Dashi Naidoo AMR concept evolution to AMM

Presentation scope  Introduction  Smart metering trends  Leveraging the ability to communicate  Technology and Performance  Conclusion

Introduction Communication technology evolution:  Enables affordable communication to large numbers of residential meters previously only feasible for C&I applications  Opens the potential to integrate a number of traditionally separate applications.

Smart metering Trends Trend is to apply C&I functionality at a residential level Higher frequency reading of meters Increase residential Load profiling Monitoring of Power Quality Automatic Meter Management (AMM) / Smart metering

Smart metering Trends Integration Increases cost efficiency Integration of traditional separate AMM systems, AMR systems Load management systems, Revenue protection systems Disconnection/reconnection Prepayment

Automatic meter reading Prime Objective: Reduce the cost of manual meter readings. Added benefits:  Improved accuracy and reliability of the billing data.  Higher frequency of the readings  Better history to analyze consumption habits

Load Management Prime objective: To maximise the efficiency of the network infrastructure Most popular is implementation:  Ripple control receivers to switch off specific appliances with a change in tariff.  Load and current limiting to lower the maximum consumption at a service point.

Revenue Protection Prime objective: Reduction of fraud, debt repayment With the link to the meter, revenue protection functionality becomes feasible in the following ways: Real time tamper detection Real time consumption reconciliation between the substation and residences Remote disconnection and reconnection Token less prepayment

Technology and performance Upfront capital and installation cost There is no network installation cost for GPRS (hardware and labor). The GPRS modems is more expensive than a PLC or RF module PLC and RF networks require 5%-10% clean- up and revisit of installed meters GRPS requires 1% revisit and clean-up

Technology and performance Operational cost PLC and RF Utility owns the network, Communication is free, Maintenance and monitoring is expensive and to achieve reliable communication to all meters requires experience and expertise. GPRS Utilizes experienced mobile phone network operators, who will maintain infrastructure and manage disaster recovery.

Technology and performance Performance There are significant performance differences between the technology options as they exist today. GPRS and RF are better suited for Higher level of Smart metering functionality (Load Management) Low density installed base (bad payers) PLC is attractive when The supply network is established and reliable The performance expectation is lower. High density installations

Conclusion The potential owners of these systems needs to decide What Smart metering can do for them, practically and commercially. What level of integration bring cost efficient solutions What communications technology is best suited from an installation, capital and operational maintenance point of view