New Electronic Billing Meter Standards Shocking Utilities & Customers

Transcription

1 North American Water Loss Conference 2017 New Electronic Billing Meter Standards Shocking Utilities & Customers Veolia North America December 4, 2017

2 PAGE 2 Purpose of today s presentation Overview Setting the Stage Impacts on Meter Operations Summary Electronic Billing Meters C715 DRAFT under review by Standards Council & Public Review How electronic meters work & challenges they can address What to learn and what to unlearn challenges to meter operations & customer relations Challenges & opportunities

3 Tuesday, December 19, 2017 LADWP Operating Efficiencies PAGE 3 Overview Drivers for Electronic Metering Water/wastewater service costs rising at substantial rates Resource scarcity Customer usage patterns changing Cut backs in staffing & higher labor costs. Retirement of skilled field staff More sensitivity to looking at total whole life costs of ownership (acquisition, installation, maintenance, revenue performance etc.) Alignment of meter life with reading automation technology life single site maintenance visit. In Search of Measurement Nirvana

4 Tuesday, December 19, 2017 LADWP Operating Efficiencies PAGE 4 Overview Electronic Revenue Meter Standard AWWA C AWWA Standards Council authorized development of standard Subcommittee of Meter Standards Committee formed to draft contents Don Faber Chair Subcommittee completed first ballot-ready draft for Meter Standards Committee action Meter Standards Committee reached consensus for further action AWWA Standards Council review & Public Comment (due 11/13/17)

5 Tuesday, December 19, 2017 LADWP Operating Efficiencies PAGE 5 Overview Series of Ballots to Refine Standards Document Standard language drafted by subcommittee Reviewed by Committee Members Accept, Modify or Reject (Propose changes) Sub-committee discussion Accept, Modify, Reject, Override Standards Members Accept, Withdraw, Reject. Committee has final say on negative ballots

6 Tuesday, December 19, 2017 LADWP Operating Efficiencies PAGE 6 Overview Major Items in the Draft Standard Partial List -Manufacturers w/electronic Meters Honeywell (AMCO/Elster) Badger Meter Diehl Mueller Kamstrup Master Meter Metron Farnier Neptune Sensus Zenner Two accuracy levels. Type 1 - for very low flows; Type 2 - similar to mechanical meters. Definitions mostly unique to electronic meters Ability to handle ambient & water temps up to 150 F Laying lengths - threaded ends as PD meter standards; flange end same as turbine standards. Normal flow limits accuracy range remains at 98.5% to 101.5%. Low flow rate accuracy range 95% to 105%. Current PD is 101%. Requires full pipe to operate properly. Register will indicate empty or partially filled pipe

7 Tuesday, December 19, 2017 LADWP Operating Efficiencies PAGE 7 Overview Flow Rate & Accuracy Improvements For Type I - 1 & Smaller 75% to 80% earlier start in normal test flow range 56% to 70% reduction in Min Test Flow Rate Narrower gap between low & normal flow accuracy Same Safe Max Operating Capacity but no restriction on usage at this flow rate (10% of usage or 2 hours/24 hour period) 33% less allowable head loss

8 Tuesday, December 19, 2017 LADWP Operating Efficiencies PAGE 8 Overview Flow Rate & Accuracy Improvements For Type I - 1 1/2-8 Same Safe Max Operating Capacity as PD for 1 ½ & 2 and Compound for 3 through 8 ; lower than Turbine Class II. No Max Continuous Flow rating restriction Normal test flow range starts earlier compared to PD & Turbine, but not Compound Better accuracy at lower flow rates for PD & Turbine, but not Compound Lower head loss for PD and Compound, but not Turbine

9 Tuesday, December 19, 2017 LADWP Operating Efficiencies PAGE 9 Overview Next Steps to Finalize Standard C715 Standards Council balloting ended 10/10/17 Public Review comment period concluded 11/13/17 Number of comments received; under review by C-715 & Meter Standards Chairs to determine approach for resolution Might push out process couple of months AWWA Board of Directors approval vote scheduled for January 2018 Standard published 1 st or 2 nd quarter 2018 Substantive technical changes - returned to Meters Standards Committee for action. Must then go through another round of Standards Council and Public Review.

10 Tuesday, December 19, 2017 LADWP Operating Efficiencies PAGE 10 Setting the Stage How Electronic Meters Work Mag Meter Type No one said Science would be involved in this presentation Employs Faraday s Law of magnetic induction to sense the flow of water Flow of conductive liquid (water) Through a magnetic field Causes a voltage signal Sensed by electrodes located on the flow tube walls iperl, Accumag, HbMag, Tru/Mag, ModMag

11 Tuesday, December 19, 2017 LADWP Operating Efficiencies PAGE 11 Setting the Stage How Electronic Meters Work - Ultrasonic Type More Science Doppler Effect Sound has shorter or longer wavelengths depending on location of the source Uses sound waves to determine the velocity of water flowing through a pipe Sends & receives ultrasonic waves between transducers Upstream & downstream in the pipe No flow same time between transducers With flow upstream waves slower than downstream. Time increases with velocity E-Series, Octave, flowiq2100, Diehl, MACH 10, Sonata

12 Tuesday, December 19, 2017 LADWP Operating Efficiencies PAGE 12 Setting the Stage Problems Solved & New Challenges Created Flow restrictions nearly open pipe, slight reduction for electronics Need customer profile information to better determine size and type selection Sampling rate mag; frequency at which charges are passed between electrodes Sampling loop ultrasonic; frequency at which sound waves are passed between transducers Starting flow flow rate at which meter begins recording consumption. Flow below starting rate is entirely missed. Accuracy rate can vary. Battery life 2 & smaller typically 20 years; not replaceable. 3 & larger 6 to 10 years depending on size. Some models have replaceable batteries Maintenance No parts within meter can be maintained. Replace meter when battery is depleted. Clean off sensors if scale develops. No interchangeability of electronic registers

13 Tuesday, December 19, 2017 LADWP Operating Efficiencies PAGE 13 Setting the Stage Problems Solved & New Challenges Created Installation need to follow manufacturer s instructions. Impacts accuracy & warranty Five pipe diameters upstream; two downstream. Empty pipe -keep the pipe full. Slugs of air will cause inaccurate readings. Reduce turbulence - can use strainers to reduce pipe diameters check with manufacturer. Very few problems caused by pipe vibration.

14 Tuesday, December 19, 2017 LADWP Operating Efficiencies PAGE 14 Setting the Stage Problems Solved & New Challenges Created No accuracy degradation like mechanical meters. Testing issues: Frequency of testing unknown & not comparable to mechanical meters Flow rates extremely low and bench or field equipment might be less capable of testing accurately Follow manufacturers recommendations Testing process can be rather long to ensure accurate test Meter Standards Committee plans to send out supplemental guidelines as M6 revisions not due till 2019 Meter setting conditions need consideration in determining field or bench testing is best approach Don t know what we don t know. Experiences might not translate from one utility to another.

15 Tuesday, December 19, 2017 LADWP Operating Efficiencies PAGE 15 Meter Ops Impacts New Utility Challenges for Deploying Electronic Meters Challenges No AWWA standard to guide utilities draft approved by Meter Standards Committee When battery dies, meter must be replaced. Last reading held. Impacts deployment strategy. Coordinate timing with AMR system. Larger meters may have non-us laying lengths-need spool piece. Adds to purchase & install costs Since no strainers needed to protect measuring element no downstream protection of other utility or customer equipment; need to decide about strainer use Not all manufacturer s have full product line for all sizes or mix measurement technologies (ultrasonic for some sizes and mag for other) Testing protocols can be extremely long & at different flow rates than mechanical meters Might not have UL or FM ratings for fire applications/need to address strainer issues

16 Meter Ops Impacts Tuesday, December 19, 2017 LADWP Operating Efficiencies PAGE 16 New Utility Challenges for Deploying Electronic Meters Challenges Most test benches cannot verify ultra low flow accuracy claims Difficult to enforce accuracy warranties Very long time to verify ultra low flow accuracy No test plug in meter body - Need downstream test T in spool if want to field test Register built in so no interchangeable parts Sensitive to meter setting configuration need to follow manufacturer instructions Carefully review warranties for battery & accuracy provisions All features of electronic registers might not be compatible with every manufacturers AMR/AMI system Might limit which meters can be used Might require more manual procedures for detecting problems For Type I electronic meters, allowance of up to 105% accuracy at minimum flow rates might be a PR challenge for billing disputes

17 Meter Ops Impacts Tuesday, December 19, 2017 LADWP Operating Efficiencies PAGE 17 Customer profiling data exposes potential meter selection & performance issues LOGGING CHARACTERISTICS Meter: Meter size: 6 Meter type: Compound Premise: Office Building Address: 800 W 6 TH ST, Los Angeles, CA, Date: 8/11 8/17 - Peak flow: GPM - Average flow: 6.91 GPM - 75% of volume & 32% of time in cross over range - Meter rated up to 2000 gpm 17

18 Meter Ops Impacts PAGE 18 New testing protocols along with customer profiling found cross over performance issues & revenue gain opportunities Accuracy of 188 Meters Tested Using Old Protocols & Arithmetic Averages Type Compound 100% 100% 99% Fire 98% 99% 99% Turbine 100% 96% 99% 100% 98% Accuracy of 123 Meters Using New Protocols & Data Logging Weights Type Compound 94% 95% 95% Fire 94% 95% Turbine 98% 98% 94% 98% Old protocols -.2% annual accuracy degradation New protocols & logging % annual degradation Target only under performing meters Replace 1,200 meters - $23 million annually

19 Meter Ops Impacts Impacts on Utility Operations Tuesday, December 19, 2017 LADWP Operating Efficiencies PAGE 19 Address meter inflation issues Size of meters are increasing as usage and flow rates of usage are declining (Residential End Uses of Water V2) More capital being used than needed (current & future replacement costs) Loss of revenue (leaks, low flows, accuracy degradation) Impact on future growth if hydraulic equivalent of meter is used to allocate available water resource Used with permission from Craig Hanna, Johnson Controls

20 Tuesday, December 19, 2017 LADWP Operating Efficiencies PAGE 20 Summary New opportunities & new challenges What problems does the technology solve for you? What new issues does it create that must be addressed? New knowledge needed to optimize application What is that knowledge & how do I get it? Learn from others, but learn from your own applications. Structure research projects. As built different than AWWA Standards Carefully read all technical information to understand benefits & challenges

21 Tuesday, December 19, 2017 LADWP Operating Efficiencies PAGE 21 Summary New opportunities & new challenges No measurement technology is universal. Use the right technology in the right application. Usage patterns, mechanical wear, and water quality are major drivers that impact accuracy and revenues Usage patterns at accounts can change. Be aware when changes occur. Design, materials, manufacturing does matter Know and understand your cost drivers. Whole life cost of ownership might help determine best value Will performance = promise?

22 North American Water Loss Conference 2017 New Electronic Billing Meter Standards Shocking Utilities & Customers Kenneth Molli, Director, Metering Initiatives Veolia North America