amr technology then and now
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AMR Technology then and now. Metering, Billing CRM/CIS Middle East February 2, 2005 Jason Lewis & Amos Tsikayi. Profile. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
AMR Technologythen and now
Metering, Billing CRM/CIS Middle East
February 2, 2005
Jason Lewis & Amos Tsikayi
Profile
FirstPoint Energy Corporation (FirstPoint) transforms energy, water, natural gas and sub metered interval data into efficiency solutions that maximize resource and cost savings. The technical solutions include an enterprise-wide data management warehouse platform; data acquisition and management services; energy information services via Web-based presentation, and automated meter reading (AMR) including remote interval meter data collection hardware and software. The company boasts more than a dozen patents related to AMR and is one of the pioneers of telephone-based data collection technology.
FirstPoint is managed and staffed by energy and utility professionals, and it is one of the few companies in the U.S. certified as a meter services provider (MSP) and meter data management agent (MDMA). Additional services include advanced metering, site evaluations, and demand-side consulting services.
From the corporate headquarters in Portland, Oregon, FirstPoint runs the development, engineering and manufacturing of its COMPASS Data Management Warehouse, DAS Data Acquisition Services, EIS Energy Information Services, and AMR Automated Meter Reading. FirstPoint is owned by TSG Equity Partners, LLC, located in Stow, Massachusetts.
Experience
FirstPoint is unique in that its product offerings incorporate all phases of the data acquisition and management process. The company ' s portfolio includes AMR meter-interface hardware and software, proprietary data acquisition, management and warehousing software, and specialized metering services that facilitate data acquisition and system implementation of leading customer information systems. FirstPoint's products are known throughout the industry for accuracy, flexibility, scalability and value.
FirstPoint has more than 500,000 installations (patented hardware technologies) worldwide of its automated metering technology and software solutions. Its customer base exceeds 100, and includes utilities, energy service providers, organizations, institutions and end-users. Among users of the FirstPoint’s product are: Portland General Electric, APSES (Arizona Public Service Energy Services), The Portland (OR) Water Bureau, Strategic Energy, Kroeger Foods, the City of San Francisco Public Utilities, Eugene (Ore.) Water and Electric Board, City of Ipswich Mass., City of Longmont CO. and EPCOR Water Services.
Old Paradigm
Customer reviews weeks laterUtility reads meters once a month
day 1 day 30
Utility records monthly consumption, assembles information, issues monthly bills.
30 reads laterMonday AM –Consume energy
New Paradigm
Tuesday AM – Have Answers
Utility retrieves interval data in support of billing, load research, demand side management, etc.
Resulting benefits: Reduced cost, accelerated cash flow, increased customer retention, and increased billing accuracy
FirstPoint Mission
FirstPoint is dedicated to providing hardware and software solutions that enable utilities and end use customers to make vital business decisions, reduce cost, and increase revenue through interval data.
Strategic Partnerships
• Al Yamama • Davies Northern• SLC/RIO• Kells Innovations• nPhasys• AMR Systems• Datamatic
Representative FirstPoint Clients(Electric, Water, and Gas)
IOUs Munis End Users
PGE Ipswich Kroger
PPL Sioux City APSES
PG&E Hartford MDC
Johnson Controls
Only FirstPoint provides a family of products and services that effectively bridges the gap between you and your data…and delivers it when and how
you need it.
Hardware Software Services
• An AMR leader for more than a quarter of a century
• Holds more than a dozen patents for AMR technology
• Deployed the first community wide system in the U.S.
• Developed the first dial inbound system
Hardware Software Services
• Monitors gas, water, electric, and sub-meteringMonitors gas, water, electric, and sub-metering• Cost-effective – one device serves up to four Cost-effective – one device serves up to four
independent metersindependent meters• Self-powered with field replaceable batterySelf-powered with field replaceable battery• Universal meter compatibilityUniversal meter compatibility• General purpose I/O ports to support remote General purpose I/O ports to support remote
connect/disconnectconnect/disconnect• Multi-host capabilitiesMulti-host capabilities• Multiple communication options (Telephone, Multiple communication options (Telephone,
Radio Frequency, Ethernet, Power Line Carrier)Radio Frequency, Ethernet, Power Line Carrier)
Built with flexibility in mind:Built with flexibility in mind:
Hardware Software Services
A new generation of AMR products
TDS-2 TDS-4M
Hardware Software Services
Telephone
• Ability to read up to four meters with one device• Compatible with all major electric, water, and gas
meters (pulse and encoded signals)• Collects interval data down to 5 minutes• Patented off-hook detect circuit allowing for
shared line applications• Offers real-time power outage and tamper
notification• MV-90 compatible
Hardware Software Services
Ethernet
• Provides real-time access to meter data• Compatible with all major electric, water,
and gas meters (pulse and encoded signals)• Available Wi-Fi capability Auto-sensing integrated 10/100 Mbit
network interface (RJ-45) Power over Ethernet
Hardware Software Services
Radio Frequency
• Highly scalable with multiple configuration options (walk-by, drive-by, fixed area network, or combination)
• License free band• Collectors can be used as Wi-Fi access
points for laptops, PDAs, etc.
Hardware Software Services
Remote Connect/Disconnect
• 50 to 200 Amp service• Extended service life (over 50,000 cycles)• Fully integrated into AMR Software• Optional pager driven technology
Hardware Software Services
Power Line Carrier
• Two-way communication• Can be embedded into electric meter for Can be embedded into electric meter for
rapid deploymentrapid deployment• Compatible with RF reading software Compatible with RF reading software
allowing for mixed technologies that can be allowing for mixed technologies that can be read with a single softwareread with a single software
Hardware Software Services
Hardware Features Summary
Telephone Ethernet Radio Frequency
Power Line Carrier
Read up to 4 Meters
Interval Data
Two-way Communication
Demand Read
Field Replaceable Battery
Hardware Software Services
FirstPoint offers a suite of software applications that handle data acquisition, storage and distribution.These products include:• Compass • Mozart/TDM• SRAC• nPointe
ServicesHardware Software Services
COMPASS• Provides customizable interval data processingProvides customizable interval data processing • Creates centralized meter data management system Creates centralized meter data management system
enabling easy accessenabling easy access • Integrates all energy information requirements for you Integrates all energy information requirements for you
and your customersand your customers• Secure access for internal use and external data accessSecure access for internal use and external data access• Supports multiple ‘head-end’ meter polling softwareSupports multiple ‘head-end’ meter polling software• Supports multiple data publishing needsSupports multiple data publishing needs• Delivers performance reporting and process status Delivers performance reporting and process status
reportingreporting
Hardware Software Services
Hardware Software Services
MV-90 QuadlogicTDMSiemensHuntABB
AMR SERVERS
Billing SettlementCSRCIS
Customer 1 Customer 3Customer 2
COMPASS SYSTEM
Internet
COMPASS SERVER
EISWEB SERVER
DATA WAREHOUSE
INTERNAL BUSINESS SYSTEMS
DMZ
PUBLIC ACCESS
LEGENDAMR Automated Meter ReadingCIS Customer Inf ormation Sy stemCSR Customer Serv ice AgentDMZ Demilitarized zoneEIS Energy Inf ormation Sy stemGUI Graphical User Interf ace
Forecasting Load Research
Compass Web Server
Web Based GUI(Compass Operator)
COMPASS SYSTEM OVERVIEW
Hand held/Manualmeter readsCommSTAR
FirstPoint PGE Install
Hardware Software Services
Pager Network
AMR Server
P+4 Handheld
M32 (Sm artSynch)1,700 Meters
Itron P+4800K Meters
MV901300 Meters
Van
Apartm ents
C om pass
Intervals
Intervals
Readings
Intervals
Hunt3,500 Meters
Reading andInterval data
PowerlineCarrier
Mview75 Meter
P ilot
Readi
ngs
Inte
rval
s
Banner C IS
Load Research
SB1149
SystemPlanning
E-M anager
Custom er DataRequests
Com plex B illing
Interval data
Energy Monitor
P B S
In te rface 73
In te rface 23
F orcas ting
E xce le rgy
S e ttlem en t
E S S
O S I-P I
S iE nergy
C ustomE xports
C us tomE xports
S A S
RF Network
W EB Front EndW in 2000 Server
Com paq ProLiant DL360x86 Fam ily 6 Model 8 S tepping
6 GenuineIntel ~797 Mhz
Com pass ServerSun Enterprize 5500
6X400 Mhz6 GbUnix
Oracle 8I database900 G ig storage
PL/SQL applicationC for the incom ing
Interfaces
Mozart/TDM
• Versatile data acquisition softwareVersatile data acquisition software• Supports multiple communication types Supports multiple communication types
(Telephone, TCPIP, Satellite, and Cellular)(Telephone, TCPIP, Satellite, and Cellular)• Support inbound and outbound Support inbound and outbound
communicationcommunication• Easily exports data into other systems Easily exports data into other systems
(Billing, CIS, Load Management)(Billing, CIS, Load Management)
Hardware Software Services
SRAC
• Developed to support outbound telephone reads
• Scalable to read several hundred thousand meters
• Utilizes cutting edge technology to manage and route outbound calls
• Eliminates need for specialized telephone company equipment
Hardware Software Services
nPointe
• Complex billing system designed exclusively for electrical utilities, energy service providers and large Commercial and Industrial (C&I) customers
• Ideal for all utilities in need of a structured C&I billing engine, for rate prototyping and what-if scenarios, and C&I customers for supplier auditing purposes
Hardware Software Services
BillingEngine
GUI
CustomerInformation
RatesSchedule
TOUSchedule
Meter ReadAnd/or
Consumption
TOUMV-90
IntervalMV-90 PRN
DeterminantsData & Reports
Archive
ExportTo
External Systems
Bill
nPointe
FirstPoint offers the following services:FirstPoint offers the following services:
• DData ata AAcquisition cquisition SServices ervices • EEnergy nergy IInformation nformation SServiceervice• Software Support ServicesSoftware Support Services• Installation ServicesInstallation Services• TrainingTraining
Hardware Software Services
Data Acquisition Services (DAS)
• In-house meter operations expertiseIn-house meter operations expertise• Daily reads web-based for instant accessDaily reads web-based for instant access• Brand-able web-sites for Brand-able web-sites for youryour customers’ customers’
convenienceconvenience• Secure data access via PINSecure data access via PIN• Certified and tested capabilities meet all utility Certified and tested capabilities meet all utility
standards in CA, AZ and other states as they standards in CA, AZ and other states as they deregulatederegulate
• Uses proprietary and MV-90 softwareUses proprietary and MV-90 software• Results in billing-quality dataResults in billing-quality data• Data storage for minimum 3 yearsData storage for minimum 3 years
Software Services
Hardware Software Services
Web Based EIS
• Web-based EIS data presentations• Brand-able platforms• Reliable delivery of accurate and secure usage
information to end-use customers 7X24• Raw meter data becomes dynamic information Raw meter data becomes dynamic information
leading to effective energy managementleading to effective energy management• Creates a web-based presence for your companyCreates a web-based presence for your company• Becomes a value-added service that Becomes a value-added service that
strengthens your customer relationshipsstrengthens your customer relationships
Hardware Software Services
Data becomes a dynamic tool for you and your customers through EIS!
Hardware Software Services
SummaryFirstPoint products and services offer the following benefits:• Reduce demand• Conduct dynamic load profiling• Provide value-added products & services• Create a branded e-business presence• Manage curtailment better• Improve asset utilization• Enhance meter reading accuracy & frequency• Increase cash flow• Improve customer response & relations• Reduce data collection costs • Increase operational efficiency