Gas utilities are considering advanced metering infrastructure programs to enhance operational efficiencies, customer service and safety and energy conservation. However, some utilities have to improvise when it comes to making the switch to AMI.

 In some cases, leveraging existing technology has proved most beneficial to the deployment of new technologies. In other cases negative media attention has caused several utilities to reconsider how they communicate the deployment to their customers. The goal is the same, but the path to deployment can vary.

This article highlights the Autovation Gas Session from Monday, Sept 26. Read on to learn how two resourceful utilities used improvisational methods to get the job done efficiently and effectively.

Leveraging the Value of Gas Datalogging

Brad Anderson, AMR project manager, Alabama Gas Corporation (Alagasco), shared how advanced AMR systems bring value beyond periodic meter reading. Anderson explained how Alagasco leverages additional information collected during the readings to better serve the customers.

Alagasco is a natural gas distributor, providing clean-burning, energy-efficient natural gas to roughly 440,000 homes, businesses and industries throughout Alabama. Beginning in March 2010, Alagasco partnered with Itron for a three-year deployment to implement AMR within the territory to approximately 497,000 meters.

Anderson described the datalogging collection components and their capabilities:

• The datalogging module is capable of transmitting up to 40 days of daily or hourly read data.
• Utilities can collect 40 days of daily consumption data at normal drive-by speeds.
• Utilities can request a specific day’s read for a move-in/out scenario at normal drive-by speeds.
• Utilities can collect 40 days of hourly data, which doesn’t slow down speed.

Anderson said that in order to store the data being collected, Alagasco’s existing data warehouse system was used for storage of the meter reading data.

How does this datalogging work? It’s actually “built in” so “no additional configuration is needed to enable datalogging of hourly and daily data,” said Anderson. Each meter receives a datalogging gas module programmed for its unique configuration. Then, a mobile collector vehicle is utilized, which requires no additional configuration for monthly reading sessions.

Once the data is collected, it is viewable from within the software client along with the periodic (SCM) reading used for billing. Utilities can organize the datalogging per individual route or universally on all meters.

When implementing this, utilities can reap the biggest benefits if they leverage existing data warehousing, business intelligence infrastructure and staff experience. According to Anderson, in choosing the data collection system, Alagasco was able to specify the datalogging class module as its standard module to be deployed company wide. There was “no noticeable impact to drive-by speeds.”

Datalogging collection allows Alagasco to leverage daily consumption data comparable to AMI systems while enjoying the ROI of an AMR drive-by system:

• Datalogging returns important information regarding ERT configuration with every drive-by read.
• Verification of BPI/ Electronic Correctors by comparison of daily readings and consumption of the corrected module vs. uncorrected module.
• Back office and customer service groups use daily read data for various customer accounting tasks.
• Datalogging gives the commercial marketing group access to daily consumption information on all of the commercial and industrial customers.

Anderson closed with important information to consider for those interested in leveraging datalogging. Here are a few of his points:

• MDM (meter data management) software application or a third party warehouse/data analytics package will be required.
• Work with the IT department to determine what is the best solution for long-term data storage needs.
• Set accurate expectations for stakeholders in regards to datalogging.

Building the Business Case for AMI and Natural Gas

Atmos Energy Corporation, the nation’s largest pure natural gas distribution company, serves 3.2 million customers in 12 states. David Anglin, director regulated operations, Atmos, explained the differences between gas AMI and electric smart meters:

• Gas meters are decades old, proven measurement devices.
• The same meter remains in place with a wireless transmitter attached to the meter.
• The index from the existing meter is reinstalled on the AMI device.
• Ultimate use of data differs substantially from electric AMI.

Anglin explained that negative media coverage of AMI deployment in Texas led to a new way of implementing changes for Atmos: “We created a new term for the technology” that was self-explanatory. Whenever referencing the new technology in public, they said Wireless Meter Reading (WMR) instead of AMI. This term, according to Anglin, covers a broader range of technology and takes away nothing from the features and capabilities of the system.

So how was the WMR utilized for Atmos? Anglin described the data collection model:

• SmartPoints collect hourly readings
• Transmit every four hours
• Daily reading success rate was 99.4%
• Post one daily read to CIS

The benefits to using this system are:

• Bills are produced with readings from the day of the bill
• Customer access to daily usage online allows for more control, leads to higher acceptance from customers

This new technology also has a great benefit to utilities, said Anglin, because it allows for smaller, tactical deployment. In the near future, utilities will enjoy remote gas shutoff, pressure monitors communicated across WMR network, and cathodic protection voltage collection across WMR network.

Attention gas utility professionals: please share your technology experiences (challenges and successes) with your peers. There are several ways you can do this:

• Submit an abstract for Autovation 2012, Sept. 30-Oct. 3 in Long Beach, Calif. The Call for Speakers deadline is Jan. 13, 2012.
• Provide a byline article for News Link or agree to be interviewed by News Link staff for an article. Or, submit a blog post. Contact Janice Greenberg.
• Consider hosting a regional learning lab or participating in a webcast. Contact Debby Scheck.
• Start a discussion on the Utilimetrics LinkedIn Group

We look forward to hearing from you!