Ground breaking project in Roskilde and Hilleroed
With the aim of making calculations of electricity, water and heating meter readings more effective and to provide consumers with better service, Roskilde Utilities and Hilleroed Electricity, Water and Heating have together broken with tradition to become some of the first in Europe to install a joint remote meter reading system able to read several utilities using one single solution.
The biggest in Europe
The project, which is Europe’s biggest, deals with 59.000 meters and consists of electronic meters for reading electricity, water and heat consumption in residential homes. Installation of the meters is already in full progress with the last meter expected to be installed in 2009 in Roskilde and in 2010 in Hilleroed.
“It was the liberalised electricity market in 2005 which led us to start the project. This meant that all customers with a yearly consumption in excess of 100.000 kWh had to be read hourly. In the Roskilde and Hilleroed districts, we decided to start hourly readings on installations with a yearly consumption of over 50.000 kWh and in order to do this, we needed to have the meters read remotely” , explains Bjarne Jaegerskou from Roskilde Utilities.
Carl-Erik Anthonsen from Hilleroed Electricity, Water and Heating adds, “We have worked together quite a lot previously within electricity. Even though as companies we are not organised 100% in the same way, we are very similar and it therefore seemed only natural to have a joint remote meter reading project. We are relatively small utilities compared to our competitors, and from a competitive standpoint, joining forces will make us stronger.”
A total solution determined choice of supplier
“We chose Kamstrup because the majority of our meter park for heating and electricity supply is already from Kamstrup. We know their products and the company and we know what they stand for. Kamstrup was therefore an obvious choice.
Kamstrup provides us with a total solution able to read all three utility supplies (electricity, water and heating) in one single system. This is a
major advantage and we do not have to replace existing meters, but can simply update them with the communication module.”
The total solution concept from Kamstrup is an AMR (Automatic Meter Reading) system which comprises electricity, heating and water meters, communication modules, software and services.
The unique aspect of this concept is that all meters communicate via the same communication route and network. This gives utilities the opportunity to read several data from the meters which can then be used for operational or informational purposes.
Electronic meter swapping system eases replacements
To avoid disruption to the customer, all meters will be installed in residences at the same time by local installers, from electricity and plumbing and heating.
For meter exchange, Kamstrup has supplied an electronic exchange system which also substitutes the traditional use of paper and pencil. The system consists of a handheld terminal which installers use to swap over the old meter details with the new meter ID and data. This enables all data to be automatically entered into the central IT system of the utility.
Remote meter reading a great advantage for both customer and supplier
The new meters will be remotely read via radio network, GSM or PLC. It is therefore no longer necessary for customers to read their meters and send in their meter reading cards. Utilities will also be able to advise their customers better when they call in regarding their bills or to get energy saving tips, given that it will only take approx. one minute to read the meter. This also means that any readings when moving property can be taken care of immediately.
“Our consumers have been very positive about the project. Just the fact that they no longer have to read their meters or receive reminders when they haven’t sent their cards in on time, is an obvious advantage to people,” say both Carl-Erik Anthonsen and Bjarne Jaegerskou.
The meters will be read once a month. Meter readings will be entered into the reading system and customers can, via the Internet, check up on their own heating, water or electricity consumption on a month by month basis. By having a remote meter reading system, utilities also have an opportunity to offer their customers an overview of their consumption, so that they automatically receive a warning if their consumption rises above a fixed percentage.
Meter reading servers are hosted by Kamstrup in Skanderborg while the operating PC is placed with the companies in Roskilde and Hilleroed. Data transmission between Sealand and Jutland takes place via the Internet.
Kamstrup manages the practicalities
“We have chosen to put the actual hardware and software itself with Kamstrup and to operate the system via the Internet. This enables us to relieve each other and create a back-up, a decision which follows our IT strategy. We have agreed a fixed price with Kamstrup per meter point, including everything from hosting to server management. This means we do not have to think about whether the system is running or not – this is Kamstrup’s responsibility.
It is very simple and we are very satisfied with Kamstrup as our supplier. They listen to our wishes and we have a good relationship with them. And a neutral solution provides security for the future, should one of the utilities be sold,” concludes Carl-Erik Anthonsen and Bjarne Jaegerskou.
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