meterpedia.com

Original

As a result of attaching conditions to the federal stimulus grants, the US Department of Energy has effectively created functional standards for smart metering:

• Record Usage at least hourly (enabling dynamic pricing)
• Send Usage to the utility at least daily (enabling Web Portals)
• Include a HAN interface for displays, thermostats etc.
• Have a disconnect switch
• Sensors for power outages and voltage levels

Obviously, these are all electricity standards.

From Coverage

AT&T has announced a teaming agreement with Silver Spring Networks to deliver 3G wireless communication services to Silver Spring’s utility customers throughout the U.S. Today’s announcement is the latest expansion of AT&T’s efforts with smart grid technology in the M2M (machine to machine) communications space.

The latest utility to commit to using smart grid technology from Silver Spring Networks is American Electric Power (AEP). Silver Spring will be part of the company’s gridSMART initiative, which is being engineered by Indiana Michigan Power and AEP Ohio across regions in Indiana and northeast central Ohio. AEP hopes to network 5 million homes and businesses in its operating territories over the next six years.

From google alert

The Demand Response and Smart Grid Coalition (DRSG) announced that six companies have joined the trade association and will contribute to its efforts aimed at developing markets for smart grid technologies and smart grid practices like demand response. The new DRSG members are LG Electronics USA, Electrolux, Control4, HomeGrid Forum, Midas Medici Group Holdings, Inc and CABA.

From meterpedia submission, and existing map data

Full deployment of significant programme started in September 2009 for Southern California (except Los Angeles).

5.3 million meters using less than 200kW.

Topography of supply points is mostly suburban with very few ‘rural’ sites.

http://www.sce.com

http://www.sce.com/smartconnect

SmartConnect Program

Edison SmartConnect™ is SCE’s advanced metering program. The program has redefined the automated metering industry, and is a key component of Edison’s Smart Grid strategy, which brought Edison’s grid into the digital age for improved grid management operations.

Through advanced technology, Edison SmartConnect™ will provide SCE customers with new tools, services, and conveniences to help them make better about their energy use. The new “smart” meters will enable new pricing programs, and will provide customers with more information their energy use to help them save energy, money and reduce their carbon footprint.

Why? California’s peak energy use continues to grow. As a result, state energy agencies and are exploring ways to meet customers growing energy needs and offer incentives to conserve and shift usage away from periods of peak demand.

In 2004, the Commission (CPUC) directed  (IOUs) to investigate implementation of an advanced metering infrastructure (“AMI”). AMI “smart” meters would allow customers to take advantage of dynamic rate programs, such as the “Time of Use” (TOU) rates available mostly to industrial customers. SCE analyzed available AMI technology at that time, and concluded that the limited functionality and operational benefits available at the time would not be cost-effective for SCE’s ratepayers. So, SCE set out to work with and technology vendors to develop a more advanced meter and communications system that would offer a cost-effective solution with added customer value and convenience. The result is SCE’s AMI network called Edison SmartConnect™.

Meter Functionality

SCE’s new “smart” meter and communications system will provide customers with more information  their energy use, and with advanced tools and services to help them save energy, save money and reduce their carbon footprint. For example, “smart” meters will:

• Communicate personalized energy use information to customers through a secure wireless home area network and on the Web, helping customers make smarter energy decisions that will translate into savings.
• Enable new rate offerings to help customers save money by using less energy during peak periods and when energy prices are higher.
• Communicate with “smart” thermostats, appliances, electronics and solar panels in the home – pretty much anything you can plug in – enabling the programming of smart appliances and devices to respond to energy use preferences based on cost, comfort and convenience.
• Give customers the convenience of remote service turn-ons. If a customer is moving, for example, they no longer need to leave gates open, worry about pets, or wait for a field service representative.

Communications Technology

SCE’s research and analysis support the narrowband decision as the best option to support a wide variety of functionality and ensure the program is cost effective for it’s customers. Here’s why:

While higher bandwidth seems appealing, it is not only more costly, but will provide wasted capacity. Simple data, not large data files, will be sent to and from the meter requiring no more than a narrowband connection. Energy pricing information will be sent via the narrowband connection.

Customer’s real-time energy usage and power quality information from the meter will be available securely over a narrowband wireless network.

The Edison SmartConnect™ communications system was designed to provide full program functionality and high-performance with a narrowband connection from the meter to the aggregation point, and a broadband connection from the aggregation point to the utility. The system was also designed for growth and flexibility to support advanced technology, prevent it from becoming “outdated” and result in long-term benefits for our customers.

Partners

Itron’s OpenWay AMI solution has been selected, and all meters will feature ZigBee connectivity for the HAN.

Secondary meter supplier to be selected.

January 2008 Interview with SmartConnect Leader

Jan 08 – Long web article/interview with the Director of SCE’s programme – key points:

• Have selected Itron Open Way for communication backbone
• Looking for non-Itron meter to use Open Way to maintain open approach
• Have selected HAN/local ZigBee platform, as fits best with requirements
• Considered 6loPAN, but believe it will not be ready for deployment in 2009 – states that 6loPAN could be flashed onto ZigBee chips in the future
• Every meter includes a switch to support potential prepayment services from 2013 – with bulk of functionality in the back office, but also to support demand management and improve outage and safety features

AEP Ohio has applied for $75m of match funding to support its’ $150m gridSMART demonstration project, which will include the installation of 110,000 electricity meters from 2010, alongside other smart grid activities.

The project will include new distribution grid technology, plug-in hybrid cars and consumer systems and products, including “smart appliances”.

AEP has selected IBM to support their gridSMART initiative, which will see smart meters deployed to all 5 million customers across 11 states.

Here is an interview with a member of the gridSMART programme, giving details on their plans for demand response and other activities.

National Grid, the USA’s second-largest utility, has selected Itron to participate in development of an operational proof-of-concept (POC) lab at the utility’s Smart Grid Technology Centre in Syracuse, N.Y. for testing of Itron smart metering/smart grid technology.

Itron plans to demonstrate total end-to-end responsibility for the foundational elements critical to National Grid’s vision of tomorrow’s smart grid.

Press release

In a deal worth $23.5m, American Systems has been awarded 10 contract to design, procure, install, and test advanced metering solutions in alignment with the Energy Policy Act of 2005, which obligates all federal agencies to install advanced metering devices that provide daily usage data.

Meters will be needed for electricity, water, gas and steam.

No details of volumes of meters, or locations, were included in the announcement

MDM supplier eMeter has formed a consulting arm – eMeter Strategic Consulting (ESC). ESC will provide strategic consulting services to a variety of metering and demand response industry participants, including utilities, regulatory agencies, and technology companies.

“ESC fills a niche that focuses on high-level strategic issues but requires intimate technical and practical knowledge of these specialty areas. These strategic areas include long-term technology strategies to avoid obsolescence, industry standards, regulatory policies, business process and change management considerations, and, above all, technology and program risk management.”

With its focus on new areas of strategic and regulatory interest, ESC is distinct from and complementary to various firms now providing advanced metering business case consulting, market assessments or technology evaluations. Instead, ESC plans to partner with such firms via subcontracting or other arrangements when client needs extend into the strategic or regulatory arenas. ESC is structured to operate independently of eMeter’s meter data management software and software implementation business.

Coverage

Ecologic Analytics has been selected by United Illuminating to provide the Meter Data Management system (MDM) for its’ smart metering initiative.

The system will validate, estimate and edit meter data for the New Haven based utility, which serves over 324,000 customers in Connecticut.

Adding UI to the client portfolio for Ecologic Analytics brings the number of endpoints under contract to over 16 million. Other utility customers include Oncor and Austin Energy.

Original Coverage