Smart meter functionality for today and for the future

© Sentec 2012
© Sentec 2007 MAKING A ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES
SMART WORLD OF DIFFERENCE

Smart meter functionality – for today
and the future

IET Smart Metering Conference
17 April 2012

SLIDE 1

UK status April 2012
© Sentec 2012 SMART ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES

SLIDE 2

SMETS

• Published 5th April 2012
– Notified to European Commission

• Provides sufficient confidence
– For manufacturers to design against
– For energy suppliers to install

• First step to Smart Change of
Supplier

• Few if any existing compliant Smart
Metering System designs ?
SLIDE 3

Issues in deployment and commissioning

• Initiating a new positive relationship with customer
– Trouble-free on-time high-quality process
– Belief of installation team that it is a good system

• Consider total cost of (hardware + installation)
– More expensive hardware could improve installation
• Less time on site
• Lower risk of a failed installation and subsequent revisit

• Installation efficiencies make material cost savings
– 10% saving in install time = £157m saving for the UK rollout
• Based on April 2012 Impact Assessment costs
SLIDE 4

War stories from meter installers

Restarting gas appliances after interruption of supply
‘I had many occasions where pilots wouldn't relight (faulty piezo or thermocouple)
and was told by the utility not to work on the appliance in any way. The fault was
classed as existing, which technically it was, but try explaining that to a vunerable
customer on a cold day. I had to say not my fault, call a gsr plumber.’

Time taken in like for like replacement
‘dont forget most people think you will be there for half a day so make sure you
say if you can take a quick look then you can let them know how long it will take !
most are shocked its only say 5mins power off and 15mins max unless tails need
updating (25mm) so 30 mins max and your be on your way ! ’

Issues with first generation SEDs
‘The Ecometer only comes with a Eon booklet that tells me how to use it and the
first bit of the manual says "...... Our Smart Meter Installer will have set
up your SED aand linked it to your smart meters, so your ready to
go" But I am pretty sure he hasn't done that at all as my ecoMeter just says "this
function is not currently enabled" and from the Menu/System Info there are no
meter serial number listed..’
SLIDE 5

Installations

SLIDE 6

Potential problems ...

SLIDE 7

WAN and HAN performance

• Strongly influenced by property characteristics
– Location (overall WAN coverage)
– Meter location (indoor, meter box, semi-concealed)
• Distance between gas and electric meter
– Construction materials (timber, brick, stone etc)
– Type of dwelling (apartment, detached property etc)

• Minimise chance of failed installation
– Collect information on the meter locations and
properties
– Use coverage maps for WAN
– Provide tools, feedback and alternate options for
installer
SLIDE 8

The impact of meter design on total cost

METERS IN FIELD Reliability
rates OPEX

Revisit rates Install
INSTALL PROJECT
Speed costs

Meter
INSTALL PROCESS hardware
METER DESIGN
DESIGN costs

SLIDE 9

Beyond installation – future proofing

• Challenge of rapidly evolving markets for a long lifetime
asset
– Maintaining functionality
– Predicting total cost of ownership and ROI

• International experience – it isn’t easy!
– Italy
– Australia/New Zealand
– Sweden

• But it is possible
– E.g. In-field upgrade of FlexNet meters in USA
SLIDE 10

Choosing the right smart meter

• Traditional • Additional Smart specs
– Hardware cost – Which processor
– Performance stability – How much memory
– Reliability – Which OS
– Day 1 functionality – WAN hardware capability
• Standards – HAN hardware capability
• Protocols
– Metrology capability
• Compatibility
– User interface capability
– Upgrade processes
– Ease of configuration

SLIDE 11

Requirements trends to consider

• Time of Use with increasing complexity
– Multiple tiers
– Daily TOU profiles
– Consumption thresholds
– Energy prices stored in the meter

• Credit, Prepayment and PAYG operation
– Prepay and PAYG require local user interface
• As backup to WAN and for safe re-connection

• Load profiling with increasing resolution
– For in-home display
– For consumption analysis
SLIDE 12

Future requirements to consider

• New devices interfacing with SMS
– EVs
– HEMS
– Microgeneration
– Demand response appliances

SLIDE 13

Recent history in smart meter evolution

• Code growth 1000
Code growth in US market from 2002

• Non volatile storage
100

– Even faster than code size

Code size (kB)
• Increasing frequency of 10

communications
– From monthly to hourly 1
2001 2002 2004 2005 2006 2008 2009 2010 2012 2013

• Increasing communications bandwidth
– Larger volumes of data

• Security requirements – an unknown
component, potentially heavy
SLIDE 14

Maximising a meter’s useful life

• Consider every aspect of the design
– Processor, flash
– Operating system capability
– WAN/HAN capability
– Metrology
– Disconnect
– Product operating modes
– Supply chain and manufacturability

• Choose architecture that permits design re-use
– Structured firmware, standard internal interfaces
SLIDE 15

Processor and memory

• 32-bit architecture
– 8 and 16 bit processors are obsolete
• Limited linear address space – 64k
• Often lacking e.g. MPU, VIC, AES, DMA
– Compression and encryption must be supportable

• External flash memory
– Sufficient for multiple code images
– Sufficient for deep profiles and logs
– Sufficient to store advanced configurations
– Running a flash filing system for maximum flexibility
SLIDE 16

WAN/HAN communications

• Define as much upgradable firmware as possible
– Protocol
– Modulation
– Security

• Ensure hardware can support known evolution path
– Sufficient resources for updated stacks
– E.g. ZigBee SEP 2.0

• Consider secure binding to evolving IHD
– IHD lifetime is likely to be less than meter lifetime
SLIDE 17

Reconfigurable core elements of meter

• Metrology
– Ensure metrology can measure wide range of parameters
• Even if they are not part of today’s tariffs
– Ensure it is accurate and stable beyond current standards
• E.g. ability to measure standby powers
• E.g. power quality analysis

• Disconnect
– Allow multiple methods to control
• Credit default
• Current and power limits
SLIDE 18

Firmware architecture

• Too large and complex for monolithic code
– Meters are now more complex than early PC’s
• And include multiple processors for different functions
– Need the ability to patch and selectively upgrade
• Remotely in the field
– Must be able to update all the processors
• And robustly roll back to factory versions

• Embedded operating system approach is needed
– Many examples from consumer world
– Many choices of OS for electric meters
– Ability to lock and protect core parts is important
SLIDE 19

Firmware functionality

• Traditional • Smart
– Meter vendor writes – Meter vendor provides
firmware core OS
• Using subcontractors • Including core metrology
• Licensing in stacks etc • Including hardware drivers
– No third party access – Applications for everything
• Code is proprietary else
• Code often monolithic • Third parties can develop
• Security issues • Defined interfaces
– Slow code evolution • Independently installable
• Limited set of resources • Meter vendor certifies
• Limited customisation per
customer
SLIDE 20

Customising and future proofing

• Who writes the upgrades ?
– E.g. streamlining the install process
– E.g. Adding support for smart appliances
Traditional Smart
Meter Vendors Meter Vendors
Systems Integrators
Device suppliers
Energy supplier team
Third party application suppliers

• Managing the code and building a community
– Certification
– Security
– Safety
SLIDE 21

A winning deployment

• Installation process feeds into the meter design
– Small choices in design = BIG impact on installation

• Future proofing isn’t impossible:
– Select products based on capability
– Consider firmware evolution path
– Learn from requirements trends
– Avoid early obsolescence
– Be prepared for evolution of supply chain

Smart meters can have an asset life of 20 years !
SLIDE 22

For further information

Dr Mark England
CEO, Sentec Ltd
Mark.England@sentec.co.uk
Office UK: +44 1223 303800
www.sentec.co.uk

http://sentec.co.uk/case-studies/connect-and-disconnect-smart-meter
http://sentec.co.uk/case-studies/icon
http://sentec.co.uk/case-studies/energy-control

SLIDE 23

Smart meter functionality for today and for the future

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