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Advanced Metering Infrastructure Over Power Lines
Hometown Connections and Aclara have formed a strategic partnership that will help APPA members gather and transmit consumption data over electric power lines. APPA members will be able to purchase equipment, software and services from Aclara, taking advantage of national group benefits arranged by Hometown Connections.
Two-way Automated Communications System (TWACS®)
Aclara's technology is the preeminent two-way power line communication system for utilities deploying automatic information technologies, with over 8 million two-way devices installed or under contract.
The TWACS® communication technology includes short-hop radio frequency (RF) metering solutions for water and gas meters, offering a solution for the many public power utilities providing multiple services.
TWACS® communication technology uses the existing power lines for data transmission, and since the wavelength is modulated near the zero crossing point, it uses the utility’s network at the frequency for which it was designed. No repeaters, amplifiers, blocking devices or other dispersed, exposed apparatus is required to permit high performance two-way communications on the power lines in the presence of capacitor banks, regulators, step-down transformers, overhead, underground, most networks and other distribution system topologies.
The TWACS system uses a three-layered hierarchical architecture consisting of the TWACS Master Station software, the Substation Communications Equipment and the Remote Communications Equipment.
The central computer controls system operations, stores data, and interfaces to other utility data systems. It communicates to the substation equipment over a voice-grade communication link, such as leased or dial-up telephone, microwave radio, satellite or additional IP-addressable media.
Reliability, Responsiveness, Functionality
THE TWACS® ADVANTAGE
--You Already Own the Transmission Infrastructure
The TWACS system allows you to manage your data collection process and control critical interval data. You reduce risk by not depending on a third party’s proprietary system.
--100% Service Territory Coverage
Since the utility’s existing power lines are used "as is," coverage exists virtually everywhere the power flows. Complementing the power line data transmission technology, short hop radio frequency enables automated metering of water, gas, propane and pit-set meters.
--Technology to Meet Restructuring Requirements
The TWACS system enables you to collect data at interval lengths as short as 15-minutes and retrieve and store it within the TWACS net server for daily delivery. Load control data can be used for load forecasting and pricing. Load profiling allows for retrievable billing for direct access tariffs. Because the TWACS system is a true two-way system, peak demand can be recorded and reset remotely. TWACS technology supports present and future metering scenarios including critical peak pricing (CPP) and time-of-use (TOU). All of these capabilities use existing power lines.
--System Management through Instantaneous Line Monitoring
The TWACS power line communication system can monitor outages and significantly decrease restoration time by verifying where and when the power is restored. Its ability to monitor instantaneous line voltage helps to determine the need for capacitor switching and/or voltage regulation and provides targeted phase and feeder identification for restoring power.
--Energy Diversion Identification
TWACS’ tamper detection feature quickly identifies customers whose energy usage has significantly changed or whose meter is in a reverse rotation mode. Fraudulent customer behavior can be identified by remote means or a service call.
--Service Call Reduction
With TWACS technology, service connects and disconnects can be handled within 20 seconds from the utility service center. TWACS two-way communications can identify customer problems with a "ping" of the system.
Features
TWACS® technology is based on over 20 years of development, testing and utility usage, offering superior AMR system capabilities that include:
--load management
--demand response
--interval data
--TOU/critical peak pricing
--ine-voltage monitoring outage assessment and restoration monitoring
--remote service connect/disconnect
--tamper theft detection using open architecture interfaces
The system is compatible with most residential and commercial meters including single-phase mechanical meters (ANSI Forms 1, 2, 2ES, 2K, 3 and 4) produced by all major manufacturers, several solid-state electric meters in their native protocols, nearly all water/gas dial encoders, and pulse generators/initiators.
Always a New Line of Thinking
To learn more about quickly and reliably reading meters over your existing power lines, contact your Hometown Connections representative.
Visit the Aclara Web site for more information
• Aclara
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