
	March 2008

A New Standard Can Unite AMI Networks

Collecting and applying utility meter data could be on the cusp of a communications revolution.

Consider this: the World Wide Web, as an application of the Internet, didn't take off until a pair of technical standards defined a consistent way to structure data and transport it over a network. Those standards were Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) and Hypertext Transport Protocol (HTTP). Since the early 1990s,

those two acronyms have become familiar around the world and form the foundation for history's largest explosion in information publication and distribution.

Now, utility metering has its own pair of technical standards defining a consistent way to structure and transport data over a network. ANSI C12.19, a standard in commercial and industrial electricity meters for years, defines a common table structure for recording and storing data related to utility metering. A new standard, ANSI C12.22, defines a hardware-independent system for addressing C12.19-complaint data to be sent over any network.

Itron has championed C12.22 in the OpenWay® advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) solution. By relying on this hardware-independent open standard for communication, OpenWay allows utilities to mix and match different network technologies for different portions of an AMI network. The AMI network might use wireless mesh networking between meters and collectors, and wired technologies such as broadband over power line between collectors and the utility back-office.

Using an open standard such as C12.22 helps to protect a utility's investment in AMI technology. For instance, in the future if a new network technology proves to be more attractive than what a utility currently uses, the utility can upgrade to the new network without having to replace all the meters communicating with the network. By the same token, if having a second source for electricity meters is part of a utility's business plan, they can select C12.22-complaint meters and have them communicate to their existing network.

This ability to mix-and-match the best solutions from various competing vendors helps ensure that utilities can continue to find enhanced, lasting AMI systems for the least cost.

Itron has already implemented a pre-ratified version of C12.22 in OpenWay CENTRON® meters being used in field trials around North America. The ANSI C12.22 Working Group anticipates formal ratification of the standard in the second quarter of 2008.

OpenWay®, Meet Houston

When the future of energy delivery comes to your neighborhood, it can be unsettling.

Last year, Itron installers worked in different neighborhoods around Houston to install and upgrade 10,000 OpenWay CENTRON® meters as part of field trials at CenterPoint. Developers, application engineers, installers, and contractors all pitched in. CenterPoint has been at the forefront of utilities championing advanced metering infrastructure, or AMI. The new generation of smart metering and two-way communication technology allows utilities to automate all of their metering reading plus offer widespread conservation programs and support the development of a smart energy distribution system.

Justin Tanner, an application engineer from West Union, South Carolina, described the field work for the CenterPoint field trials. Days started with team meetings in the lobby of the Hampton Galleria. The group met to review routes and goals for the day. Installers worked at selected sites throughout Houston to install and program the next-generation meters.

A majority of the meters in the field trial measure electricity for apartments. Often, people in the neighborhood regarded Itron personnel as workers there to turn off the lights. Once they explained that they were just there to do field work, not shut off electricity, work usually went smoothly.

"We were working in some rough neighborhoods," Tanner said. Every installer carried at least one notebook computer with six optical probes attached to it. Used to read electric meters, these probes might have resembled the billy clubs used by police. "These pieces of equipment might have been one reason everyone stayed safe," Tanner explained. "They weren't exactly the prettiest sight in the world and locals might not have known what to think."

In the next five years, more than 20 million existing utility meters across North America will be replaced as AMI adoption grows. Field crews will have to work in all types of neighborhoods. Availability of qualified installers is seen as a critical factor in AMI adoption.

At the end of each day, the team reconvened to review daily successes and to cross off meters from the to-do list. They also laid out the next day's routes for the teams to follow.

Tanner said although the work was rewarding, it was also hectic. "I also developed a new hobby—eating. It was about the only thing we had time to do."

Pepco Holdings Inc. Selects Itron Enterprise Edition™ Meter Data Management System for its 'Blueprint for the Future' Initiative

Itron has announced a contract with Pepco Holdings Inc., (PHI) one of the largest electric delivery companies in the mid-Atlantic region, to deliver Itron Enterprise Edition™ (IEE) Meter Data Management (MDM) solution to support PHI's high-volume data management needs associated with its advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) deployment. This contract is a major milestone in PHI's "Blueprint for the Future" initiative to meet the nation's energy and environmental challenges through a combination of energy efficiency programs and

new technologies.

PHI delivers electricity and natural gas to nearly 2 million customers in Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland and New Jersey.

The open architecture of IEE enables a utility to deploy a single enterprise repository to manage all types of metering-based data—interval, register and event data—collected from residential and commercial/industrial customer segments. In addition, PHI will deploy Revenue Protection Suite and Curtailment Manager to improve revenue assurance and peak load management capabilities. Both software products run on Itron's IEE platform.

Todd McGregor, process manager and AMI project sponsor, said it was critical for PHI to have a MDM system in place as PHI moves toward AMI technology.

"By deploying MDM in advance of our meters, we will be well positioned for a smooth AMI rollout and we will simplify the integration with all our systems," said McGregor. "Itron has been a long established partner with a good working knowledge of our operations."

With IEE Meter Data Management in place, PHI can improve business processes by reducing the cost and time to gather and reconcile meter data from multiple collection systems, while also streamlining IT infrastructure and improving data security. With its powerful validation, estimation and editing capabilities, IEE ensures the accuracy and consistency of the meter data for billing and downstream applications. IEE also interfaces to a suite of powerful analytical software applications for revenue assurance, demand response, customer care and more.

Itron Enterprise Edition is the leader in the marketplace, with more than 30 IEE MDM customers managing data from 23 million meters.

"Itron has the industry knowledge and depth of experience with the complexities of interval data from hundreds of successful MDM and MV-90 xi installations over the years," said Philip Mezey, senior vice president and Itron COO for North America. "IEE supports both mass market and C&I meters—the only MDM solution on the market today with that capability. We know where PHI wants to go, and we are pleased to provide the data management infrastructure to help ensure they achieve the strongest possible return on their AMI investment."

The Latest Thinking in Load Research

Dr. J. Stuart McMenamin, managing director of forecasting at Itron, recently made presentations at the AEIC Load Research Workshop (February 25-27) and the Western Load Research Association (WLRA) meeting (March 12-14). The presentations focused on the Impact of AMI on Forecasting and Load Research.

The presentation began with an overview of the typical interactions between financial forecasting and load research in the current

environment.

Dr. McMenamin discussed how load research data is used to improve financial forecasting models and also to support weather normalization and financial closing processes. Conversely, forecasting results, such as calendarized monthly sales, are used to improve load research estimates when ratio expansion is used. The presentation then proceeded to focus on changes in forecasting and load research functions likely to occur with the transition to AMI technologies and meter data management systems. The main conclusion was that with AMI data, there will be significant changes in standard load research processes and forecasting processes related to financial closing. Budget forecasting, weather normalization, and forecast variance analysis tasks will remain largely unchanged.

On April 29, 2008, Dr. McMenamin will present a one-hour free seminar titled Comparison of Load Research Expansion Methods. To register, visit www.itron.com/forecastingworkshops.