How utilities are using the AT&T wireless data network today

By AT&T

The past few years have brought an increasing acceptance of public carrier wireless data services by many energy companies. AT&T currently is involved in a number of AMI and other Intelligent Utility/Smart Grid initiatives involving communications systems at utilities. Some specific examples include:

EXAMPLE 1: A major utility required a cost effective means to gather important usage, operation and control information to maximize the efficient operation of remote electric substations.

The utility has hundreds of substations in their vast coverage area, utilizing multiple terrestrial-based communication connection technologies. A number of the substations have unique size and/or location characteristics that warrant wireless access. The phase-out of analog circuit-switched systems required an entirely new system design to prevent the utility from facing the installation of a costly and time consuming fiber or copper line-based solution.

An AT&T Cellular Data Interface using Wavecom GSM modules, leveraging custom developed software, private IP networking via an AT&T custom Access Point Name (APN) and Commercial Connectivity Solutions (CCS), delivered the comprehensive solution to meet the utility’s requirements.

The utility has multiple types of meters deployed in hundreds of substations across its distribution network. Communication to these assets may use fiber, frame relay and conventional dial-up technology for specific requirements including: fault location; remote switch open and close operation; minimum/maximum feeder voltage readings; capacitor bank trip and close control; device status monitoring and load management information; and circuit utilization for client billing.

The utility uses an MV90 software application that is a mainframe-based system for collecting and processing interval data from complex metering devices. MV-90 is a multi-vendor system for collecting data from the complex metering devices and provides data collection, data management and analysis tools that help ensure data integrity and process consistency.  However, the communication protocols in use are of a vintage that are not designed to make the most efficient use of a connectionless, packet-switched transport. 

A local systems integrator with deep expertise in the utility industry, worked with AT&T to develop a customized protocol conversion application. While MV90 effectively can communicate in native DgCom or ANSI standard protocols, each meter type required specific protocol conversions to buffer the data coming from the meter via the IPS ICI-2004 GSM cellular interface back to the MV90 host application. In addition, the utility purchased an MV90 TCP/IP module for the purpose of interrogating the remote meters, and this new capability will facilitate many additional telemetry projects for the utility in 2008 and beyond. 

EXAMPLE 2: Another major AMI project involved a utility that was getting pressure from its commercial and industrial clients to provide better service in terms of quicker meter readings.  The utility approached AT&T to assist them in implementing a solution that would provide the ability to have real time access to meter data information. The utility’s field service technicians were capturing meter data manually by using paper-based forms at client sites and then traveling back to the local office at the end of the day to load the meter data into an Oracle database. The database would then transmit the meter usage into billable kilowatts and then be added to the clients account for invoicing. The utility was looking for a solution that would help them decrease the amount of meter data reading errors that were occurring (mostly due to human error) while at the same time would increase the speed at which they could capture the meter data.

AT&T’s account team immediately began to utilize the resources available internally (System Engineering team, Utility Industry experts, AT&T’s partner ecosystem) to move forward in recommending a wireless solution. The utility turned to AT&T and major AMI provider for a wireless solution that would help them better inform their corporate clients on actual energy usage, anticipated peak energy hours and billing. An AMI product was chosen that provides digital cellular communication solutions for commercial and industrial solid-state electric meters. Complex meter information is available via these under-glass meter communication devices. The solution is ideal for remote interval data collection, including all necessary register, load profile and meter diagnostic data.

Using AT&T’s national wireless data network, each AMI unit regularly gathers data on energy usage and transmits the data over the AT&T wireless network back to the utility data collection application host computer. The utility company regularly monitors the incoming information and in turn can provide their clients with more accurate billing statements, while reducing the field technicians they employ out in the field.

With the C&I meters and the national footprint of the AT&T wireless network, the meters are “always on, always connected” and provide the real-time data required by the utility without the need for dedicated mobile resources or maintenance and expense intensive wired technologies to constantly read meters at each client location – saving the company time, resources and money.

The AMI solution operating on AT&T’s national wireless network provides:

• Cost-effective meter communications for all load profile, register and diagnostic data.
• Internal card for commercial and industrial solid-state meters
• No additional modem or serial communications boards needed.
• Saves time and money – no telephone line connections, easy to install, and lower monthly operating costs.
• Real-time notification of meter alarms and events (power quality, demand threshold, etc.)
• National coverage in the US
• On-demand, two-way communications for data retrieval or programming.
• Meters configurable, programmable and readable through the wireless networks. 
• No external power supply and no batteries.
• Under-the-glass mounting – easy to retrofit and provides secure, tamper resistant operation.

AT&T’s Commercial Connectivity Solutions enhance and manage the meter data transport over the wireless network. The utility chose to implement a dedicated connection to AT&T and therefore established a network VPN tunnel. Along with the VPN implementation, the utility also utilizes a custom Access Point Name running 1000 static Internet Protocol addresses over the APN for additional management of the AMR project and meter data transfer. This helps meet the customer’s security requirements and provides the customer with additional support.

EXAMPLE 3: A final example of AT&T’s work in this burgeoning field involves a generating company. The company is a provider of low-cost electric Distributed Generation power plants for peak shaving, shoulder, and interruptible load applications. Typically, the company’s power plants can provide from 1 to 500 megawatts of power during high demand periods at half the cost of existing electric rates. This is accomplished by using high efficiency, automatic start/stop, load following, and fully maintained standardized power plant design.

In the aftermath of 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina, the overall awareness of the need for business continuity services has increased. Natural disasters, including tornadoes and hurricanes, also threaten to impact business. Not only can power outages occur, but data service disruption can also occur, ranging from downed power lines to complete infrastructure disruption. The impact on business can vary from loss of revenue due to an inability to transfer data, to loss of business-requisite electronic communications.

A solution was developed by bringing in two of AT&T’s certified solutions providers to provide for business continuity of operations by keeping the company data services connected over AT&T’s  Broadband Connect wireless network during the event of an outage on its wire line circuit. As a result, the utility was able to maintain connectivity without having to purchase additional hardware components.

Conclusion
There are hundreds of devices and software certified on AT&T’s national wireless network.  AT&T has the expertise to bring in the best in class certified solutions providers, and the experience working with energy providers, to provide and implement comprehensive solutions to solve today’s challenges. 

Contact details:
Rita Mix, Senior Marketing Manager, Utilities
T: 404-499-5214, E: rita.mix@att.com, W: www.wireless.att.com/utilities