The needs of water utilities are evolving rapidly. Whether water conservation is a primary driver or minimizing non-revenue water is the goal, utilities need fast, accurate water usage data in order to better manage and optimize their operations. Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) and meter data management systems (MDM) provide the solution to these objectives and, as a result, interest in and installations of these systems are rapidly increasing.
In a study conducted by Zpryme and the Smart Water Summit (2014 US Smart Water Utility Report) surveying 75 utilities across the United States, it was found that the most important technologies for smart water systems include smart meters (76%), data and analytics (69%), and meter data management systems (55%). As evidenced by this study, utilities continue to adopt new technology for improved analytics-based decision-making capabilities.
While this technology evolution can provide great benefits, it has historically presented the utility with a new set of operational challenges, particularly related to the management of AMI communications infrastructure and analytics software and hardware. Moreover, as documentedin the Zpryme study, 56% of utilities surveyed did not have plans to hire new technology-skilled personnel in the near future. To address those utilities with technology skills gaps in their workforce, newer business models and more intuitive technologies are making it easier to take advantage of smart metering in their systems.
Infrastructure Management
One of the newest approaches to making many metering technologies accessible, user-friendly, and cost-effective is Advanced Metering Analytics (AMA). Features of this new meter data management approach include built-in infrastructure management services to keep current with rapid changes in technology, hosted cloud-based software suites, and built-in customer service tools.
When offered as part of a “managed solution,” AMA allows the utility to focus on its core competency, while the technology provider assumes responsibility for operation and maintenance of network gateways, and computer hardware and software applications.
The provider installs and maintains the network gateways, allowing the utility to remove itself from the responsibility of installation and maintenance of everything except the meters and endpoints. With this approach, the software applications are “hosted” by the solutions vendor.
In the traditional approach, the utility usually assumes responsibility for implementing and managing the system. Historically, this includes utility-owned and -maintained infrastructure in which data collectors or network gateways are permanently installed on building roofs, light poles, water towers, or other structures. This requires the utility to develop new skills to manage and maintain these systems.
In contrast, in a managed system, the solutions provider assumes the responsibility for operation and maintenance of the system beyond the meters and meter communications endpoints. This approach provides a flexible solution that reduces the number of resources required to operate and maintain the meter reading system. Free from the burden of maintaining gateways, climbing utility poles, or spending hours in front of the computer trying to troubleshoot software, utility personnel can be deployed to support other critical areas of the utility operation.
Advances in endpoint technology now make AMA system deployment even easier within a managed solution. New cellular endpoints, utilizing existing cellular network technology, are now being deployed with the potential to reduce the number of utility-owned gateways, or even eliminate them altogether. Once available only for electric meter services, new cellular water endpoints allow for quick deployment of targeted implementations, or full-scale roll-outs. Using cellular networks is safe and secure. Often following a natural disaster, cellular networks prove very disaster resilient or—because they are required by emergency personnel—are often the first systems restored. This reliability ensures the utility is in position to determine the health and viability of the water network.
Future Proofing With the Cloud
Web-based software services, more commonly called cloud computing or Software as a Service (SaaS), are a key component of many managed solution business models. Known for their convenience and efficiency, cloud platforms are being implemented globally by users in virtually all types of organizations, including manufacturing, government, services and retail, as well as water, gas, and electric utilities. Cloud-based software services are bringing about rapid and diverse changes to how a water utility operates and how data is used. As new systems often require new technology resources to operate and support, utilities are finding cloud computing to be a viable alternative to investing in server-based MDM systems. Cloud-based, or SaaS, platforms share several major characteristics:
- Quick to deploy
- No hardware to purchase
- Experts maintain the system so utilities can focus on their core competency
- Automatically implemented software updates
- Rapid elasticity or expansion capability as the utility’s needs change
- Subscription pricing provides a pay-as-you-go option
These characteristics allow organizations to rapidly build IT resources through cloud-based software services, making it easier and less costly to adapt to changing utility requirements. The software applications are “hosted” by the solutions vendor in secure data centers, eliminating the need to install and maintain computer hardware and software at the utility. The utility simply has to provide a personal computer with a web browser to access the secure application software via the Internet. Having the software and data hosted offsite also leaves the utility’s critical metering data less susceptible to natural disasters. With a utility-hosted analytics system, a power outage at the utility site could have a major impact on availability and accessibility of metering data. With a hosted system, nothing is lost.
Historically, MDM systems often required software updates, and on occasion, a completely new version of software to be purchased and installed. With the increased functionality, more users within the utility may require access, often meaning additional licenses to be purchased.
However, with cloud-based systems, the solutions provider automatically updates the software, requiring no effort on the part of the utility. In addition, the costs of these software improvements are included in the base subscription, meaning the utility can always be current with the most advanced software features, without additional cost or effort.
Proactive Consumer Communications
In today’s increasingly on-demand world where consumers are used to tracking virtually every aspect of their lives, water usage data available at the click of a button has proven to be very appealing for customer-focused utilities looking to save money and resources. To meet conservation and customer service initiatives, consumer engagement websites and smartphone/tablet apps are the latest features being offered as part of an AMA-managed solution.
Customers want greater direct access to their water usage data. This is being driven by corporate water customers, aiming to decrease their costs and market their sustainability initiatives. It’s also being driven by conservation-minded residential customers who want to make educated decisions when using water. Consumer engagement tools that provide data the way customers want to access it gives the customer greater visibility over their own water usage, putting them in a position to directly manage consumption.
Water management features typically available through utility apps include graphics showing recent usage, with a comparison against average usage; usage trends; detailed charting of historical usage; a leak alert function; and recommendations to conserve water, with the ability to set up a customized profile to receive personalized tips and access to a savings calculator. Users can also set up a profile with specific criteria. Using this criteria, users will be alerted if they go over their allotted monthly water use, or if the system detects unexpected, continuous flow or a spike in usage that could indicate a potential leak.
If and when customers dispute their water bills, the speed and ease with which utilities can address and resolve their customers’ questions will directly affect satisfaction levels, and the real staff costs involved in the time it takes to address the dispute. Advanced Metering Analytics puts data at the fingertips of the utility employees who need it. It also allows for easy customer communication through tools that show, for example, water usage by the hour, correlation of precipitation, and average temperature.
This detailed information has been a huge benefit to the Bethpage Water District in New York. Michael Boufis, superintendent, says the driving force behind their upgrade to an AMI fixed network system was to better serve customers. “We wanted to be able to detect potential leaks quicker, so we can alert customers faster. We also wanted to be able to respond to customer billing questions with more detailed consumption information to avoid disputes.”
Conclusion
Advances in AMI and analytics solutions mean that water utilities can now enjoy all of the benefits of Advanced Metering Analytics systems, without the operational and technology concerns that have traditionally been part of implementing a system. The managed solution model also provides a flexible and cost-effective way for utilities to deploy AMA. These advancements will help provide greater visibility of water usage and better management of the utility’s water system, while also providing better service to its customers. In addition, available solutions will help utility managers ensure that the decisions they make now will continue to pay dividends over the long-term.
