provided to support a range of services Customer Premises Equipment is then installed Customer Premises Equipment is then installed ALA discussions are still at a relatively early stage ALA discussions are still at a relatively early stage Could an emerging Service Provider with service strategies similar to Akamai have a place in AMR/AMI systems to prevent DDoS attacks, provide alternate routing, remote availability, security? Could an emerging Service Provider with service strategies similar to Akamai have a place in AMR/AMI systems to prevent DDoS attacks, provide alternate routing, remote availability, security?

July 2009Cordova AMR/AMI Coming of Age 13 Emerging Wired/Wireless Technologies, cont’d Previously discussed topics Previously discussed topics PLC - PLC - generally used for utility applications, distribution and transmission operator SCADA systems, AMR, smart grid Fixed Line – PSTN, xDSL – broadband, Cable Wireless Solutions – cellular, low power radio (Zigbee, Mbus, Zwave), Presentation Focus on Long Range Radio

July 2009Cordova AMR/AMI Coming of Age 14 Communications QoS Varieties of individual types of physical media can be used together to deliver connectivity Varieties of individual types of physical media can be used together to deliver connectivity Any number of communications options could co-exist at any level of geographic granularity Any number of communications options could co-exist at any level of geographic granularity Consideration on the effects of lawnmowers and power tools on Power Line Carrier services Consideration on the effects of lawnmowers and power tools on Power Line Carrier services Consideration of microwaves or Digital Enhanced Cordless Technology DECT telephones on wireless solutions – real world experience; dirtbike Consideration of microwaves or Digital Enhanced Cordless Technology DECT telephones on wireless solutions – real world experience; dirtbike Consideration on the effects on Wi-Fi and ZigBee operating at 2.4GHz Consideration on the effects on Wi-Fi and ZigBee operating at 2.4GHz There are many discussions dismissing these issues as there are with those raising them There are many discussions dismissing these issues as there are with those raising them

July 2009Cordova AMR/AMI Coming of Age 15 Conclusion TGBs have lowered operational and maintenance costs while providing TGBs have lowered operational and maintenance costs while providing –Operational improvements –Supply side savings –New revenue opportunities –Customer Service Improvements Emerging solutions take advantage of existing infrastructures, Service Providers, municipal Wifi’s, etc. Emerging solutions take advantage of existing infrastructures, Service Providers, municipal Wifi’s, etc. Not all ideas and solutions have a place in AMR/AMI Not all ideas and solutions have a place in AMR/AMI Consideration of QoS must be investigated on emerging technology since normal home activities may affect some solutions (such as mowing the lawn, tuning up a dirt bike, etc.) Consideration of QoS must be investigated on emerging technology since normal home activities may affect some solutions (such as mowing the lawn, tuning up a dirt bike, etc.) Questions? Questions?

July 2009Cordova AMR/AMI Coming of Age 16 References sue-1/AMI-AND-Smart-Grid/Taking- AMRAMI-to-New-Heights/ sue-1/AMI-AND-Smart-Grid/Taking- AMRAMI-to-New-Heights/ sue-1/AMI-AND-Smart-Grid/Taking- AMRAMI-to-New-Heights/ sue-1/AMI-AND-Smart-Grid/Taking- AMRAMI-to-New-Heights/ retail.org.uk/documents/BERRWANCo mmunicationsOptionsDefinition.pdf retail.org.uk/documents/BERRWANCo mmunicationsOptionsDefinition.pdf retail.org.uk/documents/BERRWANCo mmunicationsOptionsDefinition.pdf retail.org.uk/documents/BERRWANCo mmunicationsOptionsDefinition.pdf