Implementing a Smart Metering System in South Africa Presented by: Edison Makwarela

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Implementing a Smart Metering System in South
AfricaPresented by Edison Makwarela

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Content

• Meter generations
• Overview of Smart Meters
• Global Trends
• Communication Technologies
• Challenges of providing value added services
• Concluding Remarks

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Meter Generations
Control
Access Comms. Required!!
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What is a Smart Meter?

• 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.
• Involves a different technology mix
• real-time or near real-time reads,
• Detailed load profiling
• power outage notification,
• power quality monitoring

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Why Smart Meters?

• Bill customers by how much is consumed and at
  what time of day season - TOU
• AMI empowers customers to control their energy
  bills to the extent that they want to change
  their energy usage in peak periods.
• Reduces need for additional generation and
  transmission capacity
• Consumer Load Management
• Establish an Advanced Metering Infrastructure
  for the Utility
• Network outage management

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Some Benefits of Smart Metering System
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Conventional vs Smart Meters
Conventional Meter
Database
Manual Automated Processing
Dumb Meter
Manual Reading
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Typical Smart Meters Load Management
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The Global Picture
Italy Project for 30m 2-way electricity meters
at a cost of 2.2bn
Sweden Currently underway and plan to install
5.2m 2-way meters by 2009
SCE -USA Replace 5million meters with smart
meters
USA Canada Various US states rolling out 1-
and 2-way metering projects 800,000 2-way smart
meters Installed in Ontario, Canada, with 5
million to be completed by 2010
Australia Victoria, has started to replace
existing meters with 2-way smart meters at the
end of their useful asset life, aiming to have
completed 1 million such installations by 2013
UK White Paper Published Intend to replace all
residential meters with smart meters
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Global Picture Cont

• Many countries have develop stringent energy
  policies
• No communication protocol standard is considered
  with regards to meters and integration technology
  system
• Most utilities are using proprietary meters and
  systems
• Long-term partnership is created between meter
  manufactures and utilities
• A variety of communication technologies is used
  by different utilities

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The Netherlands Model NTA 8130
P1 -open port for third parties and retailers to
offer energy related services P2 communication
with other meters P3 controlled remote access P4
data access to virtual meter
Echelon
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Options to be Considered

• current meters not faulty
• cost of new system
• huge current installed base
• return on investment
• compatibility with current standards
• Monthly consumption per customer
• Social/political issues

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Ideal Communication Technology

• Ubiquitous
• Available everywhere
• Easy Installation
• No need to install additional cables
• Plug-and Play supported
• Cost Effective
• Low cost to build network
• Indoor outdoor solutions supported using single
  infrastructure
• Minimal or no maintenance at all
• New Business Models
• Homenetwork service (IPTV/VoIP/Data)
• Many value-added services
• Easily embedded in home appliances

Adopted from Xeline
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AMI Comm. Systems - Available Technologies
suitability for full scale roll-out
profitability of the solution
safety of investment
fiber to the home
XDSL
Universal Mobile Telecommunications System
UMTS
Communication Technologies
HBR PLC
GSM, GPRS
Radio (TETRA)
LBR PLC
Bitrate
100 kBit/s
10 MBit/s
1 GBit/s
1 kBit/s
Kaltenleithner
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Cost Breakdown
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Challenges of providing value-added Services

• The cost of the meter
• Service to be provided may not be a core business
  of the Utility
• Some services require licences e. g. telephone,
  TVIP, etc
• Bad service provided by one service provider
  could affect other services
• Utility may have to enter into a partnership with
  a third party?
• Customers may not understand who provides which
  services if different services providers are
  involved in an area
• Who owns the communication network?

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The Ultimate Application Communications

• Create real, perceived, experienced customer
  value
• And
• Metering, Billing, Dis/Connection, Conservation,
  Load shifting, Anti Tamper, Load Shedding too!

• Backend Communication Options
• Broadband Over Powerline (BPL)
• Fibre
• WiMax
• GSM

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Conclusions

• Clearly define the drivers for system
  implementation
• Decision to implement smart meters must align
  with Utility Vision Strategy
• AMI processes are not always integrated into the
  existing operations
• Do not fully implement new technology until it is
  tried and tested.
• Never implement a proprietary system! Insist on
  some international standard.
• Unique Utility requirements could inflate cost of
  meters
• Best project management practice is critical to
  the success of an AMI project

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We are convinced Smart Metering will happen on a
Global basis, it is not a question of If, it
is a question when and how? Eric Fowler -
National Grid (UK)
Thank You