AMR/AMI Metering Experiences IURPA/SURPA/SCRPA Conference – June 2010 Eddie Fee, Jr. Revenue Assurance Administrator

OUC 1998 – Started using walk-by AMR (Itron) – Mechanical meter w/ electronic AMR module – Select ‘rear-lot’ subdivisions, installed by employees – Currently have ~55,000 AMR walk-by in field 2001 – Started using fixed network AMR (Itron) – Pole or wall-mounted collection & concentrators – LSA apartment complexes, installed by employees – Eliminates ~28,000 trips annually for off-cycle read – Currently have ~20,000 AMR fixed network – Meters read twice daily

OUC 2005 – Started testing of AMI – Elster’s Energy Axis (REX) system – Remote Disconnect capability (under canopy) – Communicates meter to meter & back to collection point 2008 – Installed AMI addt’l 7,500 AMI meters – Select neighborhoods, installed by contractors Currently have ~30,000 AMI meters in field – Meter read twice daily

Contractor Installation of AMI 100% in-shop testing of all removed meters – Wanted to gain better knowledge of meter tamper rates for service territory – Overall meter tamper rate of 3.7% with some neighborhoods as high as 14.4% – Even w/ training, only 26% of tampered meters actually reported by contractor

AMR Tamper Flags Itron AMR Tamper Flags – Tilt & Inverse tamper flags associated w/ outage – Must be filtered against valid field orders – Sometimes sign of electronic module failure Elster AMI Outage Flags – REX1 – dip in voltage recorded as ‘outage’ – REX2 – dips not recorded as ‘outage’ – Must be filtered against valid field orders and recorded OMS outages for area

AMR/AMI Exposures & Considerations Contractor installs w/o meter testing may not give utility good understanding of tamper rates Develop reporting tools during test phase & before major deployment No monthly Meter Read visit to inspect seal, meter, & report safety hazards at location Tampering during outages may go unnoticed Pirated software to change/re-program meter