AMI Infrastructure Study Determines Best Value in Smart Grid Technology

North Little Rock AMR to AMI Infrastructure Study

Which Smart Grid technology is right for your community?

The North Little Rock Electric Department (NLRED) in Central Arkansas provides power to 34,000 customers, whose non-automated meters must still be read manually, an inefficient use of manpower and transportation resources.

While AMRs (automated meter readers) could offset some of that monthly operating expense, they can only report consumption data. They can’t alert NLRED of power outages or other events requiring immediate attention—and they can’t receive or respond to diagnostic queries or other troubleshooting transmissions from maintenance personnel.

For that reason, NLRED is also exploring the next revolution in Smart Grid technology–an Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) system–as part of their Integrated Resource Master Plan.

AMI Systems: Two-Way Meter Communication, Improved Data Management, Expanded Consumer Options

Unlike AMRs that simply transmit meter readings to a central database, AMI units can also alert operations and maintenance personnel when and where attention is needed. System operators can remotely check the current status of any AMI site at any time. Meanwhile, the AMI and SCADA systems automatically maintain an accurate 24/7 historical database of infrastructure performance.

This workflow diagram shows the Smart Grid AMI functionality desired by NLRED

Brown Engineers helped NLRED evaluate numerous options to replace its non-automated meters with  a complete AMI system over the next three to five years, funded largely through an Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG).

While guiding NLRED through the maze of vendors and installation options available, it became clear that the expense of installing AMI units—and the related communication systems— at 34,000 sites could be daunting at best.

By requiring vendors to submit turnkey quotes on a load profile study for a sampling of AMI units in NLRED’s service area, we received more reliable cost estimates, as well as specific data about features and installation options, for a complete new system in future phases.

Brown Engineers then provided NLRED with our recommendations for a Smart Grid AMI system that offers the most effective life-cycle cost with the lowest number of backhaul leased lines.

Experience Pays Off

Our decades of SCADA* design experience and specialized expertise in cellular-based advanced monitoring systems helped us quickly evaluate the right Smart Grid technologies for North Little Rock.  If fully implemented, NLRED’s AMI system will impact all areas of the electric utility, from backend systems software integration for customer information and billing, to the end user’s in-home displays and home automation networks (HANs).

A well-designed AMI system could benefit the citizens of North Little Rock for years to come, by helping their electric department lower operating costs, improve communication, and increase system functionality for customers as well as the utility itself.

*Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition

Comments on this entry are closed.