Both the meter transceiver and the reading transceiver send and receive radio signals. The meter transmits continuously, sending data every few seconds. This means that the meter is a transmitter only and the reading device is a receiver only. Data only travels from the meter transmitter to the reading receiver. It typically uses one-way communication for meter reading and two-way communication for programming functions.
The reading device is able to automatically collect a meter reading as the meter reader drives past the meter. The reading equipment includes navigational features provided by GPS and mapping software. Transmitters for satellites that collect meter data can be installed near existing meters.
The satellite AMR devices communicate with the utility meter for readings, then send the readings over a fixed or mobile satellite network. This AMR solution is particularly suited for regions with low geographic meter density, since it removes the need to send out field technicians and install fixed towers. These days, many smart meters are designed to transmit using Wi-Fi. They can be read using a drive-by local Wi-Fi handheld receiver. PLC is a type of fixed network system. Using this method, electronic data is transmitted over power lines back to the substation.
It is then relayed to a central computer. PLC systems are primarily used for electric meter reading since they work over the distribution network used to deliver electric power. Data networks such as the Orion Data Network provide a network of aerials that receive data in real-time from AMRss, allowing for true smart management of your utilities and buildings. Automated meter reading systems with the ability to read usage data remotely have multiple benefits for utilities, businesses and consumers.
Indeed, an increasing number of utility companies rely on remote access to consumption data as a part of the end-to-end connectivity that is increasingly important to their business processes. Having data captured more frequently than the billing cycle requires only enhances this value further. In this chapter, we summarise some of the benefits of AMRs. In the next few chapters, we look into specific benefits for water, gas and electricity utilities as well as business and commercial premises.
The number of water utilities transitioning to smart water solutions and automated water meter reading systems is growing as companies look to address:.
In this chapter, we discuss the specific benefits that can be realised by water utilities by installing AMR smart water solutions. This means that your water meter data is read and transmitted in real time instead of recorded manually. As water meters age, they can begin to slow down and lose accuracy by letting water pass through them without being metered. Ageing water meter infrastructure leaves many utilities covering the costs when accuracy drops and users are not billed correctly.
An AMR water meter system provides timely and accurate readings, capturing the consumption data in near real time. Collect water consumption data efficiently via walk-by, drive-by network or a combination of any of these methods. Automating the meter reading process eliminates the margin for human error and reduces human resource costs. Workers can also then be deployed into more critical roles. Leaks in the distribution system literally leak money for water utilities, so the faster they can be attended to, the better.
Having near real-time or even more frequent consumption data with a smart AMR water meter system allows you to identify leaks faster. Improving customer service is a top priority for water utilities. Accurate data and billing mean happier customers and faster closing of service calls. AMR smart meters for water also make it easier for customers to view, understand and manage their water consumption. For example, when a customer calls with a high water bill complaint, the representative can give him a complete picture of his consumption.
Accurate, regular consumption data helps water conservation managers and governments to better control and manage user consumption. In a water-stressed area, for example, customers could be placed on a personalised water budget depending on size. If customers exceed these allocations, they could be subject to higher water rates or penalties. AMR smart meters for water utilities help to lower carbon footprints by removing the need to go onsite to read meters and investigate certain problems.
By saving water, utilities can also reduce their carbon footprints and help meet net zero targets. This led to:. Smart metering uses wireless or other technology to record how much water is being used by a consumer and send the recorded data to a central point where billing can be carried ou and water monitoring can be managed. Smart metering for water involves replacing traditional water meters with smart water meters that negate the need for manual water readings.
Smart meters keep a real-time log of water consumption data, which is used for water monitoring and accurate billing. Yes, smart meters are available for water. Minor alterations may need to be carried out to the external pipework or internal plumbing, but smart water meter technology is readily available and is being implemented widely across the globe. An AMR water meter is a device that is retrofit onto a traditional meter, whereas a smart meter for water is a new meter with connected technologies built into it.
Most smarter water meters are fitted in an underground box near the property boundary that includes the principal stopcock. You can read the meter reading by opening the lid. You will see a digital display showing the number of cubic metres of water used, as well as some other data, depending on the smart water meter system.
One of the biggest water management problems for utilities and customers is inaccurate readings, which can result in inaccurate billing and many customer complaints. Because smart water meters rely on automated data taken at regular intervals in real time, the readings are more accurate than those taken sporadically using manual means.
A smart meter is more sensitive to low water flows than a traditional water meter, making it noticeably more accurate. Smart water metering systems are also able to prove in-depth reporting, which can also be automated. In addition, traditional water meters tend to lose accuracy over time. On average, the equipment must be replaced every years on average.
This provides actionable information to both consumers and utility staff and a better understanding of the quality and distribution of gas and electricity products. Utilities are then able to make improvements to their reliability and efficiency, leading to financial benefits for the company and improved customer satisfaction. If you have automated meter reading equipment, you may be able to read your electricity meter remotely, depending on the type of AMR system that you have in place.
If you have a smart electric meter, you should also be able to read your meter remotely. This is one of the main benefits of AMR and smart meter technology.
The rollout conditions of AMR meters depends on the supplier and regulations in the district. In most instances, however, the customer has a choice as to whether or not they would like to have an AMR meter installed. In the UK, government guidelines demand that all domestic buildings and small business premises must be offered the chance to receive a smart meter by In most places, new meter installations will only have AMR or smart metering technology.
Any kind of smart metering brings with it the potential for improved load management and long-term planning. Armed with more data, energy utilities could feed into regional and national grid analyses and help provide more reliable and consistent energy around the country. With more consumption data and analysis enabled by AMR and smart metering, gas and electricity utilities will be better prepared to deal with their own growth and scalability, as well as other external forces that impact energy delivery and the costs associated with it.
Many companies using AMIs that require sim cards for data transmission find difficulty in getting data coverage from a meter that is often in a basement or under the stairs and struggles to get network coverage. A low-power radio metering frequency like the Orion Data Network solves these communication issues. High-quality usage data could help gas and electricity providers locate outages faster and proactively attend to maintenance, rather than waiting for customers to report them.
Along with improved customer services, this can reduce the cycle time on repairs and bring down overall maintenance costs.
By eliminating manual errors and billing estimates, AMR technology helps utility providers ensure more accurate and timely energy bills. Fewer billing errors and bill adjustments reduce the need for re-billing; accurate data expedites the bill inquiries that account for a high percentage of customer service calls.
Uncertainty in energy supply and generation is likely to lead to additional costs being passed to distribution utilities. AMR metering solutions provide the tools and flexibility for utilities to pass these charges on to consumers.
AMR systems provide a clearer picture of gas and electricity consumption at different times of the day, week and year. Having this knowledge allows gas and electricity utilities to structure their pricing programmes and contracts accordingly, offering more flexible, mutually beneficial options to consumers, such as Time of Use TOU and Critical Peak Pricing CPP.
With AMR smart meters, gas and electricity utilities are able to blur the distinctions between meter reading and customer care. Before automated meter reading, the billing cycle would typically take weeks between reading and billing. With more rapid and even real-time access to consumption data with an AMR smart meter system, the lag time between reading and billing can be eliminated.
Customers who are able to see real-time usage and the corresponding spend are more likely to manage and reduce their consumption. Customers and gas and electricity utilities can work together to understand usage patterns and improve conservation opportunities. Building the business case for AMR smart meters depends on a host of variables, such as geographic area, utility type, customer profiles, local governments, and many more. For this reason, each utility should identify its own unique objectives for the implementation of AMR:.
For example, a utility with a remote service area may choose to implement an AMR system in the areas where it can realise the highest and quickest return on investment. To determine the potential benefits, a utility company needs a sound understanding of their operations, which aspects of automation will benefit them and where.
In this chapter, we outline some of the considerations for a business case for AMR. When utilities are only able to bill on a quarterly or bi-monthly basis, they typically have more accounts receivable issues due to larger customer bills. In contrast, more frequent, smaller bills can be easier for customers to manage. When it comes to disputes, the time between accurate readings makes it all the more difficult to collect money in arrears. AMR systems enable more regular more readings, and thus more regular billing.
Changing to monthly billing also results in increased cash flows. An AMR solution can significantly reduce — or even eliminate — estimated reads. In turn, this reduces the costs associated with re-billing accounts. Some utility companies provide summary bills to customers with multiple businesses within a specific service area. Water, gas and electricity utilities receive high volumes of customer enquiries.
With AMR technology in play, companies report:. While rolling out an AMR smart meter system, utilities have the opportunity to construct a new meter database with relevant fields and formatting. Keeping both employees and customers safe is a high priority. In addition, minimising exposure to dangerous situations helps utilities companies to avoid the potential negative ramifications of lawsuits. The more staff on the road, the more opportunities there are for an accident to occur.
By eliminating the need for manual meter readings, AMR smart metering helps to reduce security risks. The process of automation is known to deter theft of service if people are aware of a potential tamper monitor feature. In addition, more frequent and accurate energy usage and water leak information provided by an AMR system helps relevant parties to pick up on any abnormalities sooner.
Implementing an AMR system can help update ageing infrastructure. Over time, meters tend to run slower, resulting in utilities that go unaccounted and uncharged for.
Supplying energy during peak generation periods is more expensive. With the capability to provide customers with time-of-use pricing, AMR systems enable utilities to provide pricing options that encourage alternate usage patterns to avoid these expensive peak rates. When implementing new technology such as AMR, customers may be confused or wary and may need additional support. Customer service representatives will need to be educated on the new technology and processes.
Initially, during the rollout, call volumes could spike and extra resources may be required in the customer care department. To avoid overburdening the customer care centres, utilities companies will need to offer online information and tools to help consumers understand new billing options, analyse their usage and identify utility conservation opportunities. Proactive communication is critical to making an AMR rollout deliver on the financial promises of the original business case.
The transition from old processes the new will increase process complexity until such time that everyone is on the same system. Business owners, property managers and landlords are using AMR technology to put an end to estimated or visual meter reads.
Data from the AMRs can be sent directly to a smart building management dashboard. AMR meters for gas, electricity and water offer a number of additional features over traditional models:.
AMR smart metering system is an ideal solution for properties with multiple meters and businesses with multiple locations. With a look to the future, the AMR sub-metering industry is poised for further growth, with new AMR technologies being enhanced and developed to address a wider range of sub-metering applications.
AMR and smart metering applications with wireless applications bring exceptional value to utilities, businesses and consumers alike. Key to a successful implementation and operation are a strong connectivity approach, a combination of technologies, and a cost-effective and reliable solution.
Connected via our proprietary Orion Data Network, our smart AMR solutions mean that you no longer need a human to read your meters. Our network provides near real-time readings without sim-cards and without the need to request a reading from the meter.
Truly a smart system, this advanced metering infrastructure AMI approach dramatically improves efficiency and costs across your meter network. Real-time utility consumption monitoring so that you can see exactly how much you are consuming over any given period.
Highly scalable system that grows with your business. Collaborating with an experienced partner such as Smarter Technologies greatly enhances AMR success in deployment and ultimate results and return in investment.
Welcome to your complete guide to smart automated meter reading infrastructure. Smart meter market size. What is an AMR? Types of AMR Technologies. The Advantages of AMR. AMR for Water Utilities. AMR for Businesses and Landlords.
Smarter AMR Solutions. What is an automatic meter reading system? What is an AMR device? There are three categories of AMRs:.
All can automatically communicate their findings, removing the need for manual meter readings The difference lies in how each type is able to do this. Advanced Meters. Data Loggers.
Gas-Embedded Meters. Integrated directly into the meter itself. A brief history of AMR. What is AMR metering infrastructure? AMI infrastructure and AMR infrastructure typically consists of: A traditional utility meter An AMR device retrofit onto the traditional meter A data network that enables the real-time transfer of information An automated meter reading system application ideally cloud-based This automated metering infrastructure enables the collection and analysis of consumption data for water, gas or electricity, turning traditional meters into smart meters for businesses and domestic premises.
What is AMR? What is AMI? What is a smart meter? SMETS 1. Some businesses in the UK, particularly those based in large premises, will already be using similar technology — automated meter reading AMR devices. This technology has helped businesses throughout the UK closely monitor their energy usage and control costs. Despite certain similarities, AMR devices and smart meters perform differently, utilise distinct technologies and offer their own benefits.
All these different AMR devices create a remote communication channel between a business and its energy supplier. Right now, smart meters are being rolled out across the domestic and smaller non-domestic market. Unlike AMR devices, smart meters operate through a centralised data communication company.
To discover which type of smart meter you have, contact your energy supplier. Smart meters replace your existing energy meter, sending your energy supplier regular readings automatically. It is possible to stay up-to-date by reviewing your energy usage data online. If you have a SMETS1 meter and you switch supplier, it will continue to record your energy use but may no longer communicate information remotely.
It wakes up every half an hour to send a reading via the electricity meter. Like what you're reading? Sign up to our mailing list today and we'll send you a round-up of our best content each month In both cases, disregard any numbers after the decimal place. Press 9 on the keypad to see your reading. If you have a 2-rate meter, sometimes called Economy 7, to see your day and night readings, then you should do the following:.
Some meters only display day readings during the day and vice versa with night readings. Additionally, the readings may also be listed as Rate 1 and Rate 2, or Rate 1 and Rate 4. Which number is day and which is night varies from meter to meter — the guidance for your meter may be written on the meter itself, or it may say Low or L night and Normal or N day next to the readings.
Smart meters with such buttons are electricity meters. Press this button until you see the words Total Act Import. A reading should appear followed by kWh. Record both numbers; one is the day and one is the night reading, though which is which varies from meter to meter. Press it once more to show your readings.
By , all domestic properties and SME business premises will be offered the opportunity to have a smart meter installed. However, it is entirely at the discretion of the user whether or not to take up this offer. AMR devices will continue to be used in larger non-domestic businesses but the option to install either an AMR device or smart meter at smaller non-domestic business premises has been phased out since 21 May
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