In January 2008, the European Commission announced a set of targets, proposing a 20% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, 20% increase in renewable energy, and 20% improvement in energy efficiency by 2020.
In order to achieve whatever efficiency in delivery, distribution and consumption of energy resources, to be possible to even manage this processes, information is needed:
Information to Supplier how much, where and how it is consumed, lost, stolen;
Information to Customer how much, where and how he consumes and how he can gain if he saves or consumes in different hour zone;
This requires a new generation infrastructure, which can provide this two-way communication in real time.
General structure of a SMM (Smart Metering and Management) System.
System Center for remote billing and management
This is the heart of the system. It collects, stores data long-term, processes (all kind of analysis), so that the operators of the system can receive information in suitable form: data for billing system, breakdowns and emergency information, information about frauds and theft attempts etc. Naturally it is deployed in the protected zone of the Supplier IT network observing the rules for data security and providing secure access to the System and system data.
Communication
Generally this would mean building of independent network to transfer information. But when it comes to electricity you already have built networks (electricity distribution) for transmission of electric signals. So building a new one seams unpractical at the least. Standards for Power Line Communication (PLC) have been developed to enable transfer of information over the existing electricity distribution network. Regarding water, gas and heat in general the optimal solution is to use RF communication devices without additional cabling .
There are two main challenges: reliability and speed.
Reliability means guaranteed transfer of information to its receiver. The information signal is a low energy signal in the up to 500 kHz band modulated over the the low voltage signal in the electricity network and any kind of electromagnetic signal (noise) in this frequency bad can interfere the signal distribution. In that regard the condition of the network: wires without bad isolation, absence of bad connections (not tightened, not isolated), quality fuses etc is an extreme advantage.
In the case of RF communication ''mesh'' networks are used where every end-point device has connection with its neighbors and uses advanced algorithms so that if the main communication route fails due to everchanging conditions it can find alternative route to send and receive information.
Speed is necessary to insure data transfer and automatic system support: over-the-air firmware update/upgrade. New standard for PLC is developed at present: Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) to ensure higher speed and reliability.
At the end the System infrastructure on that level consists of a set of communication devices to transfer data from the end-points (Customers) to system center and configurations and commands from the System Center to the end-points.
End points
The meters (as they are still called) perform a lot more as part of the System than simply to measure consumption. The meter in the SMM System is the unit that turns on/off restricts and protects the Customer to the System. Aside from execution of commands from the System operators, the meter should be able to work on its own (when there is no connection to the System Center due to breakdowns or emergencies in the network) to store consumption data, to signal for emergencies (loses, fraud attempts and thefts).
Advantages
1.Substantially reducing the loss of Provider
- The effect comes from the ability of the system to report any attempts at theft and manipulations.
- Created by us electrometer NP-06 TD MME.1F.1SMxP-U, with measurement and in teh neutral, which received a gold medal at the International Autumn Fair Plovdiv in 2008, allows for the detection and reporting of losses from bad grounding, faulty electrical installations in buildings and of improper connections. - The ability of the system to balance out by installation of balancing meters in the electrical transformers, gives more opportunity for loss and theft attempts recognition.
2.Essentially reduce the cost of reporting(billing) and the costs of inclusion and exclusion of irregular users. - At-risk neighborhoods there are frequent complaints from employees and technical offices of the local population attempts to impede their work. Often requires the use of special police and security firms to ensure opportunity for employees of the supplier to meet their obligations. Through remote sensing systems, inclusion and exclusiondemand-side management installed by the "ADD Bulgaria, these problems are avoided completely. - Avoid direct salary costs of collector employees - Avoid full cost of transport, crane and direct costs of. exclusion and inclusion of non-regular subscribers.
3.Undoubtedlyincrease in collection
- Because of technological impossibility, at present exclude irregular payers in big risk neighborhoods is carrying a group targets transformers or individual branches of transformers only. This imported a element of injustice to the regular contributors, caused mass non-payment.
The Systems of "ADD Bulgaria" allowing an individual inclusion and exclusion for subscribers by the remote control center.
4.Mode "credit" and "prepay" -The System of "ADD GRUP" mode allows the introduction of "Credit" and "Prepayment" billing directly through the system. The introduction of the system"Prepayment", allows to achieve 100% collection where. necessary.
5.Enable users to control their consumption ON-LINE.
- Users have ability to monitor their consumption in real-time and take adequate measures to control and reduce their expenditure on electricity. - Suppliers have the opportunity to receive information in real time and to make up there actual schedules for load up ,in terms of implementation of EU directives on energy efficiency and achieve the optimum price of supplied electricity.
