AMI and GIS generate big savings for Unitil

NEW ENGLAND - Advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) technology, combined with geographic information system (GIS) software, has significantly cut operating costs for meter reading at UnitilÂ’s distribution operating subsidiaries in Massachusetts and New Hampshire.

ESRIÂ’s ArcGIS has given the utility greater insight about the behavior of its customers, the integrity of its system, and the direction it should take for improved performance.

UnitilÂ’s AMI incorporates ArcGIS to process data captured from a bidirectional advanced metering system as well as data accessed from the customer information system (CIS). Based on the first yearÂ’s success, Unitil anticipates a payback within five years in labor savings and process efficiencies.

In 2004, Unitil migrated from a CAD-based mapping system to ArcGIS with Telvent Miner & MinerÂ’s ArcFM software for asset management. Recently, the integration of GIS with AMI has extended the value of GIS for the company.

“Suddenly, GIS became more to our people than making pretty maps,” explains Beth Picardi, Unitil’s GIS analyst. “The primary objective of the AMI project was to automate meter reading. In addition to those savings, we have gained a wealth of data on system performance that can be leveraged by integrating AMI with ArcGIS and other company enterprise systems.”

In 2007, Unitil deployed a system wide gas and electric AMI for 115,000 customers. Meters were retrofitted with endpoints from Hunt Technologies, LLC, which utilize power line carrier, fixed network technology to monitor and receive daily usage data. AMI data layers are created by combining data from UnitilÂ’s CIS database with GPS meter coordinates. This information is the basis for a variety of analyses useful to engineering and operations within the company.

“Viewing this data in GIS has led to an intuitive understanding of system performance,” notes Picardi. “Meters reporting a loss of communication have allowed us to research and better understand the need for an outage management system and how AMI can augment it. In addition to outages, GIS allows us to visualize momentary outages, end-of-line voltage readings, and reliability performance metrics directly from AMI.”

Unitil continues to find new ways to leverage its AMI data in GIS, giving the company a better understanding of its customer needs and improving its ability to proactively meet those needs. One example is the enhancement of vegetation management strategies by overlaying historical tree trimming data layers with momentary outage data. Soon, it will be possible to evaluate the local system benefits of considering various demand-side revenue policies such as time-of-use billing or demand response.

“GIS and AMI integration is making GIS an enterprise solution here at Unitil,” concludes Picardi.

Related News

powerline workers

PG&E keeps nearly 60,000 Northern California customers in the dark to reduce wildfire risk

LOS ANGELES - PG&E purposefully shut off electricity to nearly 60,000 Northern California customers Sunday night, aiming to reduce wildfire risks from power lines during extreme winds.

Pacific Gas and Electric planned to restore power to 70 percent of affected customers in the North Bay and Sierra Foothills late Monday night. As crews inspect lines for safety by helicopter, vehicles and on foot, the remainder will have power sometime Tuesday.

While it was the first time the company shut off power for public safety, PG&E announced its criteria and procedures for such an event in June, said spokesperson Paul Doherty. After wildfires devastated…

READ MORE
renewable wind power

Renewable power developers discover more energy sources make better projects

READ MORE

hydro one logo

Hydro One announces pandemic relief fund for Hydro One customers

READ MORE

california-gets-500m-to-upgrade-power-grid

California Gets $500M to Upgrade Power Grid

READ MORE

enel wind farm

Enel Starts Operations of 450 MW Wind Farm in U.S

READ MORE