Automated Meter Reading in EMM A Harsh

Automated Meter Reading in EMM: A Harsh Experience to cognize and apply technology to serve the needs of client and customers Thabo Mahlatsi

Contents • Inception of AMR Visionary thinking in EMM • From Concept to reality • First years of AMR operation • Problems in the second year • Understanding AMR • Further envisaged developments in the application of AMR • Conclusions

Inception of AMR in EMM What is AMR and should it do n 1998 – interaction between contractor and EMM engineer starts on the development of AMR n

From Concept to Reality 2000 – first 30 large customers at 500 k. Va meters automated n 2000 amalgamation of 11 erstwhile authority to form EMM n Talks to Expand the AMR to customers in other region of EMM n

From Concept to Reality AMR solution to manual and tedious meter operation n Solve errors made n Buy in of councilors and development of specifications n 2003 council approved expansion to other regions of EMM n Tender awarded n

First year of implementation of AMR Contractor ran with the project n Tedious calculations of complex tariffs and billing customers minimized n Customers and council happy n Council engineers oblivious of the chaos belying the AMR problems n

Second year of implementation of AMR Tender expires n Appointment of new contractor n The begin of chaos n Meter Communication Protocols becomes an issues n Extension of the previous contractor on a month to month basis n

Second year of implementation of AMR Threats to the contractor n Protocols resolved- a sigh of relieve n Modems are wrong- headaches starts n CT/VT ratios are wrong therefore tariff multiplications is equally wrong n Meter records Zeros and what do the Zero reading imply n

Second year of implementation of AMR Alluta continua n Problems with Communication medium n Council engineers at sixes and sevens n Every thing is wrong and therefore AMR does not work n Blame everything on the contractor n

Second year of implementation of AMR Storm subsides once contractor and engineers communicate n Problem- contractual obligations limited contractor to do own the project as in previous contract n Communication began between contractor and council n

Second year of implementation of AMR Council engineer grabbled with the AMR concepts and began to help the contractor where and when necessary n Problems of data integrity, meter and modem inter phase communication, data manipulation, understanding of complex tariffs structure and dedicated council personnel all helped to resolve the problems encountered n

Further developments of the AMR Move from measurement of k. Va and k. Wh n Include Power Quality Parametersdips, voltage fluctuations, harmonics and total harmonics distortion n Present QOS data to both council and customers n Monitored compliance of both n

CONCLUSION Application of AMR is not without problems n Understanding of the technology and ancillary equipment is a prerequisite n Perpetual monitoring of AMR operations is required n Constant communications between contractor and customer n

CONCLUSION Defining the limits of the contractor and those of the client n Move abreast with the development of technology and ancillary equipment to enhance AMR operations n

CONCLUSIONS ?