Vattenfall's Large Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) Project Results in 99% Reliability for Daily Smart Meter Reads
Vattenfall’s large-scale roll-out of Echelon Networked Energy Services (NES) smart meters was implemented using an external service provider to collect and deliver data. The project is a prime example of how smart metering can significantly improve a utility’s operations and internal processes.
Participants
- End-user: Vattenfall AB, Sweden’s fifth largest energy company in Europe with six million customers and annual revenue (2010) of €23.7M
- Integrator: Telvent, global IT solutions and information services provider
Challenge
- Meet mandated monthly meter readings and meter data availability
- Deploy automated metering reading (AMR) to 860,000 customers, the third phase of the project (260,000 NES meters were previously deployed)
Solution
- The Echelon NES Smart Metering System supplying daily meter values, hourly reads, and event conditions, with an average success rate above 99%
- Telvent Titanium Information System managing the NES System and its associated data
Benefits
- Superior, cost-effective, on-time deployment
- An increase in features (remote upgrading, power-quality data, remote disconnect for load limiting, and comprehensive tamper detection) and a cost decrease over phases 1 and 2
Next Steps
- Continue to explore new ways to benefit from the NES advanced metering investment
- Take advantage of comprehensive power-quality data
- Use small-scale distributed generation and measure it with NES smart meters, a more cost-effective alternative to dedicated meters
- Create a common smart meter data management system platform for the entire Nordic Business Group (Sweden, Finland, and Denmark) to secure better customer service and smart meter data management