Learn how communication devices are being metered on smartpoles and how you can utilize your streetlights to maximize revenue for your utility.

1. TESCO
Tuesdays
Today’s session will begin shortly

2. Leveraging Streetlight
Metering
Prepared by John Williams, TESCO
The Eastern Specialty Company
For TESCO Tuesday
Thursday, December 15, 2020
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

3. Introduction
This presentation will discuss how communication devices are being
metered on smartpoles and how you can utilize your streetlight poles to
maximize revenue for your utility.
Photos: Acuity Brands Lighting

4. Streetlight controllers
Network Lighting Controller (NLC)
• Began as a technology to work with LED Streetlighting to better
control lighting costs
• NLCs began to add metrology
• The technology has advanced greatly
over the past few years
• ANSI C136 committee currently in final
review of standard C136.50 governing
the accuracy and testing of NLCs
• Many utilities are now running pilot programs on the usage of NLCs
not just for metering of streetlights, but for other pole-mounted
devices

5. NLC Metering Specifications
Typical NLC Specifications
– Voltage Range 120-480V single phase
– Current Range up to 10A
– Communications protocols – All major meter radio networks,
including Itron, Sensus, and L+G.
– Accuracy classes 2%, 1%, 0.5%
– ANSI C136 committee currently in final
review of standard C136.50 governing
the accuracy and testing of NLCs

6. ANSI C136.50
ANSI C136.50 – Standard Energy Measurement for a
Network Lighting Control (NLC)
– Scheduled to be released first quarter 2021
– Requires that all NLCs be equipped with optical
pulses for testing
– Defines the requirements for three accuracy classes
of meters
– Defines the environmental conditions that each NLC
will have to endure in order to have class certification.

7. NLC Metering
Alternate use cases:
• Alternate use cases for small form factor meters
that can be mounted within or on poles.
• EV Chargers
• Wi-Fi Antennas
• 5G equipment
• With the advent of 5G in the US, more and more cities
are adding 5G communications equipment to existing
streetlight poles, saving on installation costs.
• Verizon and ATT are leading the charge in building
out their 5G networks.
• Many of the applications are higher power
installations

8. NLC Mounting
• NLCs were designed to be mounted
directly to the LED modules through
a standard ANSI c136.41 connector
• The connector and the NLC
interface are designed to be
waterproof and suited for outdoor
use

9. Streetlight Billing
Cities and municipalities are demanding
more accurate billing
– Moving away from tariff billing and towards actual
metered billing.
– Coupled with the dimming capabilities metered billing
could save cities and municipalities a lot of money
– This forces NLC manufacturers
to achieve better accuracies

10. 5G Communications
Communications companies are rolling out
5G across the country
• Verizon alone is hoping to reach
200 million customers
• 5G operates at much higher
frequencies, and travels far
shorter distances
• This forces communications companies to add many
more micro cells, particularly in urban areas.
• This leads to an excellent opportunity for utilities to
gain revenue.

11. Why NLC Metering?
NLC form factor metering allows for
maximum flexibility
• High accuracy meters in a small
package
• Infrastructure for communications
already in place.
• Can be mounted inside “smart poles” or with typical on
the pole mounting.
• Can be secured to the mounting assembly using
standard meter seals.

12. High Power Applications
Communications equipment require
higher power
• 5G Antenna require approximately
3x the power of similar 4G
equipment.
• Smart pole applications may
route more than one load through a given meter.
• Current load may exceed the maximum of 10A.

13. TESCO Solutions
TESCO can provide a variety of mounting
solutions
• Models available for pole interior
or exterior mounting.
• Models can include integrated
service disconnect switch
• High power model designed in
collaboration with PGE with
internally-connected instrument
transformer and patented safety
bypass mechanism for safe NLC
removal under load.

14. TESCO Partners with Talley
TESCO is expanding across the United States with our NLC
Mounting Boxes using a major logistics distributor

15. Questions and Discussion
John Williams
john.williams@tescometering.com
TESCO – The Eastern Specialty Company
Bristol, PA
215-228-0500
www.tescometering.com

16. TESCOTuesdays
Winter/Spring 2021
Keep a look out for registration here:
tescometering.com/tescotuesdays
• 13 sessions beginning January 19, 2021 and ending
April 13, 2021
• Presentations will be a mix of intermediate and advanced
• Includes hands-on and real-world field testing scenarios
• Stay tuned for the full schedule!

17. #TESCOTuesdays
Thanks for tuning in!
See you next year!
@tescometering
@TESCO_Metering
TESCO -The Eastern Specialty Company
TESCO -The Eastern Specialty Company