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Wi-Fi for automated meter reading (AMR) Utility Meter Reading
The last two decades have seen many advances in the efficient transfer of electric, gas and water meter data to system responsible for billing and the analysis of utility data. These “automatic meter reading” systems have in many cases alleviated the need for the ubiquitous meter reader, but in most cases have simply made the job much more efficient. AMR technologies include handheld, mobile and network technologies based on telephony platforms (wired and wireless), radio frequency (RF) or powerline transmission.
The limiting characteristic of AMR is that it is inherently one-way. Other forms of AMR allow for limited two-way applications, including MV-90, a multi-vendor standard for commercial and industrial metering. The future direction of the utility meter is termed “AMI” for advanced metering infrastructure, which promises to implement systems for commercial, industrial and residential applications which can assist the customer in optimizing energy usage to benefit the customer economically as well as contributing to a more efficient and “green” utility.
AMI requires two-way connectivity and a reliable communications infrastructure, both deliverable from a WiFi system. Although AMR and AMI are inherently low-bandwidth applications, WiFi effectively translates that feature into better link performance, hence better range from WiFi access points to meter devices.
The utility environment can also benefit from a WiFi system built for AMR/AMI in that the surplus bandwidth is well suited to support field communications and mobile data terminals for a number of applications, from computer-aided dispatch to remote geographic information system access.
In the utility distribution system, WiFi lends itself to extending monitoring and control aspects of distribution well outside the traditional boundaries of the substation or other distribution entities.
STI is working with SmartSynch®, a pioneer in the application of WiFi technologies to metering, to bring WiFi, AMR and AMI to utility customers.