Meter Magazine_4_2015_DIGITALMAG

PRODUCT SHOWCASE

To improve the control of energy quality, to improve energy effectiveness for
smartEMU enables defining thresholds ...” particular utilities.

the registration. These sets enable free for over voltage and reduction of voltage. Customer billing based on actual
creation of free data sets to register This information is stored in the meter data
measurements of consumption and event log and is automatically transmitted
quality of power in various registration to the AMI system. The above data, along The measurement infrastructure being
time frames. with the load profile, are necessary for installed and in particular the single phase
To improve the control of energy quality, the AMI system to monitor the quality and three phase smartEMU energy meters
smartEMU enables defining thresholds of power and make it possible to control by Apator, enable real time billing of
demand – which in turn makes it possible consumers and prosumers. At midnight UTC
(Coordinated Universal Time) each day, the
meter records active and reactive energy
consumed in the preceding 24 hours.
SmartEMU can be programmed for
automatic periodical data readouts along
with a time stamp. This is referred to as
self-read. Such readout reflects a “snapshot”
of data at a given moment and is stored in
non-volatile memory to be read by the AMI

Table 1: smartEMU layers and operational scope.
The source measurement data on energy consumption by consumers and data source on energy quality of energy
The measuring system measures:
active energy in both directions (+P, -P)
reactive energy in four quadrants (QI, QII, QIII, QIV)
load profile as non-zone measurement of energy, power, voltage and current over a definable averaged period
average active power for both directions – power consumption and power generation
transient actual effective voltages (VRMS) and phase currents (IRMS)
average actual values of effective phase voltages (VRMS)

The source of readout infrastructure safety in particular information on possible attempts to interfere with an energy meter
SmartEMU meter is capable of recording at least the following events:
consumer installation activation/deactivation
active power limitation activation/deactivation
increase/decrease of voltage compared to rated voltage
voltage outage and resumption for each phase
events associated with magnetic field
removal of the terminal cover
removal of meter casing
change of meter parameters and firmware
change of the executive element
changes to the Time-Of-Use tariff table

A device that is capable of two-way communication both with the AMI system; and with the HAN of the consumer.
SmartEMU feature the following communication interfaces:
PLC communication modules, PRIME PLC v1.3.6 or OSGP certified to WAN. Interface for CENELEC A band, for frequencies between 3kHz

and 95kHz. Applies to signal transmission for monitoring devices or devices that control low voltage networks, including devices for
measuring consumed energy.
SmartEMU with a 3G-communication model is used as replacement technology.
Flexibility across communication interfaces. Depending on the needs, the design of the meter enables quick integration and
implementation of the required communication technologies (PLC OSGP, PLC PRIME or protocols (OSGP, DLMS/COSEM) for both HES
and HAN. For wireless communication, smartEMU meters may feature 2G, 3G or 4G modules.
For HAN the meters are available both with Wireless M-Bus radio interface, compatible with EN 13757-4, SRD band between 868 MHz
and 870 MHz as well as USB connection.
The interface for local communication with smartEMU meter is an optical connection mechanically compatible with PN-EN 62056-21
working with signals provided by the same, designated for OSGP protocol or DLMS/COSEM protocol.

A device transmitting signals to HAN and capable of gas, water and heat meter readout.
Two-way communication of wireless M-Bus module enables transmission of measuring and identification data of smartEMU meter and

free transmission of commands for other devices featuring the wireless M-Bus module. At the same time, the Wireless M-Bus module
monitors and saves the data received from as many as six other measuring devices, such as gas meters, water meters or heat meters.

METERING INTERNATIONAL ISSUE – 4 | 2015 99

PRODUCT SHOWCASE

Figure 2: smartEMU 3 contactor with three distinguishable the smartEMU meter will record and
states: enabled, disabled and connected automatically send to the AMI system at
system at some later time. The self-read (physically disconnected) least the following events:
time can be freely configured for repeating terminal cover removal
the task every day, every week, every month Wireless M-Bus module for transmitting phase loss
or every year. Self-read involves recording messages to HAN; the meter can send removal of meter housing
of the following data: messages automatically at an interval an interference attempt using magnetic
total values and values as active and between 10 seconds and 1 day. It is possible
to configured the meter with a resolution of fields
reactive power in tariffs 1 second. At the level of local application, in addition
date, time, period of data acquisition to the security of the application itself,
total time of power supply interruptions With the use of smartEMU meter the smartEMU will record any changes made to
measurement infrastructure enables meter parameters. Out of a large number
and the number of interruptions since transmission of text messages – in of events logged by the meter, the most
meter commissioning (or reset of all logs) particular messages that affect the important events include:
error counter demand behaviour. The communication time change
all measurement data for average channel for communication with HAN will accessing the meter for recording (the
and maximum values (demand type also enable transmission of information on
values) other services (such as promotional offers, time a specific procedure was requested
The efficiency of billing data acquisition, as advertisements). For this purpose, the by an external source)
well as load profile data acquisition, via PLC HAN gate is used as an interface between deletion of event log
network exceeds 99%. Such high efficiency smart metering network and customer’s change of event log parameters
of remote readout enables customer billing home area network. SmartEMU meter change of tariff
on the basis of actual measurements as with WM-Bus communication interface is meter reprogramming
well as notifying customers on current the source of data on consumption of all contactor status change
consumption of energy via the user portal utilities. The HAN gate may feature a Wi-Fi data download attempt
or HAN interface. interface for logging the device into the If a number of events are classified
customer’s Wi-Fi network. Via their home as critical, such events will take up a
DSR and DSM services area network the user has on-line access considerable part of the event log.
to measurement data, which they also Hence, to manage the events in a more
SmartEMU meters are also suitable for can manage. An extension of the home flexible manner, it is possible to create
readout and communication infrastructure gateway functionality is the control and categories of critical events. A critical event
carrying out DSR (demand side response) readout of smart sockets, which enables category is a group of events selected by
and DSM (demand side management) the DSM function and controlling these the user which may include a maximum of
functions. SmartEMU meters feature sockets from the AMI system level. 10 events.
functions that enable transmission of This enables the user to define any number
information to the customer. This meter Safety of critical events by assigning relevant
features a power guard functions, within categories. For example, a category may
which three elements can be distinguished: Achieving the safety objectives of the include all alarms relevant to phase loss or
power limitation function – the ability device itself and the measurement data interruption in power supply or all alarms
recorded with the device is implemented at associated with attempts to interfere in
to configure the smartEMU meter three levels: meter reading.
so that it responds to instantaneous device level At the level of communication between
power, average power or current being local application level the meter and AMI system or HAN, data in
exceeded communication interface level smartEMU 1 and smartEMU 3 meters are
100 SmartEMU, as part of event logging, encrypted using the AES-128 cryptographic
records all attempts of interference with algorithm. MI
the meter casing as well as attempts
to affect meter’s performance. If such
interference attempt takes place,

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Artur Bratkowski is responsible for performance of the contract for the supply
of OSGP electricity meters to Smart City Wrocław project in Apator SA. He is
coordinator of the projects on development of smart metering and smart grid.
He cooperates with research and development centres and entities consecutively
implementing the elements of smart power grid.

ABOUT THE COMPANY

Apator Group manufacturers measurement and readout
systems for all types of media (electricity, water, gas, heat),
as well as solutions for automation and power distribution.
Based on many years of its experience, the Group has
created proprietary solutions for readout and billing
of utilities, as well as state-of-the-art solutions
supporting the work of energy services in
management, operation and supervision of the
power grid.

METERING INTERNATIONAL ISSUE – 4 | 2015

E20001-F670-P820-V2-7600 Rugged communications
for the electric power grid

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utility communications solutions on the market. Our an IED can survive.
RUGGEDCOM portfolio includes products that are fully Competence in industrial networks.
compliant with IEC 61850-3, IEEE 1613, IEEE 1588 and
IEC 62439-3 standards.

siemens.com/communications-for-electric-power

ORGANISATION SHOWCASE

Meters and More –
Beyond the meter

Introduction between the meter and data concentrator technical committee for protocol
among meters, or between the meter specifications, two working packages have
Meters and More is a leading, open and end-customer devices; b) optical been created to develop the specifications
solution for smart metering and other communication when connecting local for a new generation communication
applications used in completed and O&M devices to the meter or concentrator solution between the meter and
on-going rollouts already targeted at 50 via an optical probe; and c) wireless TCP/ end-customer devices and for SMITP-
million customers. It is supported by over IP based communication between data compatible communication technologies
40 leading member organizations. concentrators on the one end and the for smart city applications.
Meters and More assures product central system on the other. With these extensions, it will be possible,
interoperability, a neutral certification The extension of SMITP to the additional among others, to allow the creation of
process, standardization at European and DLMS/COSEM profile guarantees further future-enabling products that can:
international level, and the continuous impetus in the spread of the Meters and
integration of technological evolutions. More protocol, addressing electronic provide real-time and detailed
It also serves as a platform for the energy meter installation implementing the consumption information to
experts within Meters and More member DLMS/COSEM model. customers, energy retailers,
organizations to jointly commit to research Interoperability among Meters and More aggregators and ESCOs in order to
and development activities. The association devices, which is a main concern for any allow for energy-efficient services and
further provides for IPR-free access to the open technology, is guaranteed through customer behaviour
Meters and More specifications, thereby an extensive neutral certification process.
removing any potential barriers for product This process is developed and monitored facilitate technologies for
development. by the association’s technical committee for automated demand-response and
Meters… certification, which recently appointed CESI communication with household
The Meters and More technology, S.p.a as the first accredited test house to appliances
also known as SMITP (Smart Metering certify Meters and More devices.
Information and Telecommunication Furthermore, Meters and More is one of allow for real-time management of
Protocol), consists of a set of protocols the technologies recommended by the distributed generation
aimed at secure end-to-end communication European Open Meter Project and the
for smart metering, providing an identical European standardization organization link with additional monitoring and
message protocol for all communication CENELEC, in compliance with mandate control elements for the distribution
interfaces among the different components M/441 of the European Commission. grid
of a modern AMI architecture. These
components include a central system The open Meters and More technology manage street lighting schemes for
that manages the whole smart metering is mainly characterized by its focus on saving energy and maintenance costs,
network, data concentrators that collect field-proven efficiency, robustness and improving public services
data provided by smart meters, as well as security of communications.
smart meters, the metering devices and collect information from sensors and
local O&M devices for local management … and More control elements within a Smart City
of data. One of the association’s clear goals is not environment (traffic density, pollution,
Security by design is a key principle and only to provide an interoperable end-to- temperature, parking spaces, etc.)
is achieved by authentication, encryption end solution
and message integrity verification without for smart One of Meters and More’s major
the need for translation barriers along the metering, but objectives is also to become a reference
communication path. also to develop for real-time communication to
Different from other communication extensions for customers, as well as smart grids and
solutions, Meters and More is not complementary smart city applications. MI
only a powerline communication value-added
(PLC) technology, but also includes all services based www.metersandmore.eu
interfaces for a complete end-to-end on the same
solution for smart metering and many principles of METERING INTERNATIONAL ISSUE – 4 | 2015
more applications. openness,
Efficiency and robustness of the protocol interoperability,
is achieved by very short and optimized efficiency,
field-proven protocol messages: for a) robustness
powerline communication, which is used and security of
communications.
102 For that reason,
recently, within
the Association’s

Representing a complete
solution for Smart Metering

www.metersandmore.eu

Meters and More AISBL
Rue de la Science 14 b
1040 Bruxelles
Belgium
E-mail: [email protected]
Office phone: 00 32 2 880 36 15

COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY

By Steve Clarke, AMIHO Technology

Is cognitive radio
the for dark meter

104 METERING INTERNATIONAL ISSUE – 4 | 2015

COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY

Welcome to the dark arts – the Smart meter installations require
magic world of wireless a number of disciplines”

The majority of smart meter (AMI) and The enemies are: will get in the way. Trials have shown that,
automated meter reading systems use noise – from other users and interfering depending on region, 1-10% of homes are
radio communications as part of the devices e.g. microwave ovens still difficult to connect.
system architecture. The most common attenuation – from the distance or from
link is from remote devices such as gas, obstacles such as walls, trees, hills Long range technologies
water or heat meters, into a common
communications hub or concentrator. This Installation issues Several communications technologies
hub is connected to the utility network, exist that get around some aspects of
typically wired infrastructure such as Smart meter installations require a number of the range-problem. In all cases, there
power-line communications. Nevertheless, disciplines – electricians, gas fitters, plumbers is a sacrifice, mainly in terms of power
some systems have a wireless backhaul, – and now data communications/ radio consumption – i.e. battery life for gas and
and some do without the local hub engineers. It is therefore no surprise to hear water meters:
altogether with a direct radio connection estimates of 12 hours or more to complete a
back to the utility. gas or electricity smart meter installation. To Narrowband communications –
Radio communications, with clear benefits make things worse, there is no guarantee that make the data rate very low and the
in its ability to connect without installing the communications will work – necessitating bandwidth very small, concentrating
wires, and to communicate where there is a radio site survey before deciding whether to the energy in a narrow channel – an
no immediate infrastructure, has slightly install a smart meter. example is SigFox. Typical problems are
unpredictable behaviour – there one In the UK, the Department for Energy and low data rates and the need for precise
moment and seemingly gone the next. Climate Change (DECC) estimates that using transmission frequencies.
Radio engineers are the rare and prized ZigBee at 2.4 GHz, some 30% of homes
magicians of this world – highly skilled in cannot be connected. Even when the lower Spread spectrum – the data is encoded
the secret art of wireless communications. frequency ZigBee becomes available for smart in time and frequency, making it
They seek to remove this uncertainty, often meters in the UK, some 5% of homes will be possible to pick up extremely weak
requiring great effort. ‘dark’with this technology. DECC is proposing signals at the receiver. The performance
that an alternative Home Area Network (HAN) of technologies such as LoRa is
What is cognitive radio? technology could be used. Discussions on exceptional, increasing the useful range
the alternatives are ongoing. Moreover, this from a few hundred metres to 15km
What we want is intelligent wireless then means that installation teams will need and beyond, offering up to 8 times
communications that sets up and adapts a selection of equipment – and potentially the range of narrowband radio at the
itself. Enter cognitive radio – a radio this will only be known once a standard same power level. Spread spectrum is
methodology that senses its environment installation has been tried – and has failed. also inherently resistant to noise. This
and changes its behaviour dynamically comes at a price – at the longest range
to get best performance. Such a system You can’t just turn the power up settings, the data rate can be as low as
might monitor signal levels and error 2 bytes per second.
rate, control the channels or frequencies France and Italy favour a different approach
at which it operates, the power levels for gas smart metering – the use of a radio Mesh/Tree networks – allow the data
used, the data rates – indeed any radio system with inherently greater range – to hop or repeat from one meter to
parameter which has an effect on using Wireless Meter-Bus at comparatively the next, allowing the data to reach
communications. high power (500mW) and lower frequency its destination via a series of shorter
– 169 MHz. hops. The main advantage is that it can
The ’Dark Meter’ problem Turning up the power is just one aspect boost a weak signal to overcome a big
here. This power increase – from obstacle. However, it has several serious
In connection with smart meter rollouts, 10-25 mW typically used for 868 MHz drawbacks:
much has been written about so-called Wireless Meter-Bus, to 500 mW as permitted – at each hop, the message becomes
‘Dark Meters’ – those meters that are at 169 MHz Wireless Meter-Bus – increases longer – not just from adding extra
unreachable by the utility using a the maximum range by around a factor payload, but also by adding routing
communication network. of 5. The main increase in range here information – thus causing extra
The problems in communication can comes from drain on the meter battery.
be local – the signal may not be strong
a lower data rate with a much narrower enough to make the hop, requiring
pain? bandwidth, giving better receiver dedicated repeaters to be added
sensitivity into a network
or wide-area,
for example, a gas meter unable to a lower transmission frequency, which As a consequence, mesh networking is best
communicate with a smart home gateway, means the signal passes through suited to permanently powered meters in
or water meter that cannot connect to a obstacles with lower losses dense areas.
remote utility communications concentrator. In addition to the technical characteristics,
Even this is not perfect: in Italy, line-of- there are commercial considerations
site means that eventually a mountain – some of these technologies will only
operate as part of a commercial subscriber
network.

METERING INTERNATIONAL ISSUE – 4 | 2015 105

COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY

Why we need cognitive radio be equipped with long-range capabilities, What cognitive radio achieves for
but will use the fastest data rates to give the the utilities
It is clear that the long range radio shortest messages. The communications
technologies have problems for smart system in the meter continually monitors A simple installation, using common
metering: ambient conditions, such as background equipment is the Holy Grail of smart meter
Longer range = more energy per message = noise, received signal strength, data error communications – fast, cost effective
fewer messages per day rates. The meter then adapts its behaviour installations, with the best operation
In addition, lots of long, high-power and for example selects a channel to possible for any given conditions.
transmissions clog the radio spectrum. In a transmit on that is relatively quiet. It will The smart meter network is the start of the
dense area, all that will happen is that each also scale back the power to a level just loud Internet of Things revolution and in addition,
meter must ‘shout’ louder to be heard above enough for the listening device. this network represents the first step of the
its neighbour. In most cases, the long- A meter with such a capability will shorten smartening of the grid and sits between
range communications is not necessary. the installation time significantly – the the utilities and the home/consumer. A well
Unfortunately, you don’t know which ones intelligence to set up the communications designed communications system will allow
until installation. link now resides in the meter itself and happy coexistence of competing devices
And to make matters worse the radio can be done faster and more efficiently and also enable the utilities and approved
environment is dynamic – other radio users, – without a specialist radio engineer. suppliers of consumer/home automation
interference and the presence of obstacles, Moreover, it will continue to adapt as equipment to ‘piggy-back’ new applications
affect reception. All of these may change conditions change – e.g. in response to onto this network.
over time. more meters coming on line, to changes Welcome to the world of intelligent
in the urban environment and added wireless! MI
The ideal solution competition for radio spectrum.

A smart meter communications system ABOUT THE AUTHOR
must act as a good neighbour, talking only Steve Clarke is founder and technical director at AMIHO Technology. Formerly a senior BBC engineer and Lecturer at Salford
when it needs to, and as quietly as possible. University, Steve’s background is in Microelectronics. He has twenty-five years’experience in software and electronics, from
Ideally, each message should be as short as RF telemetry at Acis and the award-winning Tag McLaren AV processors, to EPOS and smart energy meters.
necessary, saving battery life and allowing
others to share the spectrum. Each meter will ABOUT THE COMPANY
AMIHO Technology, based in Cambridge, UK, delivers innovative off-the-shelf wireless connectivity and control solutions
(hardware and software) for smart metering, building and home automation and Internet of Things applications.

Quality always stands
the test of time.

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INTERVIEW

Unpacking the
ZigBee protocol
for the global smart
energy market

Tobin Richardson – chief executive officer of the ZigBee
Alliance – expands on the nature, application and evolution
of ZigBee standards, and shares his thoughts on security.

MI: Can you provide a definition of the Examples include Göteborg Energi AB, standards? What sets ZigBee apart from
ZigBee standard and expand on how it where 270,000 residential smart meters in other standards? Can these technologies
is used by utilities, smart home device Göteborg, Sweden are deployed across the coexist in the same household?
manufacturers and consumers? city using to create a wireless mesh network TR: We have seen a trend where ZigBee
TR: ZigBee is a mesh network specification for remote metering; in Great Britain’s AMI standards are coupled with Wi-Fi and
for low-power wireless local area networks rollout to begin in 2016, ZigBee tech is Bluetooth in the smart home, and we
(WLANs) that cover a large area. ZigBee included as part of the UK government’s expect that trend to continue growing.
standards have undergone more than 12 Smart Metering Equipment Technical In nearly every new hub or router
years of development as industry experts Specifications (SMETS2). Other examples introduced in the market, these three are
work to provide optimal solutions for the include deployments by some of the largest present, forming the basis of the smart
need for interoperable smart things in investor-owned utilities in California such home with very distinct value for each
Internet of Things (IoT) markets. Product as Southern California Edison, PG&E and network.
developers certify their products to ZigBee several projects in Texas. ZigBee standards were developed and
standards that cover both network and There are several design choices available optimised for low-data, low-power
application level requirements for use in to meter manufacturers to incorporate communication between devices. ZigBee
smart home, connected lighting, intelligent ZigBee technology into their products. standards are tailored to several different
building, retail, smart energy, industrial and The use of a separate communications target markets, including smart home,
many other applications. module is one of them. In addition to the intelligent building, smart energy, and
MI: How is the ZigBee standard AMI WAN communication, Home Area smart city communications.
optimised for smart metering and the Networks (HAN) can be incorporated into In terms of advanced meter infrastructure,
smart grid specifically? the meter as well. The HAN communication ZigBee Standards (and technologies in
TR: The utility industry was one of the subsystem could also be designed into use by them) were all designed with the
first markets to embrace the Internet of the main meter board. These solutions technical, power and communication
Things and ZigBee standards. The Alliance, become ZigBee compliant when they pass requirements of a wireless sensor network
in cooperation with global utilities and stringent interoperability and performance in mind. Wi-Fi, for example, provides much
regulatory bodies, has defined a complete certification testing and meet all higher bandwidth not needed for AMI
end-to-end solution for smart metering requirements to wear the ZigBee applications, and comes with much higher
and smart grid with its ZigBee Smart Smart Energy badge. power consumption and hardware cost.
Energy standards. This standard has been MI: As our homes become “smarter”, Meanwhile, Bluetooth has improved power
deployed in nearly all high-profile smart we are seeing a number of competing efficiency in its latest offering; however
energy projects around the world, chosen wireless network standards. These its power consumption, bandwidth,
for its high reliability, best available security include not only ZigBee standards, transmission range and cost are not as close
encryption methods and fit-for-purpose Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, but others such a fit for the AMI application as is ZigBee
radio technology. as Thread, WeMo and Z-Wave. What Smart Energy.
108 are the differences among these new
METERING INTERNATIONAL ISSUE – 4 | 2015

INTERVIEW

MI: What is ZigBee 3.0 and how does it The product must be fully compliant to they “lack configuration possibilities for
work? the standard and execute all mandatory security and perform a vulnerable device
TR: Our ZigBee 3.0 initiative is the unification commands (along with any implemented pairing procedure that allows external
of several of the Alliance’s wireless application optional features). Successfully completing parties to sniff the exchanged network
standards into a single interoperable certification testing allows the member’s key.” Has ZigBee investigated this
standard. By creating a consolidated product to be recognized by the Alliance claim? How has the Alliance responded?
applications layer, ZigBee Alliance members as a ZigBee Certified product and wear a Have you identified the same security
have enabled interoperability among a wide ZigBee Certified product logo. Only test risks? What is your long-term security
range of smart devices, giving consumers service providers who have been authorised strategy and how will the alliance go
and businesses access to products and by the ZigBee Alliance may perform testing about ensuring the cyber-safety of its
services that will work together seamlessly. for the ZigBee Certified programme. All customers?
Several ZigBee standards will be combined testing is performed by independent TR: The ZigBee Alliance and its members
under ZigBee 3.0 and is due for release in laboratories around the world who have take security very seriously. Our members
January 2016. been qualified by the Alliance as experts develop standards and protocols to strike
MI: Cost-benefit analysis – What are the in communications testing and who are the appropriate balance between ease of
realities of maintenance and operations? thoroughly familiar with ZigBee technology. use and secure interaction of devices to
Does a ZigBee communications network MI: What is the Alliance’s approach to afford the greatest ‘smart’ functionality with
require significant capital investment? ensuring interoperability of ZigBee- the least exposure.
And how scalable is the network for enabled devices with other ZigBee We are aware of the report promoted
future upgrades? Can you provide any devices as well as other member- from Black Hat. The risk described is small
case study examples? manufactured devices – in a network of regarding a singular point in the initial, out-
TR: Products that connect wirelessly using 400+ members? Are you currently facing of-the-box joining (when the homeowner
ZigBee technology are often the most challenges in this regard? And if so, how is installing a new device) or when a device
economical way to add monitoring and are these being addressed? is rejoining the network after losing contact
control to a home or business. For example, TR: Interoperability between ZigBee with its parent – which is a few milliseconds
the cost to add a wired lighting control Certified devices is not an issue, because of key exchange. The hack requires
system to an office building is significantly these devices have been thoroughly tested substantial knowledge and equipment and
higher than the cost to add a ZigBee and comply with ZigBee standards. The issue is unlikely to occur outside of the security
technology-based wireless one. arises when a product based on a ZigBee community. Notable for energy providers,
The time, cost and disruption required to standard poses as a ZigBee Certified product. this vector is not possible in the ZigBee
run wires from point to point is eliminated. If a product is not certified we cannot Smart Energy standard.
Once installed, products connected with a guarantee its interoperability. That said, Security has to fit the application, and
ZigBee standard can be maintained with interoperability between different vertical schemes are dictated by the resources
no communications upkeep. Some of market standards is about to be realised as at hand. Constrained devices such as
these products even make use of energy ZigBee 3.0. Devices Certified with ZigBee light bulbs lack keyboards and monitors
harvesting techniques to eliminate the 3.0 will interoperate seamlessly because and often use processors with limited
need for battery replacement. they will draw from a common set of device capabilities. If a security scheme is too
Capital investment and cost of ownership profiles and behaviour, namely from the expensive, too difficult to install, or too
using ZigBee wireless control networks ZigBee 3.0 consolidated applications library. time-consuming – manufacturers and
is typically much lower than comparable MI: At the recent Black Hat security event consumers won’t apply it.
solutions using wired communications. held in Las Vegas, USA, researchers In the long term, ZigBee technology is
Further, the savings are often realized from IT firm Cognosec, found that created and implemented by some of the
within a 12-month timeframe. These ZigBee networks can be compromised most successful companies in the world, all
networks are scalable; many ZigBee by hackers and control of all connected of which have access to the latest security
networks have hundreds of devices devices on a network can be taken over. schemes. Members of ZigBee Alliance
deployed within them, and have the To verify the implementation of ZigBee technical working groups actively review
potential to expand into the thousands – security in real world devices, Cognosec the ZigBee security framework as well as
the Aria Hotel in Las Vegas has over 75,000 tested a home automation system, a industry best practices to stay ahead of
ZigBee Certified devices in use today. smart lighting solution and a ZigBee evolving threats, and therefore welcome
MI: How does ZigBee’s certification enabled door lock. Cognosec alleges this type of analysis as an open standards
process work? that although the smart home solutions community. MI
TR: The ZigBee Certified programme is are designed for easy setup and usage,
a critical part of the Alliance’s standards
development process. Unlike other Tobin Richardson Tobin leads the Alliance’s efforts to develop open, global wireless standards
standards organizations, the testing and President and CEO of the that serve as the foundation for the Internet of Things (IoT). He has decades of
certification of products is required before ZigBee Alliance experience in leadership/strategic roles for organizations including CenterBeam,
any ZigBee standard is released for use. The Microsoft and PG&E – and serves in various industry board/committee positions
ZigBee Compliant Platform programme to steer the wireless evolution.
conducts a rigorous evaluation of all THE ZIGBEE ALLIANCE
platforms before they can be engineered The ZigBee Alliance offers the open, global wireless standards that enable everyday
into products. The ZigBee Certified Product objects to work together and help you control your world. ZigBee standards are the
programme tests any product using an leading standards for monitoring and control used in consumer, commercial and
Alliance developed standard. industrial markets around the world. The Alliance is an open, non-profit ecosystem
of more than 400 organizations developing and promoting standards defining
METERING INTERNATIONAL ISSUE – 4 | 2015 the Internet of Things for use in homes and businesses. For more information, visit
www.ZigBee.org.

109

PRODUCT SHOWCASE ARGUS:

Over the past few years, the need cases, detection of partial discharges in the customer – there are many standardized
for a‘smart MV-LV substation’ transformer and switchgear areas can greatly ways to express this, but which parameters
has become obvious: monitoring help in the exploitation and fault recovery of are crucial for the DSO? What needs to be
(metering), detection of technical the distribution system. To enable accurate measured? Phenomena such as voltage
and non-technical losses, fault measurements on medium-voltage, a novel distortions, variations, unbalances, flicker,
detection and localization, voltage sensor, integrated with the MV dips, sags … are difficult to interpret
directional fault passage indication, cable is also part of the portfolio. It is highly in relation to the topology of the
measuring current (voltage) before compact, and offers great cost advantages infrastructure and load variability. An even
and after the transformer in the MV-LV over traditional sensors, and can be more pertinent question: why would a DSO
substation, partial discharge detection retrofitted in many cases. measure imperfections in its system, thus
on key assets, detecting short-circuits, To enable DSOs in Europe (and worldwide) implying a shortcoming in its primary task?
and acquiring minimal power quality to finance an adequate power quality and The answer to this question is probably
information is crucial. The WAN- reliability strategy for medium-voltage that a typical DSO will try to find a solution
communication of these parameters is, and low-voltage infrastructure, Bausch which is affordable and beneficial to
in most cases, through the IEC 60870-5- Datacom provides a tailor-made portfolio of address the most urgent infrastructure
104 communication protocol, carried by hardware and software that provides these issues in the shorter term, while planning
a GPRS/3G/CDMA 450MHz TCP/IP data core features. long-term capacity upgrades to the
link to a SCADA master set-up. system at a more nominal replacement
Many DSOs in Europe have been The ARGUS Portfolio cycle. To direct such short and long-term
confronted with the awkward need to investment planning effectively, being
improve their knowledge of their grid, It is obvious that steps need to be taken aware of areas with current issues and
both on the MV infrastructure (6-22 kV) to improve grid operations to counter the areas with future potential for problems
and the LV infrastructure (230 V-400 many challenges of the liberalization and can greatly help in this task. Also, by being
V), to maintain their quality of service decentralization of electricity production aware of areas where power quality is
in the face of EU policy, accelerated and transmission. Many DSOs are trying trending to the limits, effective scheduling
adoption of PV, heat pumps and electric not to invest in more copper – which is the of works can prevent costly power quality
vehicles. The big challenge is to integrate traditional approach to capacity and power shortcomings. Thus, the DSO gains the
devices that are capable of measuring the quality issues – but rather aim at more option to operate pro-active and precise
needed parameters, which can be fitted in intelligent infrastructure. As a consequence, asset management.
small cabinets, and, last but not least, are the KIC-InnoEnergy program identified key Bausch Datacom will integrate this approach
affordable! Given the large-scale rollouts areas where present-day technology was in into a cost effective solution that can be
required, cost is often the limiting factor. some key aspect insufficient and developed deployed and fitted in secondary distribution
Based on information of DSOs such as Gas new approaches to overcome those substations (MV-LV). The aim is to introduce
Natural Fenosa (Spain), EDP (Portugal), limitations. Some of the results include a a basic product that allows communication
Eandis (Belgium), Sibelga (Belgium), and distribution-optimized voltage measurement (GPRS/3G/LTE/CDMA 450 MHz) using a
Alliander (Netherlands), it is clear that technology for the MV grid (15 kV at present, SCADA protocol, such as IEC 60870-5-104,
there is a common core of measurements but scalable to all typical levels), acoustic and can interface – using Modbus over
that needs to be retrieved and analyzed partial discharge detection for bus bars and RS-485 – to modules performing core
from the grid. It is clear that at the key link transformers and directional fault passage functions, such as directional fault passage
between the MV and the LV infrastructure indication (also applicable for high impedance indication, metering and basic power quality
– the MV-LV substation – there is currently faults in isolated-neutral grids). indications.
a lack of data. Awareness of real-time load Regarding power quality – how stable the
levels, losses, load limits, faults, and in some typical supply of 230 V or 400 V is for the The ARGUS approach to smart
MV-LV substations
Bausch Datacom provides a tailor-made
portfolio of hardware and software that In order to balance budgetary, logistic and
functional challenges, the ARGUS portfolio
provides these core features.” is modular in design. The system is based
on a main communication device – DinBox
110 RTU M4 – which is a ‘stepping stone’ unit that
provides communication, protocols such as
IEC 60870-5-104 slave and Modbus and a
limited number of digital inputs and outputs.
This communication device is managed by
the PRAXIS modem management unit, thus
the infrastructure of DB RTU SL RTU’s can be

METERING INTERNATIONAL ISSUE – 4 | 2015

PRODUCT SHOWCASE

monitoring MV-LV substations with
integrated WAN-communications

ARGUS is an ARGUS Substation monitoring
instrumentation
communication portfolio. GPRS/3G/LTE/CDMA IEC 60870‐5‐104  SLAVE
Praxis SNMP field devices management
grouped, monitored, configured, diagnosed Monitoring & control of signal,  grouping … DinBox RTU SL
and firmware of the applications can be Upgrade firmware GPRS/IEC‐60870‐5‐104/
upgraded in a central manner. IEC 60870‐5‐104 SCADA  Modbus RS‐485/8DI/2DO
The main module for the grid state
measurements is the DinBox ARGUS which RS‐485 Modbus
incorporates a minimum number of digital
and analog channels to perform alarm RS‐485 Modbus DB ARGUS
functions (short-circuit, temperature, smoke, 4DI/2DO
doors, and other monitoring), directional Power Quality
fault passage indication on MV and energy Fault Passage Indication
and power quality measurements. This data Metering
will be sent/retrieved by the DinBox RTU M4 PLController (optional)
through Modbus and mapped to the
IEC 60870-5-104 central SCADA. Grid infrastructure management DB ARGUS eLV DB ARGUS eDigital DB ARGUS ePQ
The DinBox RTU ARGUS can be extended Metering Fault detection 3x8 feeders >24 Digital Inputs Flicker, dips, 
by DinBox ARGUS eLV, providing many Fault passage Indication Fuse detection >8 Digital Outputs Sags, transients
additional analog channels (for example, Power Quality >PT 100 temp.
for load profile monitoring and fuse state Accoustic partial discharge detection
detection on each LV feeder individually) …
and by DinBox ARGUS eDigital, which
provides digital inputs, outputs and PT100 Secure

Backoffice Substation MV (6‐22KV)  LV

interfacing (for example, to remote-control to scale each installation as changing
a motorized RMU). The main idea is to offer operating requirements dictate now and in
DSOs a way to deploy basic functionalities the future. MI
on a large scale to MV-LV substations, and www.bauschdatacom.com
use the modularity of the ARGUS system

ARGUS Product specification

Praxis  SNMP management SNMP DB RTU M4

Ethernet Communications

 Grouping RTU’s GSM GPRS/3G/LTE  GPRS/3G/LTE/450MHz module Com
 Monitoring RSSI  CDMA 450 MHz   IEC‐60870‐5‐104, IEC 61850, 61131  MV Met/PQ/FPI
 Logging  AES encryption, RSA Ext DIO/Sensors
 Management of RTU’s  SNMP Management
 Security Management  Modbus protocol Ext LV
 8DI, 2DO,2AI
Stacked Solution
Modbus Master

Modbus Slaves RS‐485

MV Met, BPQ, FPI Extended DIO/Sensors Extended LV Extended PQ
 Flicker
 Metering  24 DI  Fuse detection  Transients
 Fault Passage Indication  8 DO  Fault detextion …
 Basic PQ measurements  4 PT100/4CL  3X 8 feeders
 4DI, 2DO DB ARGUS ePQ
 Programmable Logic Controller DB ARGUS eLV

DB ARGUS DB ARGUS eDigital

ARGUS will have a basic power quality functionality that can be extended through modules.

METERING INTERNATIONAL ISSUE – 4 | 2015 111

PRODUCT SHOWCASE

Battery analysis service
delivers new life insights for

mmeatneargfelemeet natsset

Saft is a leading supplier of primary lithium a wide product range including primary new generation of smart meters with
batteries for metering applications with an Li-SOCl2 and Li-MnO2 chemistries together remotely upgradable software can result in
estimated 45% share of the global market. with rechargeable Li-ion. the modification of battery consumption
This position as a key strategic partner for during its operating life.
both utilities and metering OEMs is based on Life is influenced by many factors To take battery life determination to the next
Saft’s high quality products combined with level, Saft has developed an innovative service
a deep understanding of all the operational There are many operational factors that designed to extract real-life information from
factors that impact battery life – enabling can impact the ultimate life of a metering the field regarding the remaining battery
Saft to offer the optimum battery for each battery. These can include demanding life in operational meters. The service, which
application. Saft has now taken the next step environmental conditions that combine can be applied to any battery, starts by
in the battery circle of life with its innovative extreme temperatures (typically from -40°C taking a representative sample of meters
remaining battery life service for operational to +85°C) and humidity (up to 90% and more from the deployed fleet. The meters are then
meters out in the field. in some locations). dismantled and the batteries removed for
Let’s look at why Saft places this emphasis on Self-discharge is also a critical factor in laboratory analysis including:
understanding battery life: ensuring sufficient capacity until the
meter’s expected end-of-life. This may vary, Mechanical integrity checks
Metering batteries are not a depending on the cell size or construction, Remaining capacity determination
commodity as well as the operating temperature. The
know-how of the battery manufacturer can by a specific chemical analysis of the
Batteries are not a simple commodity item help minimize self-discharge rates over a electrodes
to be purchased at the lowest cost. They are long operating time. Determination of actual state of charge
the most critical component affecting the Another crucial specification is the minimum through evaluation of discharged
field life of electricity, gas and water meters, voltage required by the meter’s electronics: capacity and self-discharge
so selecting the right battery is crucial voltage delay may occur with applications Determination of actual state of health
in ensuring trouble-free, cost-effective that require high pulse currents, particularly by measuring the passivation state and
operation over a lifetime of up to 20 years. in elevated temperatures. Furthermore, low the complex impedance of the batteries.
Furthermore, battery replacement in the temperature slow down electrochemical The information obtained is correlated with
field is both expensive and time consuming. reactions, also leading to lower voltages. life expectancy data to develop an accurate
Over the past 40 years, Saft’s primary lithium These factors must be fully addressed to estimate for the remaining service life of the
technology has proved its capabilities in ensure that the battery will always deliver entire battery fleet.
many large-scale installations that have the minimum voltage required. The key aim of the service is provide
seen hundreds of millions of its batteries Saft has built on its deep experience to better knowledge and expertise related
deployed worldwide. develop a mathematical model to estimate to the battery ageing process. This helps
a battery’s run time. This model plays a network managers to determine their
The emergence of smart meters critical role in helping meter manufacturers optimum metering asset management
determine the optimum battery size for a strategy, provides a sound basis for the
Metering applications are changing as specific application, and in helping utilities implementation of condition based
the new generation of smart meters assess the life they can expect for meters maintenance and ultimately helps secure the
joins the Internet of Things (IoT), offering based on representative field conditions. availability of utility infrastructure.
enhanced capabilities such as two-way
communications or remote shut-off. Now, Meter life analysis – taking battery Saft – the optimum battery choice
as well as delivering a base current of life determination to the next level
only a few microamps for data backup, When the meter battery life is crucial, Saft is
the battery might deliver a high pulse Lifetime modeling however does not address the optimum choice for utilities and OEMs
current of a few hundred milliamps for the variances in operating conditions found based on the quality of its products, long
communication, or even up to a few amps within a fleet of meters. Furthermore, the track record and its deep experience in
for GPRS protocols. Saft understands that battery sizing and life analysis. MI
for meters, one battery technology does
not meet all needs, and has developed ABOUT SAFT
112 Saft is a world leading designer and manufacturer of advanced technology batteries for industry. The
group is the world’s leading manufacturer of nickel batteries and primary lithium batteries for the
industrial infrastructure. Saft Li-ion technologies are deployed in the energy storage, transportation and
telecommunication network markets.

METERING INTERNATIONAL ISSUE – 4 | 2015

Special supplement:

Big Data
and Data
Analytics

Brought to you by

DATA ANALYTICS

Taking away
the pain:

IT-OT integration is essential to
making analytics more valuable

“If everything seems under control, you’re and enterprise (IT systems) (43% up 12% mining and smart grid analytics, utilities
not going fast enough,” said Mario Andretti, on 2013). can leapfrog the limitations imposed
world champion race car driver. Nice line, There is no rip-and-replace solution that will by the current generation of utility
but when you are managing the grid, it solve all of these challenges, but practical technologies. When an outage occurs,
is critical to stay in control – even if that approaches, as well as bringing together events unfold in seconds and decisions
compromises speed. Nevertheless, the the right competencies, can make the use need to be made quickly. But ingesting
speed at which the industry is adopting of analytics easier and more effective. outage-related data is not enough in
analytics is perhaps not fast enough, today’s hyper-connected bi-directional
which could be holding the industry back The IT-OT conundrum world. By better integrating the back
given analytics’ enormous potetial to drive and front office, the utility is able to
innovation and transformation. IT-OT integration recently came to the leverage the additional data streams to
According to an Accenture report* of 85 fore as one of the areas requiring the provide both operations and customer-
utility executives working in electricity most improvement. Bridging the gap facing employees with more details about
distribution, there is wide recognition between information and operational an event.
that analytics represents great value to technologies is clearly one of the keys to
smart solutions deployment. Two thirds high performance analytics that can drive By Maikel van Verseveld, CEO at
of the respondents see the greatest value better outcomes across the business. OMNETRIC Group, a joint venture
in analytics for grid operations and asset However, “newer” data sources, as attested formed by Accenture and Siemens.
management. Compared to the previous by the Accenture survey respondents, can The company combines the deep
year however, the value of analytics be difficult to integrate into traditional engineering, technology, consulting
to grid and asset-related operations data sets. This is largely due to proprietary and analytics competencies of
was perceived as lower — more than and sometimes rigid solutions developed its shareholders, with the fresh
15% lower, suggesting that the initial and adopted over the years. There are thinking, innovation and agility of a
enthusiasm about the power of analytics players working to change the status quo. start-up.
is subsiding. Why is that? The survey Companies, like OMNETRIC Group, are
highlights that executives see room for working to bring together the strengths The skills challenge is not just
significant improvement in multiple areas of an ecosystem of providers to address about data scientists
related to the maturity of their current the emerging priorities and the associated
analytical capability. We can assume that technology barriers. The guiding principle Importantly, IT-OT integration needs to
the practical challenges faced by utilities is about combining the best of traditional occur at a human level, as well as across
as they try to embrace analytics is the technology with the new. As one example, processes and technology. Perhaps in our
reason for slower adoption. The top three OMNETRIC Group has seamlessly highly complex technology environment,
areas for improvement according to utility integrated a solid “core system” for this is too often forgotten. There is no
executives are: network analysis with additional products denying, the industry lacks the statistical
and online services, to develop a next- analysis skills needed to significantly
data integration across different generation outage management solution. accelerate adoption of analytics, but we
sources (55%), Through this combination of traditional will not see the value of analytics from data
outage management systems (OMS) with scientists alone. Moreover, while those
availability of statistical analysis/data information technology systems and other skills are rare, they can be procured on a
scientist skills (51%), solution components, such as social media
METERING INTERNATIONAL ISSUE – 4 | 2015
IT-OT integration (i.e. integration
between real-time systems in the field

114

DATA ANALYTICS

project needs basis. If utilities are to close deliver on reliability and performance data model, with the appropriate
the loop between the insight generated guarantees, the operator can begin to governance, is needed to fully leverage IT/
and the action taken, they need to combine develop new business opportunities. OT outputs. The solution must also be able
data analytics expertise with the right to grow and scale.
engineering and domain experience. Data integration is easier with What is needed is a smart grid-specific
focus data model that combines IT and OT
Taking the pain out of data system data types. The model includes
integration Data discovery offers a new approach to predefined system adapters using open
analytics promoting speed and focus. It does standards such as CIM and MultiSpeak
Data integration has been identified as a not however, take away the need to integrate to reduce the effort of moving OT data
barrier to achieving more value with analytics enterprise data. Utilities still need to control onto an analytics platform. The model
for as long as analytics have existed. Data their existing data through traditional means should also provide logic that captures
discovery does not replace data integration, such as process integration projects and data the relationships and attributes of
but it can take away some of the pain. Rather quality initiatives. elements relevant to the running of a
than slowly and blindly lumbering through utility’s business, such as meter to feeder
data integration before reaping any value, Figure 1: Energy Insight services, to substation operational data and their
data discovery identifies opportunities for OMNETRIC Group relevance to the distribution model,
immediate benefit, enabling utilities to better Perhaps one of the biggest challenges
steer their data and analytics strategies. relating to enterprise data integration is providing a blueprint for integration.
Unlike traditional analytics, which the design of an appropriate logical data Once a utility has a data strategy
typically queries cleansed data model for the organization. Point-to-point planned out, it can, in a
from trusted sources residing data connections are of little use in a highly structured manner, select
in relational databases, data complex system where data relationships areas of integration that are
discovery requires no upfront are multi-faceted. An end-to-end unified relevant, implement them
investment in infrastructure and then move onto the
or integration work. It next area of focus, with the
lets utilities interrogate assurance that everything
and explore unknowns, will fit together within the
delivering insight faster. blueprint provided by the
Additionally, data discovery logical data model.
can make use of almost any In a changing technology
available data, including landscape, utilities’
external‘big data’, to find mission remains constant:
correlations, indicate trends to serve customers safely
and enable utilities to ask and reliably. Honouring this
new questions. mission, while making sense of
An example from the transport an unprecedented volume and
sector brings home the velocity of data and technology
opportunity for utilities. A large choices, can explain part of the
European train operator wanted to
advance from reactive maintenance reason why utilities are conservative
to preventative, condition-based and about embracing analytics. Nevertheless,
finally to predictive maintenance. Siemens a combination of old and new data
partnered with Teradata to conduct a data management methodologies, along with
discovery project and was able to correlate mobilizing and federating skills from the
sensor and engineering data, classify IT and operations sides of the house can
sensor readings, “sessionize” the data into help ramp up crucial capabilities within the
relevant intervals, and model the target organization and show results. MI
variable (engine problem Y/N). Engine
sensor data was analyzed to predict train * Reference to the Accenture Report is to
failure, starting with a small training set of Accenture’s Digitally Enabled Grid program
roughly one million sensor log observations 2013 and 2014: Copyright @ 2014 Accenture.
and several thousand engineer reports All rights reserved
describing the failure and the fix. The
solution identified components that ABOUT Energy Insight AT OMNETRIC GROUP
failed in combination, and variables that
were likely to be useful in predicting the OMNETRIC Group’s Energy Insight service offering is all about smart grid analytics. We
target variable. The solution increased the help utilities to explore and integrate data, and implement and operate analytics solutions
uptime of the operator’s trains, improved to help them better plan, design, construct, extend, operate, and maintain transmission and
planning and streamlined supply chain distribution (T&D) assets and networks.
management. Now able to confidently www.omnetricgroup.com
METERING INTERNATIONAL ISSUE – 4 | 2015
115

DATA ANALYTICS

Analytics in Action

Analytics is changing the face
of utility decision making

Utilities battle with the amounts of data Operational improvements can drive
streaming into their data centres from enormous financial and efficiency
power and transmission lines, or metering
and sensor points along their distribution benefits, as will be shown.”
network. This is a given, and a point so well
covered that this will not be yet another and what big data and analytics can deliver in fact, are already demonstrating success in
article about the difficulty of translating to the business,” says Roberta Bigliani, these areas.
data into meaningful intelligence. associate vice president and head of Given the scope of utility operations, the
What is of interest though, of great interest, Europe, Middle East & Africa for IDC Energy areas where timely analysis of data can
is examples of where utilities are rising Insights, in a recent report by Oracle and most impact the utility business is across
to the challenge, how they are finding WSJ Custom Studios. its network operations, and its ability to
the right data to enable them to make Yet, utilities have the chance to use analytics engage with its customers. Operational
intelligent, useful and efficient decisions to manage load, prepare for severe weather improvements can drive enormous
that improve their business operations. and minimize its impact, and manage or financial and efficiency benefits, as will
“The industry overall is still in the early even extend the life of key network assets – be shown.
stages of understanding the full potential of
big data platforms combined with machine
learning, what an analytics strategy entails

Credit: Big Data BlackOut: Are Utilities Powering Up Their Data Analytics? Capgemini, 2015 METERING INTERNATIONAL ISSUE – 4 | 2015
116

DATA ANALYTICS

Big data and analytics predicts flui KCP&L have
discovered
Scientists in the US are confident that Google and data from the CDC will allow them to
predict the spread of flu a week into the future. the benefits of
In a post on the IEEE Spectrum website, big data and analytics are being used to predict where analytics in
influenza‘hot spots’are developing, enabling the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) to dispatch sufficient flu shots to affected areas, ensuring there the vaccinations are determining load
where they need to be, when they need to be. patterns based
This has traditionally been done by monitoring the number of visits to doctors‘attributed to on weather.”
flu-like illness as well as the number of patient samples that test positive for influenza.”The
CDC has then been able to identify a flu hotspot – however, the data was typically up to two management and key distribution
weeks out of date. management functions, which in turn help
Separately, a recent Google application, Google Flu Trends, seemed to be changing the way to improve operational excellence and pave
flu levels were predicted, with results often being available two weeks earlier than those a streamlined pathway for critical customer
generated by the CDC. This is done by analysing how often people search for influenza related communicationsii.’
terms on the search engine.
However, there were some errors in the approach to the analysis of the data, and Google KCP&L have discovered the benefits of
famously predicted“double the number of doctors’visits from the flu in 2013 than really analytics in determining load patterns
happened,”according to IEEE Spectrum. based on weather by implementing a
Now researchers at the University of California, San Diego, are combining the Google and CDC comprehensive weather/usage analysis.
data, and this new approach“could do better than predict U.S. flu levels in real-time — it could They were able, with the help of data
forecast [them] a week into the future.” science company Nutonian, to draw
The scientists have used CDC data to determine which US regions experienced influenza correlations between energy usage and
outbreaks at similar times in the past. The flu is best at spreading between these areas due weather patterns.
to factors such as geographic proximity. This information helped correct exaggerations in
Google’s estimates and also shed light on future influenza levels by revealing which the virus In a case study by Nutonianiii, Gary
might spread. Halbert, principal quantitative analyst
Explains study lead author and data scientist at the University of California, San Diego, Michael at KCP&L, is quoted as saying: “We
Davidson:“Big data does not always work the best in a vacuum. By combining big data with commonly work with data sets containing
traditional sources of data, we can often do better than by relying on big data alone.” 15 to 25 variables including temperature,
Davidson believes that there is an opportunity to combine other sources of flu data with wind, barometric pressure, etc., but
Google Flu Trends and CDC data for even more accurate and timely estimates. the regional data set involves well over
He and his colleagues detailed their findings online in January in the journal Scientific Reports. 300 [variables], and we have hourly
measurements on each of those, so if
We commonly Enhancing network operations we’re looking at a whole year, that’s 8,760
work with data sets values for each of those 300 variables.
containing 15 to 25 Kansas City Power & Light: Picking out the true drivers amid all that
variables including load forecasting and weather data can be difficult.
temperature, wind, dependency
barometric pressure, In 2011 Kansas City Power & Light (KCP&L) “We were able to generate models relating
started a smart meter rollout programme temperature to electric load...,” he explains.
etc. ...” which ultimately covered more than The result has been a new level of insight
840,000 customers. Installations enabled into the effects of weather on power
METERING INTERNATIONAL ISSUE – 4 | 2015 customers to make use of MySmart usage. “[This] has opened our eyes to the
Display, an in-home device, plus MySmart fact that some variables we thought were
Thermostat, a thermostat which allowed highly influential appear not to have much
them to present temperatures based on influence at all, and others have much
season and personal preference. higher influence than we had believed,”
However, excitingly, this same rollout says Halbert.
has enabled the utility to leverage
information from these meters to manage 117
grid operations and business processes
‘together to enable storm-proven outage

DATA ANALYTICS

Kansas ‘Smart’ City Analytics drive down transformer
replacement cost at PSE&G
In June 2015, Kansas City signed an agreement with a number of
partners to deploy a Smart+Connected City framework to transform Public Service Electric and Gas Company
urban services and enhance the citizen experience. (PSE&G) has implemented a computerised
Cisco, one of the partners, is working with a group of business partners to bring maintenance management system (CMMS)
together an ecosystem to develop applications including smart lighting, digital kiosks, which is assisting in the repair, replacement
a development data portal, and smart water innovation development. Through this and maintenance decisions across a variety
model in Kansas City, the goal is to create a framework to be scalable, repeatable, and of assets, including transformers.iv
self-sustainable. Condition scores are generated using
Working with Sprint, Cisco hardware will be deployed to construct and manage an analytics. Various factors are taken into
intelligent Wi-Fi network that will serve as the backbone of the connectivity platform. account in determining the scores, including
“Phase 1” deployments, along the downtown Kansas City streetcar path and moisture, dielectric strength, combustible
surrounding areas, include: gas rate of change, and cooling performance.
An intelligent Wi-Fi network constructed, managed and owned by Sprint By utilising an asset replacement (predictive)
An enterprise mobility services platform to enhance the resident and visitor algorithm, the condition score and other
experience over a mobile app factors such as chronological age and spare
A “Living Lab” development data portal managed by ThinkBig Partners availability, determine the appropriate time
Smart lighting and video as sensors in collaboration with Sensity to replace transformers.
Future collaborations of smart water innovative solutions with Black & Veatch Advanced analytics on real-time sensors
Opportunities abound for entrepreneurs who may find ways to derive further value from track various operational metrics. By using
the technology and create further job opportunities. For example, entrepreneurs and analytics to identify and mitigate failures,
start-ups will be able to utilise the development data portal to create and test new apps. PSE&G is saving millions of dollars in failure
avoidance. PSE&G believes that proactive
Smart lighting transformer replacement (again driven
by analytics) could save over $100 million
An intelligent lighting platform will enable each lighting fixture to operate as a sensory over a 25-year period.
node in a powerful, broadband wireless network, creating a Light Sensory Network for
municipalities. Created by Cisco and Sensity, the solution creates a distributed sensing Public Service Electric and Gas Company
platform from the city lighting infrastructure, allowing real-time data collection for is one of the largest combined electric
smart city applications, such as smart parking, lighting, retail analytics, and public safety and gas companies in the US. It services
and security. 1.8 million gas customers and 2.2 million
At the same time, the platform enables intelligent, efficient lighting control that results electric customers; and has assets worth
in energy and cost savings, more effective and higher-quality lighting, and reduction in nearly $17 billion and revenue of nearly
both carbon and light pollution. $8 billion.
“There are over four billion high-wattage lights in the world being converted to LEDs,
posing as a unique opportunity for municipalities to fundamentally change the way Baltimore Gas and Electric tackles
they operate,” said Hugh Martin, chairman and CEO of Sensity Systems. unaccounted for energy
“LEDs allow cities to also install a network of sensors that gathers data about traffic
patterns, weather, parking spots and even terrorism. We are pleased to see Kansas City In 2012 Baltimore Gas and Electric (BGE)
leading this transformation and looking to implement an advanced lighting system to began an installation programme which will
help the city better manage their downtown.” see some 2 million electric and gas smart
meters installed across the BGE service area.
Water innovation With an installation of 1.55 million meters as
of January 2015, BGE has implemented an
Water systems around the world must provide advanced leak detection, innovative analytics programme to tackle unaccounted
predictive maintenance and asset management solutions to reduce costs, according to for energy.
Black & Veatch. With unaccounted for energy (UFE) making
According to Black & Veatch’s 2015 Strategic Directions: Smart Utility report, the data up 1.4% of total energy delivered, BGE
created by smart city programmes, is being used to improve operations in multiple understood that a direct benefit of the smart
areas of organizations. While nearly two-thirds of respondents to the survey identified meter rollout would be an opportunity
budget constraints as the biggest hurdle to launching data analytics programs, the to improve on efficiencies and combat
costs of inaction are being shown to exceed the investment. unaccounted for energy. This understanding
was part of the initial business case behind
118 the smart meter rollout.
Working in conjunction with C3 Energy, BGE
deployed three analytics software systems –

METERING INTERNATIONAL ISSUE – 4 | 2015

SMART GRDIDATAECAHNNAOLYLOTIGCYS

Figure 2: How the C3 revenue protection system detects Figure 3: The analytics systems pulls together data from a
repeated outages. multitude of different applications.

an AMI operations system, revenue protection Of vital importance to the success deployed? What does the data look like?
system and energy intelligence system. Each of the project was the integration of How fast do the predictions need to
is responsible for controlling and monitoring data from a variety of data points, ‘that be? Or, as Haluk Demirkan and Bulent
different parts of the utility operations. AMI would otherwise remain siloed in their Dal note: “Almost everything needs to
operations monitors the‘health’of smart own systems.’ This includes integration be a business rather than a technology
meters, highlighting malfunctions and of outage management with revenue solution. Before companies start
programming challenges. Revenue protection protection in order to ‘verify and collecting big data, they should have a
analyses potential fraud, while energy eliminate cases where a smart meter has clear idea of what they want to do with
intelligence can pinpoint additional cases of suffered an outage and caused a misread it from a business sense.vii”
meter failure, malfunction or theft. alert.’ Integration with the billing system 2 Consult the experts: Ensure that
According to a case study published by IDC enables verification of a service contract whomever you partner with has the
Energyv, the revenue protection system between a customer and BGE on all active right knowledge for the job. While the
“aggregates event and usage data from metering connections. inclination is to consult people who
the source systems integrated into the ... Over the initial six-month period, the project understand your industry, it’s more
Energy Analytics Engine (including meter reduced energy theft and consumption on important to consult experts who
data management, head end, outage inactive meters, identified configuration understand analytics. Once a project is
management, and customer information), efforts and drove an economic benefit reduced to a data problem you need
performs over 90 analytics on the aggregate ‘equivalent to 120% of BGE’s target value as people that do modelling really well.
data, and combines these analytics into defined in its business case.vi’ 3 IT involvement is crucial: But don’t
machine-learning features to identify cases Additionally, BGE were able to identify underestimate the importance of
of energy theft, meter malfunction, or ‘3,600 meter health issues with 99% involving operations in the project. As
meter communication failure – the primary accuracy.’The project has also enabled BGE Roberta Bigliani notes in the BGE case
causes of UFE. to back-bill for unaccounted for energy in study: “BGE recognized the crucial value
The revenue protection software “leverages identified cases. of having the IT department liaise with
advanced clustering, classification, the business side; the project was a
and machine-learning analytics to Driving benefits from analytics combined effort progressively involving
continuously improve the performance of several business teams.” Ensure there is
the application and reduce the instance Deriving benefit from any analytics clear alignment between the business
of false-positive cases. In essence, it is a project, whether to manage unaccounted and IT.
closed-loop system that learns through for energy, or proactively manage assets 4 Start small and identify quick wins:
outcome prediction validation.” maintenance and replacement, is ultimately Small projects, easier to implement
Figure 2 shows an example of how the driven by a few key starting points: and show benefits in a short time, are
application detects repeated outages. A 1 Have an objective in mind: Know what more likely to drive support within the
BGE customer used a stolen meter for three business. Celebrate the wins!
weeks out of every month, replacing the BGE you would like to achieve from any 5 Integrate data from multiple sources:
meter ‘only during daylight hours for the bill analytics programme implementation. Integration of data is one of the most
window period of each month.’ Over a period Questions you should be asking, important and complex processes to
of six months, this was a reoccurring pattern according to Datafloq, a data and serve efficient and effective decision-
and field inspections did not pick up on any analytics company in the Netherlands making. It should include machine data,
theft. However, because inspections were are: How are we going to make money sensor data, enterprise content, billing
always done during inside the bill window with this? How will the model be data, weather and potentially even
period, there was no indication of the theft. social media data. MI
Following the deployment of the revenue
protection system, the potential theft was i – http://spectrum.ieee.org/tech-talk/computing/it/google-cdc-partner-to-predict-flu-spread
highlighted, and upon inspection (outside of ii – http://www.oracle.com/us/corporate/press/2415091
the bill window period) confirmed. iii – www.nutonian.com: CASE STUDY - Kansas City Power and Light Uses Eureqato More Precisely Match Electric
The system receives 8GB of new data
every day, and runs over 90 complex Power Supply to Demand
analytics for the revenue protection iv – PSE&G, “Determining True Age of Transformers Through Advanced Analytics”, DistribuTECH San Diego, CA,
system and an addition 50 analytics for
other applications (Fig. 3). February 2015, as reported in Big Data BlackOut: Are Utilities Powering Up Their Data Analytics?, a CapGemini
publication.
v – BEST PRACTICES: Beating Unaccounted for Energy with Big Data and Analytics: Baltimore Gas and Electric’s Line
of Attack, written by Roberta Bigliani and Gaia Gallotti
vi – BEST PRACTICES: Beating Unaccounted for Energy with Big Data and Analytics: Baltimore Gas and Electric’s Line
of Attack, written by Roberta Bigliani and Gaia Gallotti
vii – http://www.analytics-magazine.org/july-august-2014/1074-the-data-economy-why-do-so-many-analytics-projects-
fail

METERING INTERNATIONAL ISSUE – 4 | 2015 119

DATA ANALYTICS

By Spencer
Rigler,

ONZOCustomer
based data –

big opportunities for
utilities and their customers

The utilities industry is evolving and understand their customers on a personal A recent GTM Research report of 400 utility
with this comes a huge opportunity, not basis and use this to offer services that executives cited customer relationships as
only for the utility companies, but also truly add benefit, inform their business the second biggest business opportunity
for the customer. As well as additions models and enhance products. Banks and after distributed energy resources. I would
to the energy mix, a growing number online shopping sites such as Amazon go one step further and say it is the biggest
of regulatory requirements and a more and many others, now have strong opportunity of all as revenue generation
competitive market place, customers are online personal engagement with their and customer retention, to name a few, are
also demanding a more sophisticated customers. Utilities, whilst they do not fully reliant on a deeper, and more personalised
level of service from energy providers. embrace this personalised approach yet understanding of the customer.
This is similar to the evolution we have are in an excellent position to harness the Utilities across the globe are starting
already witnessed in the telecoms and opportunity ahead of them. In fact they to recognise the value of data and how
banking sectors where the importance of are sitting on a huge ‘goldmine’ of data companies can leverage insights from smart
personalisation based on a comprehensive about their customers which can be used meter and other relevant data to perform
understanding of consumer data became to transform their business through greater better and develop new revenue streams.
critical. This underpinned an ability to insight and engagement. Utilities are well poised to act, having a
huge customer base and in many cases
Banks and online shopping sites such as already collecting a considerable amount
Amazon and many others, now have strong of data – which is further facilitated by the
rollout of smart meter technology.
online personal engagement with their Insight from smart meters and other data
customers. ” sources will enable utilities to identify new
and innovative ways to grow their business
and increase revenue whilst concurrently
reducing the cost to serve. Whilst load
disaggregation and appliance detection
is one method of analysing customers’
energy use, truly understanding each
customers’ usage patterns and behaviours
in order to glean actionable insight can only
be achieved through establishing other

120 METERING INTERNATIONAL ISSUE – 4 | 2015

DO YOU KNOW...

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ONZO is a global leader in consumer energy
data analytics.

Using a unique blend of load disaggregation, energy
lifestyle behaviour analysis and probabilistic forecasting
we help utilities understand when, how and why
each household uses energy. This allows utilities to
engage with every single customer on a
personalised level, which builds loyalty, while
creating new revenue opportunities.

Through our expertise utilities have achieved real
goals, from a 13% reduction in energy usage
at peak times to a 50% drop in churn.

This European Utility Week you’ll
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Stop by our stand to find out
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Find us at Hall B, Stand B.e25 for a
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e: www.onzo.com t: +44(0)20 3051 3270

DATA ANALYTICS

observations of behaviour and lifestyle, Utilities can also take each customer
ultimately helping the customer become through a personal energy journey tailored
more aware and more in control of their
energy use. specifically for his or her household.”
However there is a huge opportunity for
utilities to gather insights on customer Personalised engagement with consumers through personalised interaction. It is
behaviour and usage, helping the will improve the hit rate for requests to inevitable that most aspects of the utility
companies to improve their business shift energy use to off-peak times. A recent business will evolve to be highly dependent
operations and marketing. For example, pilot showed that this type of engagement on consumer data. Therefore it is going to
instead of mass targeting all their customers achieved an initial 8% reduction in the be increasingly important to ensure that the
with a certain product, they can understand targeted period followed by a sustained utility’s CRM, billing, marketing and network
if it will actually benefit the customer 5% reduction over time with continued operations are capable and are taking
through personalised insight into their engagement. advantage of all available insights into their
propensity to use the product. Saving The future is bright and will be brighter as customers. MI
money on product costs and building even more utilities in the industry take full
a better relationship with the customer advantage of new innovations and business
by making propositions more relevant. opportunities that arise from the data
Furthermore utilities can use insights into that is available. The industry is sitting on
their customers’ energy use to help plan a goldmine of data and the benefit of this
operations, network planning and even will be more profitable utilities and a raft
generation by taking account of aggregated of products and services for the customer
consumer insights in an area or region.
Utilities can also take each customer ABOUT THE COMPANY Spenser Rigler, CEO of ONZO
through a personal energy journey tailored ONZO is a global leader in consumer energy data
specifically for his or her household. In and analytics. ONZO combines the science of energy
building a closer relationship with their analytics with load disaggregation, lifestyle behavior
customers, utilities will be able to leverage analysis and probabilistic forecasting to give utilities and
data science and provide their customers their customers unprecedented insights into how, where and
with greater visibility of their energy use: when energy is used.
show them how to improve, help them
be more efficient and reward their efforts METERING INTERNATIONAL ISSUE – 4 | 2015
to incentivise behavioural change. Use of
innovative engagement tools, such as a
smart phone app, means energy usage
can be seen at an appliance level and puts
energy in the context of others through
comparison and ranking, helping the
individual to understand and manage their
energy consumption. Bill breakdown will
enable clearer explanations and provide
practical personal and relevant advice about
how bills can be managed. For the utility
this builds trust with the customer and can
have a direct impact on customer retention.
As households save energy as a direct result
of the advice and relevant products from
their energy supplier, they are more likely to
remain loyal customers and to be receptive
to marketing campaigns enabling a more
consistent revenue stream.
There are opportunities for utilities to
have a real impact on behavioural change.
122

Integrated smart
grid solutions for
the digital era

Bridging the gap between traditional and innovative
analytics approaches

Smart grids are all about data. To We focus on bridging the gap OMNETRIC Group is dedicated to
be prepared for the smart grid age, between information and operations the global delivery of integrated
utilities must capture the data from technology – and between established information technology and
their operational and IT systems, and innovative analytics approaches operational technology solutions and
integrate it, and apply it intelligently to reveal the value concealed in new services, helping utility companies
to improve grid operation and data sources or that can be found reap the reliability and efficiency
reliability and make investments count. through smarter exploration and benefits of a smarter grid.
integration of traditional systems.

Find out more at
omnetricgroup.com

ENERGY STORAGE

from its advantages in energy generation, Toshiba has secured several deals in the past
energy storage affords a host of other few months with US, UK, Italian and Spanish
benefits at transmission and distribution utilities, while Samsung attempts to establish
level, such as the ability to positively itself as the primary provider of energy
impact network congestion during storage systems in Germany, UK and Australia.
periods of network stress and defer The Japanese storage market, in particular,
network upgrade costs. On the consumer is bolstered by small-scale solar PV projects,
side, it can provide back-up power and driven by the country’s generous solar
store excess onsite generation. feed-in tariff scheme. China and Japan were
Navigant notes that several countries, reported to be the world’s top two solar PV
including the United States, South Korea, markets in 2014.
and Japan, are pursuing aggressive market US-based research firm IHS also stated
reforms and policies that are sending earlier this year that it expected the annual
positive market signals for utility-scale installation of grid-connected battery
energy storage.

ENERGY STORAGE
MARKET: A global overview

Storage – energy’s new ‘darling’ and latest Examples of leading policy efforts include storage systems linked to solar PV would
buzzword – has inspired a multitude California’s mandate under A.B. 2514 for triple in 2015 to reach 775 MW.
of projections, market developments, the three investor owned utilities in the According to the International Renewable
reports and statistics over the last year. State, PG&E, Southern California Edison Energy Agency (IRENA),“Residential PV
According to Navigant Research, there and San Diego Gas & Electric, to procure system installations are growing quickly
were 362.8MW of energy storage 1.3GW of storage capacity by 2020. and are now starting to be integrated with
projects announced worldwide in 2013- Tesla’s Elon Musk also headlined in news batteries. This means safety, performance and
2014, with almost equal distribution worldwide in April this year, following functionality are becoming a global concern.”
between North America, Asia Pacific, and the launch of the PowerWall, a Globally, other primary users of energy
Western Europe. rechargeable lithium-ion battery for storage apart from the United States and
Navigant expects global installed energy home, and the PowerPack, a 100 kWh Asia are Germany and Italy.
storage for grid and ancillary services battery for grid applications. In 2014, Italian energy regulator AEEGSI
power capacity to grow from 538MW in In Asia energy storage is praised for its ability passed a bill defining how energy storage
2014 to 21GW in 2024. It predicts that to improve efficiency, reliability and the systems can be integrated into Italy’s power
worldwide revenue from energy storage price-competitiveness of electricity services. grid. The regulation outlines the conditions
will increase from US$675 million in 2014 to In more developed storage markets such for the use of storage systems connected
US$15.6 billion in 2024. as South Korea and Japan, lithium-ion to PV systems installed under the country’s
Similarly to the IT and telecommunications manufacturing giants Samsung, LG, Conto Energia incentive scheme or net-
industries before it, the electricity industry Toshiba and Panasonic respectively, are metering programme (Scambio sul posto).
is moving toward smarter, disaggregated considered amongst the leaders in battery The new regulation could create the
and more decentralised energy resources. storage in pursuit of a larger share of the conditions for an enormous power storage
“Understanding and anticipating this global market.
trend is crucial to prepare for the major
opportunities and challenges it will create. Globally, other primary users of energy
The energy storage industry is evolving storage apart from the United States and
rapidly and new technologies could
fundamentally shift the way electricity has Asia are Germany and Italy.”
traditionally been generated and delivered,”
says a report by the Australian Renewable
Energy Agency.
Energy storage is seen by many as an
enabling technology toward a low-
carbon electricity system with the
integration of intermittent renewable
energy sources and provision of ancillary
services such as frequency support. Apart

124 METERING INTERNATIONAL ISSUE – 4 | 2015

ENERGY STORAGE

Australian Case Study: AGL Energy system market in Italy as a result of the large
amount of solar and renewable energy
Information provided by: Tim Nelson, head of Energy Policy and Sustainability, AGL Energy capacity installed in the country.
and Fiona Orton, manager for Energy Policy and Research, AGL Energy Marco Pigni, from Fiamm, the largest Italian
Australia’s electricity markets are becoming increasingly decentralized and consumer- manufacturer of batteries, says “The increase
driven. In some network areas, as many as one in four households generate their in our production should bring a drop in
own power with rooftop solar, and as a result, Australian markets now have some of prices of around 30-50% within three to four
the highest rates of solar penetration globally. The costs of installing rooftop solar years. This means that paying off the battery,
systems has dropped by around 80% in five years, and for many households solar is via increased self-consumption, should take
now an attractive proposition even without subsidies, delivering a positive return on less than 10 years.”
investment over the life of the panels. Storage initiatives in Germany are not
Rooftop solar has been successful in reducing energy bills for households who install legislated however, the German Federal
systems. Common electricity tariffs are based on a ‘cents per kilowatt-hour’ charge, so Environment Ministry (BMU) has introduced
any reduction in consumption from the grid results in a commensurate drop in the a number of incentives including
total bill (early adopters were also provided with generous up-front subsidies and combinations of grants and low interest
premium feed-in-tariffs for excess solar generation, making the investment highly loans financed through KfW (the German
attractive). The uptake of solar has, however, has been less successful in reducing government-owned development bank).
the costs of distribution networks, which are estimated to contribute around 47% of Adding to this, electricity storage facilities are
average household bills in Eastern Australia. Network costs are generally determined not expected to pay fees and charges such as
by the ‘peak demand’ for power in the system, and unfortunately, in most Australian renewable energy levies and grid tariffs.
markets there is low coincidence between solar output during the day and peak A report by AECOM prepared for the
evening periods (Figure 1). Australian Renewable Energy Agency
predicts that there will be a “mega-shift”
Figure 1: Peak consumption by appliance and solar PV output to energy storage adoption in Australia
Source: Simshauser (2014) and CSIRO (2013) – driven by demand to accommodate
Household battery storage products can change this. With the winding back of the growing amount of distributed and
premium feed-in-tariff payments in many jurisdictions, households will be incentivised renewable energy capacity on electricity
to self-consume as much of their solar generation as possible. Rapidly falling battery networks, as well as from consumers’
costs are resulting in increasingly affordable home energy storage and management demand for solar energy storage.
systems, which allow households to store excess solar generation during the day According to the report Energy Storage
for use later, reducing the home’s peak demand from the network and providing an Study: Funding and Knowledge Sharing
emergency backup during periods of supply disruption. With the introduction of Priorities, supply-side energy storage, “could
more cost-reflective network tariffs that may include a demand charge (based on the be considered inevitable” due to current
maximum demand from the grid), households that optimise their battery storage will trends in renewable energy adoption,
not only reduce the costs of providing shared network services, they will also save particularly the huge uptake of rooftop
money on their energy bills. solar by Australian households.
In 2015, AGL Energy became the first major Australian energy retailer to offer a battery
storage product to residential customers – the ‘AGL Power Advantage’. Initially priced Conclusion
at under $10,000 including inverter, installation and control system, the 6 kWh battery
will be appealing to early adopters. By the late 2020s, AGL estimates that up to one According to AGL, utilities will transition
third of Australian households will be partially or fully off-grid. from simple one-directional systems to
facilitating sophisticated and integrated
smart products and services, which will
allow customers to make decisions about
importing, exporting, storing and using
energy based on pricing signals from the
market.
The Sydney-based energy company adds:
“The emergence of new technologies like
solar, battery storage, digital metering
and electric vehicles means that energy
consumers are looking for ways to enhance
their convenience, comfort and control.
“In electricity markets, regulatory
frameworks need to reflect these changing
customer preferences, be flexible and
adaptable to market changes, and should
provide competitive neutrality so that
existing and emerging business models can
compete on their merits to meet customers’
energy needs.” MI

METERING INTERNATIONAL ISSUE – 4 | 2015 125

ENERGY STORAGE

What do you anticipate the size of the Metering & Smart Energy
energy storage market being? International interviewed Logan
At the moment, we see around 1.5GW Goldie-Scot, an analyst on the
of commissioned capacity globally. We Energy Smart Technologies team
expect this to grow to over 11GW by for Bloomberg New Energy, and a
2020, and that’s across the whole of the speaker at the upcoming European
storage sector. Utility Week, about the energy
We believe the growth will actually end storage market.
up being much, much more rapid beyond
2020. You get this nine-fold increase frequency regulation services, which is a storage is becoming more attractive.
between 2013 and 2020 and the expected really interesting application. It’s also an You are seeing consumers look to
rate will increased beyond that rather than application that is being used elsewhere energy storage as a way of increasing
flatten off. – the equivalent in Germany for primary the amount of PV that they use as a
control reserve, in South Korea for proportion of the PV that they generate.
Why the boom, and why now? frequency regulation. These are just three applications. Bear in
It is necessary to think of energy storage, Elsewhere you are beginning to see mind there are many different markets and
not as a single service, but as technology more examples of energy storage the use of storage can vary by region.
that is actually being used across multiple use to offset grid constraints which Is the addition of a ‘non-traditional’ player
different applications. are often being caused by increased to this market going to change market
The boom in energy storage is being renewable energy penetration, notably dynamics, or change pricing dynamics?
driven by a variety of drivers. These vary wind and solar. In Japan there is a lot of Yes and I think there are a couple of points
on a country-by-country basis but I will investment – their subsidy programme worth mentioning:
highlight a couple of key areas: this year (2015/2016) is over US$200 1. You have to consider the pricing
On the East Coast of the US, you see million – focussing on renewable strategy of an individual system vs say,
energy and how developers can add Tesla’s strategy, which appears to be
around 200MW of solar energy storage energy storage to their projects to help different from traditional energy storage
being built in the PJM (Pennsylvania, ease constraints on the network. companies. Tesla seems to be looking to
Jersey, Maryland Power Pool) market. The final driver I should mention is secure significant volumes. Historically,
Battery storage here is providing at the residential level. As the cost of other manufacturers have opted for
126 energy storage systems fall; and as policy relatively high prices and low volumes.
changes within Europe, Australia etc, 2. Another potential dynamic is whether
utilities or other companies end up
taking the price decision out of the
consumer’s hands. We see examples
in Australia and New Zealand, for
instance, where utilities are offering
free energy storage or subsidized
energy storage to their customers,
in return for a degree of control over
those systems. This is a way that
utilities can significantly change the
cost of storage to the consumer – by
looking at different ways of socializing
that cost across their network. Too
often, we think of storage or PV as
being the enemy of utility companies,
but there are some really interesting
examples of utilities adapting and

METERING INTERNATIONAL ISSUE – 4 | 2015

ENERGY STORAGE

working with these technologies to going to be able to have £15,000 spare to or another fuel type? Or ramp up or
support their business models. purchase a system. ramp down quickly – basically, improved
3. If you’re seeing load defection, or if These practicalities haven’t been worked performance.
your customers are leaving you for out. Yet in many areas, we are seeing some Because this hasn’t historically mattered,
renewable energy options – then you examples of different financing options additional performance requirements
have to ask “would you rather be selling coming up – for example ‘no upfront fees’. ended up being a regulatory burden with
them something, even if it is less than There is a lot of work being done. It is also limited benefits. But now, with a more varied
you used to sell, or would you rather relatively early days so I’d recommend generation mix, updating regulation to better
lose them completely?” ‘watching this space’. reflect that new mix is clearly beneficial.
While this won’t necessarily happen At a residential level, there are also Storage is a relatively new unknown quantity
everywhere, there is a potential realignment pure technology challenges whereby in the eyes of regulators and traditional
around what is necessary to maintain a manufacturers are trying to increase the market participants. If a network operator
relationship with a customer in a rapidly performance of their systems, increase – a transmission or distribution company
energy system. energy and power density and make – wants to add storage and pass that cost
There have been a few scattered pieces of systems smaller with a longer life span. This on to their customers in the same way that
evidence, which would indicate that the is something that will always be a driver they do with any new-build substation or
more services a utility offers, the lower the for manufacturers, but at the moment, I new transmission or distribution lines – in
churn rates and the less likely they are to do think there is a perception that these many cases, in many countries and regions
lose a customer. systems may not last for many years and – there’s just not an area on the form where
We have seen some really interesting this is still a huge deterrent to adoption. they can write ‘energy storage’.
examples recently – not just utilities but of What are the regulatory and legal While it may sound absurd when I put it
other companies, who are offering bundled challenges for energy storage? like that, the reality is – if a utility wanted
services. Whether it’s combining your water Many energy markets have been designed to try storage, they’d have to negotiate
and electricity or gas, or adding telecoms, or with a focus on the reliability and not with the regulator, or present the case to
your mobile phone or your broadband to the necessarily the most cost efficient way of the regulator around how they could add
offering – there is increasing evidence that doing something. An interesting example storage and recover the cost.
consumers are less likely to leave a utility if all is in the PJM capacity market – they have It’s a more complex procedure compared
of their services are tied into the one company. redesigned their market in response to the to other assets that regulators are more
You’ve got some scenarios where polar vortex in early 2014 and they have comfortable with, because they’ve worked
companies like Orange, for example, are redesigned how they will pay generators etc. with them in the past, they know roughly
now operating as energy retailers in parts of While this makes sense from a reliability how they will perform and what the costs
Europe. Similarly, SSE in the UK now have a perspective, the requirements for market are and therefore approve recognised
broadband offering. participants to meet standards that technologies more easily.
Another example; RWE nPower in the UK accommodate a polar vortex (which In terms of how they are actually
are offering a Nest thermostat to different is a relatively rare occurrence) versus remunerated for it, energy storage and any
customers if they sign up for a certain tariff. requirements that you would have for a other innovative or different technology can
We are seeing a lot of movement in the market that is designed around standard end up being a hassle for a network operator.
direction of “what can you offer your operating days, are very different. The final point is on how energy storage is
customer other than an electricity bill? Can Storage will struggle with requirements for defined. In Europe, many regulators define
you offer them products or hardware? Can availability across multiple days or multiple energy storage as a generation asset, or
you offer them different ways of structuring hours. That’s not where storage’s strengths lie. an asset that can participate in the energy
bills and meet their expectations?” So, if markets continue to be designed around markets. With that definition, transmission
I think there’s a huge amount of room this‘worst-case’scenario then storage may and distribution network operators cannot
for innovation and change here. Utilities well struggle against some applications such own energy storage at present.
are looking to compete and engage with as fossil fuel generation or pumped storage. There are some pretty significant regulatory
customers. In the end, it’s about keeping Many markets haven’t updated the way barriers but these can be overcome. Different
them engaged and happy. they remunerate generators. If you compare operators across the value chain are testing
What do you see as the biggest challenge the German primary control reserve market, these regulations and exploring ways around
facing the concept of energy storage? there is a fixed payment on a Euro-per-MW them or ways to work with them.
One challenge is that there are numerous, basis. There isn’t any incentive, such as with By default, as the market matures and as
competing offerings out there, which all PJM, for reliability or how well you perform. people gain more operational experience
help engage the consumer. What if you provide frequency regulation and storage becomes more mainstream,
Energy storage remains at a relatively high more efficiently than another organisation it will be easier to gain acceptance – but
price point. Analysts often solely think
in terms of ROI, without thinking about There are some pretty
how much will it actually cost someone to significant regulatory barriers
install storage.
Even if they are able to make a profit over but these can be overcome”
the lifetime of the system, it’s about actually
understanding which individuals are 127
METERING INTERNATIONAL ISSUE – 4 | 2015

ENERGY STORAGE

at the moment, it does mean that it’s a bit There is an interesting question within Europe, network. There is a trend to reducing
more challenging for many projects. and elsewhere, about how governments, how much people use the grid while still
What about where storage is being used network operators and utilities react to energy remaining grid connected. The argument
to facilitate load balancing or power storage if you get a mass uptake of storage. there is that they’re not paying for their fair
quality? What is the impact on the grid? share of grid maintenance, even though
It depends on the market. In many cases, One of the big policy risks for residential they ultimately rely on it as much as the
storage is allowed in this instance, so energy storage is if you start imposing next person.
many substations will have a certain taxes on self-consumption. There was a tax So, this is same as the mandatory grid
amount of storage. passed for self-consumption for PV systems charge that is being implemented in
So there are already some exceptions for greater than 10kW in Germany last year. other countries?
operational use of storage. I believe that Even if it doesn’t go via the network, a tax is Yes, it’s basically tackling the problem from
it makes sense for network operators imposed on that consumption. a different perspective. But this can be
to be allowed to own energy storage – It is comes down to what the fairest way harmful to storage uptake as it makes the
and there are many people who would is to spread costs across users of the economics less attractive. MI
disagree with me.
In terms of load balancing and renewable Logan Goldie-Scot Logan is a Senior Associate at Bloomberg New Energy
energy constraints, we were seeing this Finance, on the Energy Smart Technologies team. He is
challenge in certain markets already. In Italy Senior Associate at Bloomberg responsible for global analysis on the energy storage
however, the TSO secured a pilot project New Energy Finance market. He advises utilities, technology companies,
and were allowed to own energy storage for investors and policymakers across these fields. He has also
that purpose. been involved in a number of cross sector consultancy
There are other models where, for instance, assignments and was Project Manager of the Zayed
a third party could own the asset and then Future Energy Prize from 2011 to 2013. He was previously
sell energy services to the network operator. Lead Analyst for the Middle East and Africa team, focused
There are various approaches that are being on the solar and wind sectors, having joined the company
explored, but I think this will be part of a in 2009.
long argument over the next few years.

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The Digital

Utility:

Realising the vision
in Australia and
New Zealand

Australian and New Zealand utilities are generally
technologically advanced and a good match for utilities
based in Europe or the US.

They support the Digital Utility concept churn. The residential solar and storage shaping up to be our largest both in terms
and are moving toward breaking down strategy is proving to be just as disruptive of speakers (160) and delegates (targeting
silos as they integrate IT and OT data for in Australia and NZ as it’s been elsewhere 1000). Our event format is now very
enterprise efficiency. AMI is a popular in the developed world. Utilities who different. At least a third of the speakers
strategy and is being rolled out across were previously opposed to solar are now focus on R&D perspectives, which gives the
both electrical and water utilities – embracing it as a new source of revenue. event a strong innovation theme – which
admittedly more slowly in water. just also happens to be the name of one of
Customer engagement is now a key Australian Utility Week our streams.
driver towards remodelling the old We pull in smart grid researchers from
utility models with some retail utilities With this setting in mind, we welcome you across Australia to share insights on issues
following a customer obsession mind- to the world of Australian Utility Week, such as integrating distributed generation
set to meet competition and to reduce taking place from 24-25 November 2015 and how utilities can survive the solar
in Sydney. This is our 13th expo and it’s

METERING INTERNATIONAL ISSUE – 4 | 2015 129

and storage disruption. To support these Conference themes hold the visitors for the benefit of exhibitors
sessions, we have attracted leading and creates more buzz on the expo floor.
vendors from the world of residential AMI is a big theme this year because the We have 6 other streams that are held
storage and grid edge generation. These face of smart metering in Australia is within the conference rooms: Smart grid
include: Samsung, LG Chem, Gridco changing. New players are entering the and metering which concerns issues related
Systems, and Enphase, all of whom will market. This includes water utilities. It also to AMI related hardware and architecture;
launch new products and services in concerns independent specialist metering Data architecture which concerns big data
Australia early next year. services providers who are emerging to analytics; Distributed generation, which this
displace traditional meter asset owners year is mostly focused on consumer related
Focus groups – the distributers. It may include more solar infrastructure; Smart distribution
retailers who will likely use an outsourced which concerns substations and intelligent
For the first time we also make use of eight metering services model. networks; Data insights which concerns
in-depth focus groups, which are intensive Regarding water utilities, a recent research specific analytics programs; and finally
peer-to-peer learning and sharing sessions project commissioned by WSAA shows customer engagement which is focused
linked to a must-know business theme. that 80% of water business respondents on using AMI data to improve customer
We source the focus group leaders from were actively pursuing smart metering or services. It’s a comprehensive programme
within the top vendors and support them intelligent water network projects, with with a strong digital utility focus.
by inviting recognised industry players as 66% having projects underway or starting This year we have located the event in
expert advisors. It’s a popular concept and is in the next 12 months. Only the state of Sydney. It’s a popular venue for international
helping us bring more depth and improved Victoria has fully implemented AMI and visitors and makes a change for us because
networking around important new utility next up is NSW, the largest state, which sees for the last few years the event has been in
interests. The two most popular focus a voluntary rollout this year valued at A$1.5 Melbourne, Australia’s second biggest city.
groups to date are: AMI asset management; billion. Metering service companies are Melbourne has been the heart of the AMI
and Residential solar + storage. Both of preparing themselves for new business. rollouts but now that AMI is completed
them have attracted the local leaders across within Victoria, we were encouraged to make
the key stakeholder groups and will no Expo floor free conference streams the shift to Sydney for our vendors to meet
doubt be popular with our audience and the next set of rollout players.
with international vendors in these spaces. The expo features three free on-floor Participants in this event will meet the
Other popular focus groups are those conference streams that are designed leaders in Australia’s AMI and smart grid
concerned with customer engagement specifically to benefit our visitors. The strategies including those who are driving
in the context of AMI metering; and the focus is on R&D, AMI implementation and the top research programmes that will
connected enterprise, which concerns technical product insights from leading help utilities adjust to disrupted business
integrating IT and OT as a utility efficiency vendors related to new product launches. models. The speakers include those utilities
game-changer. Hosting the streams within the expo helps who are thriving in this new environment
and those who are trying new strategies
to stay on top. It’s a very interesting time
for everyone in this industry. Not always
an easy time, we must confess, as political
issues and an empowered customer base
are forcing rapid change upon an industry
that is traditionally conservative and slow to
change. But the change is unstoppable and
utilities are very interested in hearing from
anyone who has experience of managing
successfully through business disruption
and who can help prepare them to profit
from the new opportunities that arise.
Check our website (www.australian-utility-
week.com) to learn more and do contact us
if you would like to get involved. You’ll be
pleased you did. MI

130 METERING INTERNATIONAL ISSUE – 4 | 2015

Come and meet 70+ leading
solution providers and attend 3 free

new streams on the expo floor!

FREE Expo Pass: Register Now!

www.australian-utility-week.com/Registration

24-25 November 2015
Luna Park Sydney, Australia

Organised by:

2 120 1000+ 40 70

DAYS OF UTILITY UTILITY INDUSTRY COUNTRIES SOLUTION
NETWORKING COMPANIES EXPERTS PROVIDERS

E: [email protected] | T: (65) 6590 3970 | F: (65) 6223 9196 | W: www.australian-utility-week.com

PRODUCT SHOWCASE

The power solution
FOR METERING AND COMMUNICATION, THE COMPLEX LITHIUM
BATTERY CAPACITOR IS IDEAL

With the boom of electronic information of 360F. The curve demonstrates that Pulse discharge characteristics
technology, the use of intelligent SPC’s energy density characteristics, and A complex lithium battery capacitor can
electronic products is growing rapidly maintains a linear relationship during meet the requirement of large power
across a wide range of applications, such the charge and discharge process. discharge. Figure 3 shows the complex
as intelligent transportation, intelligent Good symmetry proves the power lithium battery capacitors of ER14505 and
meter systems and intelligent tracking characteristics of SPC. Owing to its wide SPC1550 are capable of 5A pulse
systems. It is particularly useful in voltage range, the SPC can work with discharge, and the discharge platform is
tackling the problem of congestion and another power (DC power supply, primary higher than 3.0 V.
achieving intelligent management says Dr battery, secondary battery, solar, storage Therefore, EVE’s SPC with lithium-
Zhengzhong Lv and Bu Fang, EVE Energy. battery, etc.) to improve energy density. thionyl-chloride battery are an ideal
With the advent of Industrie 4.0, intelligent The SPC’s voltage is consistent with combination of power and capacity,
transportation, smart grid and smart tracking the ER battery (3.6 V), and can operate making it the most suitable solution for
have entered the overall construction stage, in temperatures ranging from -40°C to smart meter application.
which has led to increased demand for smart +85°C. The performance perameters, such Security and reliability
metering. In the United States for example, as small leakage current (less than 1 uA) ER and SPC, which compose the complex
more than 50 million smart electric meters under normal temperature, high pulse lithium battery capacitor, are enclosed
have been installed. current (can be up to 5 A) and high security in a fully sealed structure with an
features, make the SPC the sole choice explosion-proof bottom, and both the
Complex power solution of for pulse discharge and energy storage in ER and SPC are UL1642, UN38.3 and
Lithium-thionyl-chloride battery smart meter utilization. ATEXL certified.
and super pulse cell capacitor Application
Innovation points of EVE power The super pulse cell capacitor, in EVE
By synthesizing the existing solutions, solution metering and communication applications
EVE Energy (EVE) created the Lithium- is fully-sealed and lightweight; has a
thionylchloride battery (ER) and super High voltage platform wide operating temperature range,
pulse cell capacitor (SPC) power solution The EVE power solution not only addresses low self-discharge rate, long life, high
to complement the existing limitation of the power need of watt-hour meters, but reliability and so on. It is mainly applied in
power solutions applied in metering and also has no passivation phenomenon, as automatic meter reading (AMR) devices,
communication. Figure 2 shows. While operational, the GPS/GSM/ARGOS systems, auto devices,
voltage of SPC remains consistent with the remote sensors, RFID systems, emergency
Super pulse cell capacitor (SPC) voltage of Lithium-thionyl-chloride battery, equipment and military tracking systems as
settling voltage lag issues of Lithium- a starter or backup power supply.
The super pulse cell capacitor, which is thionyl-chloride batteries. So far, the complex lithium battery capacitor
developed by EVE, is a metal oxide lithium- Small leakage current has been successfully applied in the meter
ion battery capacitor equipped with the In addition, the leakage current of industry. According to incomplete statistics,
capacity features of a lithium-ion the battery pack is extremely small more than 16 million have been deployed
battery, and the power characteristics of a (ER14250+SPC1520, less than 1μA at in electronic toll collection, global position
super capacitor. normal temperature, less than 2μA at systems, smart water meters and smart
Figure 1 is the charge/discharge curve of -30°C, less than 5μA at + 85°C). After gas meters. MI
the SPC1520. It displays a wide voltage combination, the ER battery exhibits no
range from 2.5V-4.2V and reaches capacity capacity loss.

Voltage/V

Figure 1. Charge and discharge curve Figure 2. Discharge curve of ER14250 Number/Times
of SPC1520 and SPC1520 power solution
132 Figure 3. 5A pulse discharge curve of
ER14505 and SPC1550 power solution

METERING INTERNATIONAL ISSUE – 4 | 2015



HOME AUTOMATION

Pervasive broadband
internet FUELING
THE CONNECTED
HOME of the future

North America is projected to Connected homes typically include
continue to be the largest market automation, interconnection of home
for connected home applications electronics and appliances, paired with
over the coming years, despite energy conservation tools that offer
growing signs of deployment in remote monitoring. Connected homes
both Asia and Europe. are recognised for controlling lighting,
heating, air conditioning and security and
life safety systems.
For consumers, Internet-connected
appliances and devices can add simplicity,
reliability, and efficiency to everyday living.
Home-based appliances and devices
can capitalize on sensor-derived data
to dramatically change daily domestic
lifestyles and enhance home environments.

The proliferation of broadband and
wireless 3G and 4G cellular networks
allow consumers to add home control
functionality on an ad hoc basis. Integrated
through wireless Internet connections, the
devices can be controlled from anywhere.

In terms of “whole house” connected
or smart home technology, residential
gateway-based systems hooked into quality
broadband Internet can allow a single
device, such as a tablet or smartphone,
to control many electronic devices and
appliances in a home. A single application
on a portable device can control sensor-
based systems, which include energy
metering; heating, ventilation, and air
conditioning; lighting; security and
environment quality monitoring.

Broadband enabling the smart
home

Research from the Continental Automated
Buildings Association (CABA) found that
while growth for connected home products
and services during the 2005-2010 time
frame were constrained, demand seemingly

134 METERING INTERNATIONAL ISSUE – 4 | 2015

HOME AUTOMATION

began to increase in conjunction with and security solutions leading the way in expected to dominate, providing one-third
the availability of high-speed broadband terms of market revenue. of the installed base of smart home systems
connectivity, which began to become more Much of these solutions will be offered at the end of 2018. Utility companies
ubiquitous throughout North America through the cloud. One major group will already offering or developing smart home
between 2010 and 2015. consist of existing service providers that devices or services in Europe include British
According to statistics, Canada became have other core business lines, such as Gas, Essent, Eneco, Nuon, RWE, EnBW and
one of the most ‘wired’ high-speed security or telecommunication providers E.on European multi-service operators
countries in the world between 2010 and and utility companies. Other companies, have generally been slower to enter the
2015. By 2013, broadband Internet was such as device suppliers and retailers will smart home service market than those in
available to 100% of Canadians living in also provide services. Smart home specialists North America, although there have been
urban areas, and to 85% of Canadians in are also forecast to play a major role in the exceptions, such as Bouygues Telecom and
rural areas. deployment of smart home services globally. Swisscom. Others, such as SFR and Orange,
In the US, an increasing number of These companies include home automation have also entered the market, with more
households have also been migrating providers that are moving their existing expected to follow.
to higher-bandwidth speed broadband customers to cloud-based services, by
packages as communications service providing an external communication Asia-Pacific smart home services
providers upgrade their networks gateway and an associated back-end market
to increase bandwidth throughput. service. Telecommunication companies as
Subsequent to broadband installation, such are also major industry participants. In the Asia-Pacific region, some multi-
consumers have quickly been adding Figure 2 shows the number of smart service operators have been offering basic
connected devices to their home networks. home service households by region. In smart home services for a number of years,
The increase in connected devices requires the European, Middle Eastern and African although volumes have remained relatively
reliable broadband connectivity that is (EMEA) region, utility companies are low. As the market expands, with wider
networked throughout the home. Another value propositions and attractive tiered
major factor is that the cellular handset is pricing, the role of multi-service operators is
the key device most used when interfacing set to grow.
with home systems via remote locations. The combination of an increasing number
Improvement in bandwidth throughput, of Internet connected devices, along
combined with consumer demand for with both fixed and wireless broadband
more sophisticated home networking connectivity, and the expanding need for
and monitoring offerings, will continue Internet services beyond communication,
to underpin the wider development and information and entertainment to
deployment of integrated connected home include home monitoring and security,
technology. According to Transparency creates interesting opportunities for
Market Research, the home automation communications service providers.
market, including security, entertainment, Cloud-based home control systems for
lighting and other Internet-connected mass market consumers are set to be
systems and devices and is projected to the key catalyst for much of the growth
increase exponentially, surpassing in the connected home market, in terms
US$21 billion by 2020 (the market was of device shipments. Key trends that are
worth US$4.4 billion in 2013), with safety expected to mold the connected home
METERING INTERNATIONAL ISSUE – 4 | 2015 competitive landscape between 2013 and
2016 include exponential expansion in
the range of existing companies offering
connected home systems and services to
consumers. In the past, most cloud-based
home systems have been offered through
dedicated connected home players, such as
Alarm.com. Over the past years, however,

One major group will consist of existing
service providers that have other core
business lines, such as security or

telecommunication providers and utility
companies.”

135

HOME AUTOMATION

existing service providers such as ADT, deployments, these consumers will most poor energy efficiency behaviour of
Verizon and Comcast, have begun to enter likely inquire to ensure cybersecurity occupants. This waste represents a cost of
the market. Now, other types of companies issues are addressed. approximately €270 billion every year, a
such as incumbent telecommunication Finally, the Internet of Things, the seamless figure that is set to increase to 53% by 2030
providers, including AT&T, have started to interconnection of devices and sensors, if no action is taken to curb it.
enter the market with their own platform- will ultimately play a central role in the The industry accounts for a turnover
based systems. connected home of the future. of about €4 billion. While building
With Internet connectivity as a major regulations have forced investors in
catalyst, consumers have demonstrated From smart homes to smart Germany to fulfil at least basic minimum
greater willingness to adopt connected buildings: A European perspective standards, there is still enormous
home technologies. However, CABA notes potential for improvement in energy
that the full concept of the connected Information provided by: Dr. Peter Hug, efficiency using controls and automation
consumer will only be realized when managing director, European Building in buildings in European countries.
currently disparate systems can fully work Automation and Controls Manufacturers In both residential and non-residential
together with little required user set-up. The Association (eu.bac) buildings, automation and controls can
association adds that interoperability is an According to the European Building generate savings ranging from 25% to 50%
essential goal for connected home solution Automation and Controls Manufacturers (depending on the building type, building
providers. At present, the wide array of Association (eu.bac), buildings today state and installed building services)
available device types, topologies and account for roughly 40% of the EU’s overall of thermal and electric energy, notes
connectivity solutions on the market work energy consumption and for roughly 36% eu.bac. Smart buildings using intelligent
to limit the potential of the industry – since of the EU’s overall GHG emissions. Further, controls and building automation systems
consumers ultimately want to interface with around 20% of the energy consumed – improving health, comfort, well-being
multiple connected home applications, by Europe’s buildings is wasted, mainly and productivity while reducing energy
from multiple suppliers using one device. As due to inefficient maintenance, a lack consumption – are technically feasible, but
a result, industry needs to work together to of basic energy efficiency measures and are still not standard in Europe. MI
develop standard platforms and protocols
for smart home applications. Utilities are AUTHOR:
forecast to dominate consumers looking Rawlson O’Neil King, communication director, Continental Automated Buildings Association
for smart energy management devices (CABA)
and security suppliers for those looking The Continental Automated Buildings Association (CABA) is an international not-for-profit industry
specifically for smart security solutions. association dedicated to the advancement of integrated technologies for homes and buildings.

Factors hindering adoption CONTRIBUTING AUTHOR:
Dr. Peter Hug, managing director, European Building Automation and Controls Manufacturers
Difficulties in installation were also found Association (eu.bac)
to be a significant barrier to adoption. The eu.bac is the European Building Automation and Controls Association. We represent 26 European
most highly successful electronics-based manufacturers of products for home and building automation. This corresponds to an annual market of
services markets that have developed in approximately €4.4 billion. With this economic potential, we are Europe’s largest platform dedicated to
recent decades have been largely plug-and- energy efficiency in buildings.
plug, such as mobile phones, broadband
Internet and Wi-Fi. Since these senior
technologies are fully interoperable, it stands
to reason that home systems dependent
upon such connectivity should also be fully
interoperable and easy to install.
Cost is also a factor. Despite declining
prices for connected home solutions due
to the mass popularization and affordable
cloud-based offerings, consumer studies
have observed a “wait and see” approach
to adopting new products and services.
CABA’s latest research, conducted within
the 2010-2015 timeframe, has found a
willingness for consumers to expand their
network of connected home devices, after
they successfully complete installation of
an initial connected home product. Once
an initial purchase is made, consumers are
largely positive about their investment and
are keen to expand.
After cost, privacy is the most significant
concern for consumers in relation to
smart home applications. Consumers
with a security application are highly
aware and concerned about privacy
issues. When expanding their solution

136 METERING INTERNATIONAL ISSUE – 4 | 2015

PRODUCT SHOWCASE

PLC OFDM built in solution

for modern future proof smart electrical networks.

The deployment of AMI solutions in Europe ‘PRIME’ draft specification and is intended It is well understood that security is the
is accelerating in order to reach the target for modems operating in the 42kHz – 88kHz key component for deployment of high
set by the European Commission mandate. frequency range and with the recent release speed digital intelligence and two-way
The main communication technologies of PRIME 1.4, its operating frequency is functionality to the AMI and smart grid
which are the focus of current AMI rollouts extended to 480KHz. network. AMI and smart grid solutions
are: Power line technology with OFDM These specifications are based on a digital introduce enhancements and improved
communication, Point to Point wireless multi-carrier modulation scheme, which capabilities to the conventional power
technology such as LTE and RF technology, uses a large number of closely-spaced network; but more endpoints and more
with the emerging LORA as one of the orthogonal subcarriers to carry data. interconnected networks make it more
promising solutions. DSOs will eventually This approach maximizes bandwidth complex and vulnerable to different types
use a mix of these technologies to cover utilization, thus allowing advanced of security attack. These vulnerabilities
their entire distribution network and to fit channel-coding techniques, such as might allow attackers to access the network,
with urban, rural and isolated topologies. Viterbi and Reed Solomon, used for break the confidentiality and integrity of
For any of these technologies the following robust communications. the transmitted data, and make the service
key items are considered as mandatory: As shown in Fig. 1, PRIME and G3-PLC unavailable. Sagemcom pays a great deal
cybersecurity, interoperability across standards support OFDM with DBPSK, of attention to AMI and smart grid security
different suppliers and the ability to upgrade DQPSK and D8PSK modulation schemes beyond just what has been offered by
to future smart grid applications. per carrier to increase their data rate IT cybersecurity, which provides more
Among other technologies, the use up to several tens of kilobits. These protection at the centre of the network
of the power distribution grid for data specifications achieve high level of robust (where the data resides). Sagemcom
communication has gained a lot of interest communication by using a convolutional protection is done at the network centre,
over the past several years. By establishing encoder for forward error correction (FEC) edge and subsystems (HAN and LAN).
communication on the same power line and interleaver block. The purpose of the Furthermore, OFDM reliable and high
infrastructure that delivers electricity, there interleaver is to provide protection against speed data communication facilitates
is no need to create new communication two different sources of error: the transportation of security data and
paths through obstacles such as buildings, enables the confidentiality, authenticity
hills, and basements that block wireless A burst error that can corrupt a few and integrity required for high levels of
communications. Hence, installation and consecutive OFDM symbols data exchange between the server and
maintenance costs are lower. And, since the clients within the grid (Fig. 2). As a result
infrastructure is utility owned, there are no A frequency deep fade that can corrupt of these enhancements Sagemcom
potential service-provider and licensing fees. a few adjacent frequencies for a large offers symmetrical and asymmetrical
In mid-2007, two of Europe’s largest DSOs number of OFDM symbols key exchanges to manage our smart
(Iberdrola and ERDF) independently started meters, AMI and smart grid network. It
using orthogonal frequency-division Since 2007, Sagemcom has been the main is well understood that asymmetrical-
multiplexing (OFDM) for power line advocate for OFDM technology and is the key cipher requires high computational
communication to supports present and global leader on the deployment of millions capabilities, and the company end to
future AMI and smart grid. of PRIME solutions. The company has also end solution comes with an embedded
ERDF’s specification is referred to as the been selected for most of the deployments, hardware secure module (HSM) and higher
‘G3 PLC’ specification and it is intended for which requested G3-PLC. Sagemcom is performing processor (Fig 3). This reduces
modems operating in the 35.9kHz - 90.6kHz able to provide end-to-end solutions computational delay and finds a balance
(Cenelec) frequency range with provisions comprising meters, communication between stringent security requirements
to extend it to 480kHz supporting modules, gateway and concentrators, and limited computational resources, time-
both Association of Radio Industries head end and meter data management critical message delivery and responses.
and Businesses (ARIB) and Federal (MDM). The Sagemcom solution has been Additionally, the high bandwidth OFDM
Communications Commission (FCC) bands. natively designed to support state of the communication module facilitates the
Iberdrola’s specification is referred to as the art security concepts and multi-supplier transportation of security data. The smart
interoperability. Moreover, these solutions gateway and data concentrators uses
are smart grid ready. several layers of device authentication both

Figure 1. A typical OFDM system used in G3-PLC and PRIME specifications. 137
METERING INTERNATIONAL ISSUE – 4 | 2015

PRODUCT SHOWCASE

Figure 2. Secure PLC network. load management. Based on Sagemcom’s
smart energy solutions which are supporting
Figure 3. HSM to administer the secure data communication. reliable and higher data rate OFDM PLC
technology, our new remote relay module
in the PLC layer and application layer DLMS- This multi-layer interoperability and devices are highly integrated, smarter,
COSEM to connect meters, gird monitoring interchangeability allows DSOs to use our support remote two-way communication
sensors and network switches. AMI solution with other suppliers if their and are multi-functional for use in residential,
The developers of these specifications communication link and security layer commercial and industrial applications.
(PRIME and G3-PLC) have invested a great conform to international standardization. Gaining a higher data rate with these
deal of time and effort into communication As OFDM technology bandwidth enables a technologies, security, DLMS protocol, and
and device interoperability among multiple wide range of new smart grid applications various monitoring sensors were integrated
suppliers. Test laboratories and test tools besides just AMI, our OFDM solution to the RRM to fulfill any smart metering
are provided by these standardization enables near real time data monitoring and requirements – such as smart streetlights
bodies, which allow the supplier to use the collection within smart grid applications. requiring astronomical clock, fault detection
same tool sets to validate interoperability For instance, legacy ripple control device and load management.
and conformance in simulated networks (RCD) architecture relied on very low data As it has been mentioned, OFDM
with hundreds of devices. Data captured rate PLC technology which required a communication systems are simple in
from these tests assure that all solutions dedicated large coupling circuit over the design but robust in communication, which
comply in detail with the specification, can MV network and a dedicated PLC network will bring lower infrastructure costs when
communicate to each other and can achieve with data concentrator for its management. compared to other wired and wireless
the same level of performance required. Sagemcom’s remote relay module (RRM), communication architectures. OFDM
Sagemcom has welcomed the OFDM which is highly integrated and compact, technology in the FCC band, using data rates
specifications that define these processes, has been introduce as an alternative to the up to 200 Kbps, facilitate the operation of
and it designs its solution only with RCD system and aims to be fully integrated high speed smart grid demand and response
standard and proven technologies into the smart metering infrastructure of where there is a need for capturing network
in order to ensure interoperability DSOs and managed by the AMI central information in less than a second.
and interchangeability at each level. system as well as smart meters to provide For example, micro energy production is
regarded as isolated power generation,
which is intermittent and therefore – due
to weather conditions and time of the
day – availability is difficult to forecast.
Thus, it is extremely important to have
high speed, reliable data communication
that can integrate these large numbers of
micro power sources to the main utility
grid efficiently. Within the same network,
OFDM technology in the FCC band allows
CT meters to monitor the health of MV-LV
transformers and detect non-technical
losses due to transmission line erosion or
power outages (Fig. 5). This is done without
interrupting other time sensitive smart
grid applications, thanks to the fact that
FCC provides enough bandwidth to carry
simultaneously several type of information.
Sagemcom’s field deployment success with
its OFDM end-to-end solution has proven
that this technology can be applied to real
world applications of AMI and smart grid.
OFDM technology should unify end-to-end
communication in the coming years, opening
the possibilities for DSOs to have a seamless
smart grid application to manage their grid. MI

Figure 4. RRM for load management. Figure 5. Monitoring the health of transformer
138 and CT meter for non-technical losses.

METERING INTERNATIONAL ISSUE – 4 | 2015

Sagemcom, as a “smart city” actor, helps its customers
in the implementation of energy management projects.

HOME AUTOMATION

SMART HOME ENERGY

management facing up
to regional challenges

... among smart In recent years energy efficiency has risen For example, among smart home energy-
home energy- up the global agenda, and countries management devices, in-home displays
management around the world are exploring different (IHDs) are projected to have the highest
devices, in-home ways to ensure a secure supply of energy installed base and unit shipments
displays (IHDs) for their economies to rely upon. This globally from 2011 to 2025. This is largely
are projected to has led to a significant rise in smart because of the UK government mandate
have the highest metering and smart city projects, and to install IHDs with smart meters as part
installed base and is also influencing the potential market of its national rollout – if the legislation
unit shipments for smart home energy management were to change the global installed base
globally from 2011 devices that connect to the smart meter. and shipment numbers for IHDs would
However, the amount of difference that decrease significantly.
to 2025.” smart home energy management devices The study revealed that EMEA would be
will make towards energy efficiency goals the largest regional market for demand
140 depends on how consumers engage with response-enabled smart home energy
these devices and change their energy management devices, largely on account
consumption behaviour. of the mandated EU smart meter rollouts.
According to a recently-published report Under an EU regulation passed in 2009, all
by IHS, a global research and analysis firm, EU member states are required to conduct
the global market for demand response- cost-benefit analyses (CBAs) of smart
enabled smart home energy management metering and, where the CBA results are
devices will grow to US$4 billion by 2025. positive, roll out smart meters to 80% of
Considering the market at an individual consumers by 2020. Many of these programs
country level, each country’s potential have been plagued by delays, and most of
for the uptake of smart home energy- the region’s larger economies are unlikely
management devices is different, based on to meet these deadlines. However, despite
that particular country’s energy profile and these delays smart meter shipments in the
infrastructure, government mandates, and region are projected to increase significantly
citizen attitudes toward energy efficiency over the second half of the decade.
and smart home technology alike. Although government mandates play
an important role in the initial uptake of
smart home devices, achieving significant
market growth is far from simple. One

obstacle for demand response-enabled
energy management devices is that
in countries where the price
for electricity is low there
is little incentive for
consumers to engage
with these programs. In
some countries, smart
meters have been met
by public backlash, as
consumers blame the
devices for their electricity
bills increasing.
Although smart meters may
not guarantee lower energy
prices now, they can contribute
to reducing energy consumption,

METERING INTERNATIONAL ISSUE – 4 | 2015

HOME AUTOMATION

and smart grid technology can help balance driving the uptake of demand response- purchasing entire integrated systems for
the electric load on the grid, making enabled smart home energy management their home at significant cost, however,
integration of intermittent renewable devices – the global installed base for smart now people are increasingly likely to
energy sources more achievable. This could thermostats was the second-largest after enter the smart home market through the
lead to long-term benefits, such as reduced IHDs, at 21.4 million by 2025 – but will play purchase of a single product or solution,
cost and environmental damage. In many a significant part in the evolution of the such as a smart thermostat, which they
countries around the world smart city trials smart home. may then choose to supplement with
are taking place, experimenting with the The need to create a simple and reliable additional products.
use of smart grid technology in conjunction smart home user experience is a key factor This gradual entry point is where the
with electric vehicles, solar panels, and a in the future of the industry. The market interoperability challenge comes into
wide range of smart home devices. is still fragmented, with issues around play. Smart meters and subsidized smart
The American market will have the connectivity protocols and interoperability thermostats and IHDs are only one piece
second-largest installed base of demand of products presenting major barriers to of the puzzle. The next step for the smart
response-enabled smart home energy market growth. home market is to develop the ecosystem,
devices, until the region is overtaken by Consumer entry point is a key factor: so that consumers can benefit from the
the Asia Pacific market in 2025. The United initially consumers entered the market by full potential of their connected devices
States accounts for most of this region, at home. MI
and in recent years the country has made
large-scale investment in smart grid and ABOUT THE AUTHORS:
smart metering solutions. In addition utility Roz Euan-Smith is a senior analyst within IHS Technology, whose research focuses
companies in several states are starting to on Smart Homes and Smart Cities. Recent projects include a worldwide study of the
offer time-of-use pricing and other demand smart home energy management devices market and analysis of the potential of
response-enabled consumer incentives. residential demand response.
In fact, many utilities around the world are
starting to engage with the smart home Jacob Pereira is an IHS analyst specializing in utility meters, grid infrastructure,
energy management device market, by distribution automation and smart communications. He is a member of the IHS
offering free or subsidized installation of Power & Energy team which has published syndicated, primary research reports
various smart home devices on certain across the utilities vertical for more than fifteen years.
contracts or tariffs. This trend is not only

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ZTE CORPORATION MADE IN CHINA

PRODUCT SHOWCASE

The integration of revenue grade CT The project was very successful, once again 2 Innovate type of spring technology
operated smart meters at the consumer proving J&D’s high performance and quality increases durability by 30%.
level has expanded significantly as a result technology.
of the implementation of the ‘smart grid’ 3 Outstanding linearity and very low
strategy. This rapid expansion has raised JCP AND JRFS SERIES phase angle error
the issue of controlling installation costs in
existing infrastructure. (Revenue-grade Rogowski coil and clamp JRFS SERIES
As a cost saving solution, J&D has on current probe)
introduced the JMS series of split-core, The issue that the portable equipment The JRFS series feature an innovative air
revenue-metering (billing) CTs which are market has to resolve is how to improve core design, enabling this technology again
easy to install and put into operation. quality and accuracy of portable test to be the first to offer high performance
equipment. coupled with an attractive price. The air
JMS SERIES As a high quality solution, J&D has core design used in the Rogowski Coil
introduced the JCP and JRFS series of current sensor is a new type of precision
The JMS is ideal for retrofitting smart split-core, revenue-grade current probes winding with perfect shielding, allowing the
meters into existing installations and non- which are very easy to install and put into accurate measurement at revenue-grade in
interruptible equipment. operation with one-handed opening and a flexible current probe.
JMS Series features an innovative core closing – even when wearing gloves. They
material, enabling this product to be the first are ideal for portable test equipment and ADVANTAGES OF JRFS SERIES
to offer high performance coupled with an can be retrofitted into existing installations
attractive price. The core material used in the with non-interruptible equipment. 1 Specialized winding technology for the
transformers is a new soft magnetic material high precision measurement
with high permeability and cut core. JCP SERIES
2 Less influence of external magnetic
ADVANTAGES OF JMS SERIES The JCP series feature an innovative core field through perfect shielding
material, enabling this product to be the first technology.
1 Easy and fast installation by one-touch to offer high performance coupled with an
split-core design. attractive price. The core material used in the 3 Silicone material allows the housing to
transformers is a new Fe-Ni magnetic material endure temperatures up to 130°C
2 Built-in protection circuit for the user’s with highly permeable cut-cores, allowing
safety. the design of an accurate measurement of 4 With its flexible design, the JRFS series
revenue-grade clamp on the current probe. can fit into tight spaces where rigid CTs
3 The cut-core design minimizes air gaps. won’t fit.
ADVANTAGES OF JCP SERIES
REFERENCE 5 The optional holding device ensures
1 The cut-core allows very small air the Rogowski coil is securely seated on
KEPID AMSTECH, a smart meter company in gaps. busbars with a thickness of 10-15mm.
South Korea, installed the JMS series for CT
operated smart meter solution in Myanmar. REFERENCE

Recently, KEPCO (Korean Electric Power
Company) installed the JCP and JRFS series
for power quality test equipment and smart

uQ rewoP noitareneG-txeN esacwohs ot D&J METERING INTERNATIONAL ISSUE – 4 | 2015
YTILITU NAEPORUE ta TC eroc-tilpS denibmoc

142

J&D to showcase Next-Generation Power Quality, Revenue-Grade Metering
combined Split-core CT at EUROPEAN UTILITY WEEK 2015 (#A.j07)

www.smartsensing.net
[email protected]

PRODUCT SHOWCASE

meter portable test equipment in South The Jaguar 2400 series can accommodate 2 Individual harmonics: 2nd ~ 63rd
Korea. The product gained the confidence TOU (Time of Use) tariffs, has a data logger, (voltage and current).
of the utility, once again proving J&D’s high current leak detection and up to 63rd
performance and quality technology. harmonics for the first time in the world. It 3 Real time and data logger capability.
improves upon the industry’s method of 4 Leakage current monitoring.
JAGUAR 2400 SERIES using a balanced three-phase power quality
meter, combined with a 21-channel branch REMOTE SPLIT-CORE CT
A major issue for branch circuit power circuit power meter. ACCESSORY
monitoring market is how to improve The new version also removes complexity
revenue-grade metering of power quality as from revenue-grade metering platforms, Our revenue-grade meter requires revenue-
well as provide a branch circuit power meter. by enabling J&D’s customers to monitor all grade split-core CTs.
J&D, which is the provider of an industry- pieces of power equipment in a data centre Pair it with our compact high precision split-
leading, revenue-grade energy monitoring on one platform at prices equal to, or better core CT. MI
platform for high density power consumers, than those of their competitors.
has announced the launch of the Jaguar
2400 series. It is a 21-channel branch circuit ADVANTAGES OF JAGUAR 2400
power meter with a three phase power SERIES
quality meter. Most of all, Jaguar 2400 series
is the world’s first branch circuit power meter 1 Revenue-grade power quality
that combines power quality revenue-grade metering.
metering with power quality monitoring.

JMS series JCP series JRFS series Jaguar 2400 series

Specification Specification Specification Specification

Application: Application: Application: Application:
Electric power metering for distribution Power quality, smart meter portable test Power quality, smart meter portable test IDC, Building, Factory,
transformers, pole mounted switches, equipment equipment Local authority,
substation automation, … Infrastructure

Primary current: Primary current: Primary current: Primary current:
100A to 3,000A Wide current range up to 1,000A Wide range of input current up to 6,000A Standard: 24 channel for main power–three-
phase of 3 channels and single-phase of 21
Secondary current output: Secondary current output: Secondary current output: channels
1A, 5A Instantaneous mA, 333mv, 1V, 1A, 5A Instantaneous mV Optional: Combined module – Single-phase
Accuracy: Accuracy: Accuracy: of 21 channels, or three-phase of 7 channels
0.5S, 1 Class of accuracy as Revenue-grade 0.5S, 1 Class of accuracy as Revenue-grade ±1.0% of accuracy at 5~120% of rating
(compliance with IEC 61869-2) (compliance with IEC 61869-2) current (calibrated accuracy is 0.5S class) Accuracy:
Revenue-grade standard ANSI C12.20 class
Other Other Other 0.5/1.0 and IEC 62053-22 class 0.5S/1.0
(Option) Secondary output cable could be Built-in protection circuit for the safety (Option) Available an add-on part to secure (reading scale)
customized on request the sensor to the conductor.
Complying with IEC 60044-8 Other
Voltage integrator is not included. Built-in Modbus RTU protocol data
communication via RS485
Built-in data logging for historical recording
(LP)
Ethernet
External CTs for retrofit applications
Remote CT, Revenue grade split core CT

ABOUT THE COMPANY
Since 1994, J&D Electronics has been a leader in the development of high performance sensor technology in the smart grid industry. J&D serves as a
specialist OEM/ODM and has customers in the USA, Europe, South Africa and Asia.
www.hqsensing.com

144 METERING INTERNATIONAL ISSUE – 4 | 2015

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COMPOS MENTIS

This column is to create a forum for ideas, passions and perspectives on our industry that are controversial,
provocative and energising. The views expressed here may be unpopular, politically incorrect, heretical or simply
humorous. They may be ideas that all of us have had but didn’t care (or dare) to articulate. The opinions expressed
are those of the author alone, but are probably shared by many who have yet to say so.

Compos Leads one to wonder – this
programme was supposed to
Mentis benefit the consumer, yet, who is
looking after the consumer’s interests
King Canute and Her Majesty’s Government here? DCC being ready is hardly the
guarantee of a smooth consumer journey.
Recent pronouncements from the Only recently we have seen one company DECC is not taking responsibility for
Department of Energy & Climate Change suffer a huge drop in the customer service the consumer journey – it has left that
(DECC) of Her Majesty’s Government in it provides due to a change in IT system. in the hands of energy suppliers. DECC
the UK would indicate that all is going Consumers did not receive bills for months, recognises that energy suppliers are
swimmingly in the world of the SMETS-2 Ofgem, the regulator, imposed heavy reluctant participants in this programme.
smart meters deployment in the UK. fines and it took this company over a year Their reluctance comes from knowing
The government mandated central data to sort things out. This is one company that the huge additional costs being
communication and collection system with everything under its control and forced down their throats will mean
being put together under the monopoly the incentive to make things work. One bigger consumer bills. Yet DECC wields a
contract with the Data and Communications could say this is just one company and big stick to make suppliers conform.
Company (DCC) will be ready on (the much one botched IT project. company and one
revised) time. Meter manufacturers will have botched up IT project. Will browbeating the only party acting in
integrated communications modules from the consumer’s interests really assure the
the DCC with their meters and all will work However, let us consider another example consumer of a smooth journey? It needs
properly and interchangeably by August of an IT project, this one involving the an independent arbiter to determine
of next year. Confidence is running so high whole energy industry, i.e. all energy whether or not consumers’ will have a
in DECC, that it has also pronounced the suppliers and all shippers of gas – Project smooth journey through the changeover
end date for SMETS-1 meters that are being Nexus. Project Nexus seeks to deliver a to SMETS-2. Today, the programme does
deployed right now. very basic industry need, settlement of not have this arbiter. A possible arbiter
gas wholesale supply based on the actual would be the regulator – Ofgem. For some
The current situation is that SMETS-1 meters gas consumption of consumers (the reason, Ofgem is sitting on the sidelines
are being successfully deployed by many present system uses estimates not real and waiting for things to go wrong before
energy suppliers and are working well. No consumption!). This project was supposed it steps in. That will be too late. It needs
SMETS-2 installation has taken place as yet to be ready in 2014, was delayed a year and to clearly set out expectations for the
and neither the communications modules recently has been delayed by yet another consumer journey from legacy meters to
nor SMETS-2 meters are on the market year. This is not a complex project but, SMETS-2 and ensure that all participants to
as yet. The whole programme has many to make it work, it does need all industry the SMETS-2 project work to achieve these
world firsts including the communications participants to have systems ready and before mass scale deployment begins.
technologies being deployed for SMETS-2. working. Whether delays are due to the
technical aspects of IT or just foot dragging Prudence demands that there is recognition
Begs the question – what is DECC’s by industry participants, the reality is that this is a mammoth IT programme with
confidence based on? Is it based on visible the project is at present three years late. many different participants and ‘world firsts’.
proof that consumers in the UK will have a Luckily this programme does not impact It will not work right first time. Prudence
smooth transition to the SMETS-2 meters or consumers directly so no one talks about it. demands that there is a Plan-B, a Plan-B that
is it based on some project timelines having works for the politicians who want smart
been recently met by DCC? The SMETS-1 experience meters to increase competition and for
suppliers who want to give their consumers
Smart meter deployment is a huge IT In one case, it was nearly 20 months before a smooth journey.
change programme. No programme in the the full functionality of SMETS-1 could be
past has been to this scale, nor will this used. Typical deployments have taken DECC is far too invested in SMETS-2 to
scale ever be matched by an IT project in 12-14 months to work fully. This is not recognise the need for prudence. It needs
the future. because of the SMETS-1 meters, it is because to accept that big IT projects with many
smart meter deployment is an IT project. world firsts will not obey its commands. It is
Pragmatic people will look at this behaving like King Canute ordering the tide
gargantuan programme in the context of IT So on the one hand we have this history and away. DECC will not just get its feet wet, it
projects in general and the British energy on the other we have the UK’s biggest IT can be drowned by the disaster caused by
industry’s history of handling big IT change project. I would ask again – where is DECC’s overconfidence in its own power. MI
in particular. confidence coming from?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Compos Mentis is Latin for “a sound mind.”This is the
chosen pseudonym of a prominent European expert
with more than 20 years of direct experience in metering,
AMI and smart grid applications worldwide. The cloak of
anonymity allows him to insightfully ”pop the balloons” of
conventional utility industry thinking.

If you would like to comment on this Viewpoint, please
write to the author at [email protected]

146 METERING INTERNATIONAL ISSUE – 4 | 2015



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145..........................................................................................................................................EUTC 18..............................................................................................................................Sensirion AG
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15..................................................................................................................................... JT Global 101................................................................................................................................... Siemens
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