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March 1, 2007
Trade In Your Handhelds, Public Power Magazine, March-April 2007
| For More Information |
Tim Blodgett
Hometown Connections
303-526-4515
tblodgett@hometownconnections.com
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Upgrade to Advanced Metering over Power Lines
Many public power utilities are learning that their current suppliers will no longer support their installed inventory of handheld meter reading units. Rather than invest in replacement handsets and related equipment with limited functionality, utility managers are upgrading their meter reading capabilities by turning to the TWACS® (Two-Way Automatic Communication System) by Distribution Control Systems Inc. (DCSI) for full-feature advanced metering over power lines. To support the transition to the TWACS fixed network system, Hometown Connections and DCSI are offering a trade-in credit of $2,000 per handheld reader, up to a maximum credit of $10,000 per utility when the utility purchases a TWACS system by the end of 2007. The offer is available only to American Public Power Association members.
With more than 13 million devices installed or committed, DCSI of St. Louis, Mo., has manufactured and marketed the field-proven TWACS technology for more than 25 years. The TWACS system is a fixed network utility communication system that uses patented technologies to communicate over electric power lines to electric meters and other endpoint devices. TWACS-capable meters can also be equipped with a short-hop radio frequency (RF) module for communications from water and gas meters back to the electric meter, offering a complete solution for utilities providing multiple services. In addition, there is no need for repeaters, jumpers or blocking devices on the distribution lines. This eliminates any need for ongoing maintenance or tuning of the communications system.
The TWACS system’s outage assessment and restoration feature improves the efficiency of finding power outages and verifying subsequent restoration. It provides customer service representatives with information to respond quickly and accurately to high bill complaints, special read requests or payment problems. The TWACS Net Server computer hardware and software manage all collected metering and interval data. With help from TWACS personnel, a utility installs or supervises installation of the TWACS components into the utility substations. These new components provide the technology necessary to upload and download information between the utility, meters and other remote devices. When a utility implements the two-way automatic communication system, one of the first steps is the installation of remote transponders in all meters. This installation can be done in two ways. Either, new meters are fitted with transponders and then installed at remote locations, or existing meters are retrofitted with the TWACS transponders.
The system is compatible with most residential and commercial meters.
Once installed, the utility has direct two-way communication with all field devices via substation equipment. Advanced applications using open architecture interfaces include:
• AMI/AMR,
• remote connect/disconnect of meters,
• interval data,
• load control for demand-response and load management operations,
• time-of-use for critical peak pricing,
• prepayment metering, in-home display,
• line-voltage monitoring, and
• outage assessment/restoration monitoring.
“Our staff members and channel partners, as well as the staff of Hometown Connections, are speaking with APPA members daily about their goal to improve operational efficiency and offer strong customer support programs by automating the management of electric, water and gas meters,” said Scott Ockerhausen, marketing director for DCSI.
For more information, visit these links:
• DCSI Web Site
• TWACS on the Hometown Connections Web Site
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