Information and actionable notifications can be inferred from smart meter data to enrich the consumer experience and ultimately deliver better services, write Rajesh Bansal and Harsh Mathur.

The power distribution system is witnessing a major transformation, especially regarding the high level of unpredictability due to renewable energy and electric vehicle (EV) charging.

Coupled with this, the expectations of consumers particularly about reliability and safety have increased.

Over the past 2.5 years, India’s Ministry of Power has been promoting the installation of smart meters at both the consumer and asset ends.

The plan is to install almost 250 million smart meters in the next few years at an expected cost of around ₹2.5 trillion (US$30 billion).

While the government is giving a grant towards the smart meters, in practice their cost is borne by the utility, consumers and the citizens of the country. Thus, it is very important that the maximum benefit should be leveraged out of the technology to ensure its financial viability and with no extra burden on the citizenry.

Installing a smart metering system, data collection and generation of reports with basic analytics will not in itself be sufficient to ensure the success of the project. The need is to address all the utility objectives including issues and concerns such as the large variations and unpredictability in the demand curve as well as the expectations of consumers.

Objectives which can be successfully addressed by smart metering technology are detailed below:

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Understanding abnormalities in the network

Load patterns, network capabilities, defects in workmanship, faulty devices in the network, abnormal consumer behaviour, etc. can affect electrical parameters and the performance of the network.

Any event which can affect the electrical parameter to a level that can cause accidents or damage to network assets or affect their life is termed an ‘electrical abnormality’.

If electrical abnormalities last for a long period, then they can cause greater damage.

Smart metering systems generate and provide data, which if properly analysed can detect abnormalities. If such abnormalities are detected early in the infant stage, they can be reported to the concerned utility personnel and the larger damage prevented.

Need for smart consumer apps

The utility and consumers have different issues/concerns and expectations, some of which are detailed below.

Similarly to the electrical abnormalities, any abnormalities which can directly affect the consumer, cause them damage or occur at their premises, should be detected and notified to the consumer.

This will enhance the consumer experience and reduce damages, thus delivering benefits to consumers.

The following are some objectives that can be addressed with a proper smart consumer app.

1. Safety

After road accidents, electrical accidents are the second biggest reason for unnatural deaths. With proper analysis of smart meter data, potential causes of accidents and safety hazards can be detected.

Imagine after analysing the meter data, the utility can send a notification via a consumer app about a potential safety hazard.

2. Prepayment and billing

The consumption and billing data from smart meters combined with meter data management can generate various notifications such as low prepaid balance alerts, recharge acknowledgements, disconnection/reconnection alerts, weekly consumption, monthly recharge, etc.

3. Supply outage and restoration notifications

Real-time data from smart meters enables the prompt generation of alerts regarding power outages and restoration, benefiting consumers by keeping them informed.

Furthermore, consumers should receive notifications regarding planned outages and the expected restoration time, ensuring they are well informed and prepared.

Similarly, various types of notifications can sent for abnormalities or other observations inferred from the data:

• To avoid commercial penalties
• To reduce bills
• About bills, payments etc.
• Suggestion about load pattern
• Wiring defects
• Utilities schemes.

It is important to note that not all notifications need to be about abnormalities but can also be suggestive and/or informative.

Smart consumer apps – notification generation

The concept is simple.

• Identify concerns/issues and expectations.
• Convert them into an objective.
• Define what is not acceptable – abnormalities.
• Define how the cause/location can be detected and found.
• Ensure such parameters are captured.
• Identify such events.
• Develop the user app.
• Send notification/message along with what action is to be taken.
• Include a mechanism to send feedback and ratings.
• Enjoy achieving the objective.

Consumer apps – legal requirement

In many countries, various regulations, especially related to safety, refer to the utility responsibility to inform consumers of abnormalities that can affect consumer metering/billing, safety or potential hazards to network assets and can warn them to take corrective action.

In an extreme case, they can even disconnect the supply.

Present status

It is important to note many ‘consumer notifications’ can be generated even based on static meter data. However, few utilities have adopted the concept.

With the installation of smart meters, utilities have little excuse for the non-availability of ‘abnormality’ information.

In the case of serious damage at a consumer’s premises, the utility could be questioned.

The current consumer apps available are mainly focused on billing and usage patterns. But much wider information can be given, justifying the huge investment in them.

Moreover, consumer apps should be for all categories of consumers. This will enhance their experience and will build better trust and engagement.

Conclusion

Imagine a timely notification about an abnormality followed by timely action by the consumer, thus preventing a potential accident and larger damage, the gain due to perhaps saving human life or preventing damage due to fire – all more valuable than the project cost.

For all smart metering system service providers the development of such consumer apps should be fundamental, with the need beyond question.

With time it may become law, not only in India but the world over, to have such smart apps generating notifications for consumers and maybe also for other stakeholders.

The maximum benefits from smart metering systems, especially from the data, can be leveraged with such smart apps.

This will not only minimise accidents, and damage due to accidents and reduce commercial disputes as well as bring energy efficiency, mutual trust, better power quality, enriching the consumer experience and ensuring consumer engagement.

About the authors

Sh. Rajesh Bansal is the former CEO of BSES Rajdhani Power, Delhi, India. He began his career as a scientist in the Indian Space Research Organisation and subsequently has gained much experience and exposure to meter design, manufacturing and use globally. He is a strong believer in the power of data and currently is pursuing his passion for advising companies, startups and policymakers.

Harsh Mathur has almost 12 years’ of experience in the field of electrical distribution maintenance and planning. In February 2023 he joined Deloitte India’s Business Operations team and is currently consulting to the Expert Group on Smart Metering under the Ministry of Power for implementation of the RDSS project, which includes the national smart meter rollout.

via Smart Energy International https://ift.tt/s2DT7Sb