From: Utility Systems Corporation
RE: Baseline Metering.
Date June 28, 1996
BASELINE METERING STANDARDS:
The Problem
Unless more objectivity can be introduced and solutions employed that are compatible with currently available state of the art technology, all of the effort being invested by the DAWG committees will lead to a chaotic beginning, and a delayed resolution of the process which finally, some day, will evolve to deliver Direct Access.
Achievement of restructuring and bringing Direct Access to all consumers is admittedly difficult, but its full implementation is being delayed and jeopardized by absence of objectivity.
Excellent objective positions have been promoted by Mike Jaske, Nancy Day, Harry Misureillo, George Samaniego and Mike Manning, to mention a few whose work has been observed and studied by this writer. These people are not the only independent and insightful thinkers. However even their positions are influenced by straw tigers erected. by the Utilities at these meetings. The Utilities appear determined to maintain their monopolies.
Competitive free enterprise is the only solution that will work in the long run.
The threat of stranded costs, much of which would have been written off by non-monopolistic commercial businesses, stands in the way of successful introduction of competition. Discuss this with the Aggregators and see how discouraged they are! Independent, stranded costs must not be allowed to stifle Aggregators competition.
The resolution of all of these issues will require time, and the wisdom of Solomon to achieve.
Part of the Solution - The phase-in
A very basic and inexpensive solid state electronic solution is already available. It will establish a baseline standard from which the elements of all necessary management data can be extracted. This data may be manipulated in any way necessary and the answers distributed to, or accessible to, all who have a need to know. Creating and maintaining this database will induce competitive solutions.
We at Utility Systems Corporation, like the others participating in these meetings, have an interest to be served. In these meetings, however, we have tried to rise above our self interests to present an objective view of what today's state of the art technology can accomplish. USC has offered to allow all meter manufacturers to incorporate its technology into their systems!
UCAN has prepared an elegant analysis of the problems[1], but begins with an assumption that "..at-the-home-metering is not economically viable in the short-term, and a mass deployment of interval meters cannot be planned or choreographed at the present time." This is an erroneous assumption.
The UCAN position continues to correctly identify solutions using load profiles, and upstream metering.
Since "Can't do"-never accomplished anything, lets look at "Can Do".
It is possible to fully deploy a meter that will provide all of the data required by any of the anticipated levels of control in the time frame established by the CPUC.[2] This will hereinafter be called The Meter.
The Meter is software driven and has the capability of Load Profiling every consumer and then monitoring on-going loading, over time, to assure that the consumer remains in that profile, or within the established allowable deviation envelope. Deviation can be reported at least monthly, along with a newly established load profile if The Meter has been instructed to record one. The Meter is instructed to create a load profile every 15 minutes for a month, and then retain this as the standard of performance against which subsequent months can be measured.
From information supplied by The Meter an InfoCo (Banking)[3] database can initially assign each consumer a profile classification which can be mathematically refined and plotted against Upstream metering. It is possible that Upstream interval metering will provide all of the refinement necessary for an initial extended period during which the System can be totally integrated with automatic meter reading.
However, The Meter is a Time-of-Use Meter, a Demand Meter, and a Real Time Meter if integrated into a telecommunication system. As the telecommunications expands ever deeper into the WireCo network, real time data from The Meter can be integrated upward to the InfoCo[4].
The existing infrastructure can initiate the changeover, and the opportunity for competitive pricing and the establishment of an InfoCo be created. This would begin by unbundling the InfoCo functions from the WireCo functions of the UDC. This change would immediately allow, and demand, that the InfoCo position itself competitively against the other such InfoCos. The existing territorial boundaries would immediately begin to blur.
It is proposed that other non-wire functions also be unbundled and be required to enter the competitive market. It will be by this means that all functions which can be done non-monopolistically can become competitive. There is nothing to prevent, and much to encourage, the unbundled groups to become proud competitors. If freed of monopolistic restraints, the unbundled functions, which are already organized and functioning, might be surprisingly effective.
Meter Operations
Meter reading will be required into the foreseeable future. The evolution to AMR is proceeding at a fast rate and, to quote a now infamous remark, "economies of scale" will dictate the evolution. The Utility System (Water, Gas and Electric) must be consolidated. The Jaske and Day papers include appropriate remarks regarding the functions of the InfoCo to define the problem and permit rational conclusions to be drawn.
The Meter can receive and integrate the water, gas and electric consumption information into one packet of information for transmission to the InfoCo.
Meter Maintenance
When viewed from the foregoing framework, existing standards will experience a dramatic shift. Maintenance will shift from a mechanical maintenance shop to an electronic shop. ( However, economics will very likely dictate that replacement will be more effective than repair.) The total cost of a meter assembled and tested on an automated line will be less than the hourly labor cost for most repairs.
It is proposed that the Department of Measurement Standards, already involved in Sub Metering, should become the enforcer for metering accuracy. The proposed meters are self testing and tamper sensitive, and will report themselves for error, and detected tampering.
Meter Changeover
Mechanically, the old meter is removed, The Meter inserted, the locking ring re-installed and sealed.
In the simplest application The Meter is used as a direct replacement for the mechanical meter, and it offers only a KWH readout to be recorded by a Meter Reader on foot.
In support of Direct Access
The Meter may be pre-programmed for the installation. For example, it might be pre-programmed to begin recording a load profile, and/or it may be programmed with the TOU Windows with TOU Rates and Demand Intervals. It will have had its tamper flag set to "off," and it has been assigned to a transformer. Out-of-Tolerance Voltage Excursions, and Out-of-Tolerance Power Factor Excursions will have been cleared. Consumer information messages and triggers to initiate them will have been programmed. If The Meter is used to pre-pay or post-pay, the appropriate counters will have been set, or will be set, during installation. If The Meter is linked with a modem to the user's phone line, or to an AMR system, or an aggregator system (including the InfoCo), the communication protocol will be established.
The Meter is supported by a Monitor. The Monitor is a remote reading device that is simply plugged into a wall plug and hung on the wall or set on a desk--like an electric clock. Using the Power-Line-Carrier (PLC), the Monitor repeats the reads being observed by The Meter. Preprogrammed messages are available to the consumer that encourage reduction of load during peak load hours, etc. etc.
Meter System Costs
Justifiable concern exists regarding cost. The Meter as a complete replacement meter, in quantities required for the State of California, will cost less than $50. Establishment of a retrofitting process can further reduce this price, with The Meter electronics costing nearer $30, perhaps less. Large scale production can be accomplished on a time scale that will meet all of the objectives of the CPUC, using automated assembly and highly reliable surface mount technology. Pricing exercises are in process[5].
One of the straw tigers is the constant reference to the $300 to $600 meter replacement costs. These figures cited for special metering are deserving of more critical examination. Meter manufacturers have, of necessity, prostituted themselves to the demands of the monopolistic Utility companies. Each Utility establishes its own criteria and standards independent of the others. Some time ago Southern California Edison couldn't agree with Pacific Gas and Electric on the simple basic of numbering or lettering the legs of the three phases, and it became a standing joke among the attendees at the Northwestern Electrical Standards meetings. Ask the suppliers and switch gear companies and meter manufacturers how much extra they have had to charge for otherwise standard items to customize to individual dictatorial utilities! It is time for these practices to be terminated.
SUMMARY
The foregoing may sound like a sales pitch. But please consider it a plea for sanity and practicality. As long as we are attending these meetings with an objective of honestly serving the public interests, we must rise above political and subjective self-interests which have brought us to this table in the first place.
Meter Comparison Chart
OPERATION Current Conventional Proposed with The Meter
Mechanical Meter Solid State
Measures KWH Measures KWH
Measures Time of Use
Measures Demand
Measures Co-Generated Power
Measures D.C. as well as AC
Detects tampering
Records payments
Maintains record of
Credit Balance
Receives usage data from
digital meters for water,
gas, therms, etc.
Accessible by Credit/Debit Card
Uses Power Line Carrier to
interface with any
desired external
communications technology
Generates management info
for consumer. Software driven.
Rate of usage-$
balance (or time)
remaining
Demand level
Time of use
Disconnect warning
MAINTENANCE Utility does changeout Competitive business
and shop maintenance for change out.
Subassembly throwaway
maintenance.
Certification by Dept. of
Measurement Standards.