Technical Seminar Presentation

AUTOMATIC METER READING

 TOPICS TO BE DISCUSSED
Technical Seminar Presentation

• What’s AMR?
• How does the system works? & its operating principle.
• Host Central Station Hardware And Software Requirements(HCS).
• Data Concentrator Unit(DCU).
• Multi-Channel Meter Interface Unit(MIU).
• Single Phase Meter Interface Unit(MIU).
• MIU FOR Water,Gas and Other Meters.
• Handheld Programming Unit(HPU).
• Benefits of AMR to the utilities' customer.
• AMR Function &Features.
 INTRODUCTION
• The meaning of AMR:
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 Automatic meter reading (AMR) is the collection

of, at a remote central location, data from
consumption meters located at customers’
premises via telecommunication links.

 The meters could measure gas, water or

electricity flow. These links could be Telephone
lines, powerline carrier communication (PLCC),
Radio frequency CATV etc.
 INTRODUCTION(contd.)
Technical Seminar Presentation

 Automatic Meter Reading (AMR) is a telephone-based,

calling outbound system, for utility control and reliable,
low-cost meter reading.

 With the use of AMR, the need of a person to visit the

consumer’s site and record the readings of the meters is
eliminated. This also prevents human errors in recording
the reading
 WHAT’S AMR
 AMR brings significant benefits to the customer by
Technical Seminar Presentation

providing increased meter-reading accuracy, fewer

estimated bills, rapid response to read requests, automatic
leak detection and billing options and provids detailed
usage information about individual sites, which allows the
utility to offer variable rates and encourage price-
responsive behavior among customers.
 AMR improves operational management by providing
just-in-time meter replacement, tamper detection, remote
access, and automatic scheduling of meter reading. In
short, AMR will optimize cost savings and maximize
efficiency for Anglian Water while providing improved
customer service.
 HOW DOES THE SYSTEM
WORKS?
Technical Seminar Presentation

The key to the system is a device called an ERT( Encoder-Receiver-Transmitter).


This device is connected directly to a special electronic register on the water meter.

Normally, the ERT does nothing - it "sleeps," waiting for the meter reader to approach.

The meter truck-mounted reading the device sends out a continuous "wake up" signal.

When an ERT receives the signal, it checks the reading on the meter register, encodes it into a digital signal,
 and begins transmitting its identification number and the current reading.
 HOW DOES THE SYSTEMS
WORKS?(contd.)
Technical Seminar Presentation

 After a few minutes, the ERT stops transmitting and goes

back "to sleep," waiting for the next time meter reading.
 The truck-mounted computer system matches the ERT
identification number with the property and records the
reading. At the end of the day, the meter reader unloads the
information to our billing system.
 AMR also need Meter Interface Unit (MIU).It responds to
calls initiated through the software installed on a PC. A
simple three-wire hook-up from the encoded register
provides input from the meters to the MIU.
 OPERATING PRINCIPLE
 To operate the AMR, Power Line Modem (PLM) is used,
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which transmits and receives data over the power line.

 The PLMs operate in a Half Duplex, two-way, Time
Division Multiplex communication mode.
 Both the MIU and the DCU contain the PLM device.
 The binary data stream is keyed onto a carrier signal by
means of the Frequency Shift Keying (FSK) technique.
 The central frequency is shifted +0.3KHz to represent 1 or
0 of the binary data stream. s then coupled onto the power
line by the PLM.
 At the receiving end, an identical PLM will detect the
signal and convert it back to a binary data stream. ode.
 AMR SYSTEM OVERVIEW
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• The remote Automatic Meter Reading (AMR) System is

a host driven, multi-level network system consisting of
a Host Central Station (HCS), Data Concentrator Units
(DCU) and Meter Interfacing Units (MIU), with built-in
flexibility and expandability.
 Host Central Station Hardware And Software Requirements(HCS).
 Data Concentrator Unit(DCU).
 Multi-Channel Meter Interface Unit(MIU).
 Single Phase Meter Interface Unit(MIU).
 Handheld Programming Unit(HPU).
Technical Seminar Presentation

BLOCK DIAGRAM OF AMR

 BENEFITS OF AMR TO UTILITIES
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 Reduced meter reading costs.

 Ability to access difficult-to-read meters.
 Improved customer service.
 Reduced percentage of estimated bills.
 Improved meter reader safety.
 Implementation of real-time pricing.
 Reduced read-to-bill time.
 Distribution automation.
 Improved fraud detection.
 AMR OVER CONVENTIONAL
METER READING
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Obtain more easily initial and final meter readings for opening and closing accounts.
Streamline high bill investigations.
Help pinpoint system losses.
 Help detect theft of service.
 Enable more frequent readings with little incremental cost.
 Enable custom billing dates.
 Support customized rates (e.g. for large customers).
 Provide detailed consumption information to customers.



 AMR OVER CONVENTIONAL
METER READING(contd.)
Technical Seminar Presentation

 Provide watchdog service, like leakage monitoring.

 Improve revenue forecasting by tying detailed
consumption information to production data and expected
billings.
 Aid in rate design.
 Reduce bill adjustments.
 Meters can be read even in case the homes are locked.
 
 IMPLEMENTATION OF
PROPER AMR SCHME
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 Telephone lines
 Powerline carriers
 Radio Frequencies (VHF/UHF etc)
 Cable Television (CATV) cables
 Bluetooth
 General Packet Rad
 AMR Function &
Features
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 Time of Use and Meter Reading

 Self-diagnostic and Status Reporting
 Networking and System Hierarchy
 Data Communication and Other Functions
 Compatibility with water and gas metering systems
 Use of Ethernet LAN/ Internet for Remote Meter
Reading and Data Management.
 CONCLUSION
Technical Seminar Presentation

 Since automatic meter reading is all about “Reading a utility

meter without the requirement for visual inspection of the
meter”, it is indeed an easy and fail-safe method for
monitoring consumption details of a customer.
 Automatic Meter Reading can detect meter tampering and
illegal drawing of power (hooking/power pilfering).
 AMR as a way of improving customer service while reducing
the cost of reading meters.
 The Automatic Meter Reading system enables us to save
millions of dollars every year in meter reading costs and also
provide our customers with better information about water use,
more accurate billings, and keep rates as low as we can.
Technical Seminar Presentation

THANK YOU!!!
 REFERENCE
Technical Seminar Presentation

• www.esu.org.com
• www.archnetco.com
• www.neptunety.com
• www.powermin.com