Smart Grid Utility Management Software

TLC - Technology Learning Centre for Utility Companies

Benefits for Utility Companies

The TLC data model can be used by Utilities with Electric, Gas and Water Meters to improve the business processes, information flow, capacity for data volumes and the integration with the AMI required to support the deployment of Smart Meters. JOMAR’s TLC Data Model supports small and large Utilities. There are a host of features and functions that are being incorporated to automate the processing of meter data exceptions in very high volume Smart Meter deployments.

Applications

All TLC applications, such as the Operations Data Store - Repository and the Configurable Rules Engine are integrated with Meter Data Management, Outage Management Support, Mobile ERP Software and Enterprise Software to provide real-time processing of data from the Head End AMI. In addition, the inter-operational flow of data between these critical systems including the ‘Next Generation CIS’ with SmartPhones and Tablet is also in real-time.

Purpose

The TLC is designed to be used by a Utility regardless of the current legacy and third party software applications that it has implemented. Its purpose is to provide a method to develop and apply new ideas and approaches on how to plan, consolidate, modernize and upgrade to a fully integrated Utility Management System that reacts pro-actively to the high volumes of information flowing from the Smart Grid Advanced Meter Infrastructure (AMI).

Data Model

An important aspect of the TLC Data Model is that it is being built on a meter population of 5 million smart meters to be optimized and expanded to 10 million. This test framework supports processing of Meter Reads in a multitude of increments (for example 5, 10, 15 and 60 minute intervals). The TLC software components process meter alarms and events in real-time for support of Outage Management and to monitor the health of the AMI and its associated network.

The TLC environment provides Utilities with the opportunity to rethink their business processes
and implement new approaches to support the information flow from the Smart Grid.

Smart Meter and AMI Roll-Out Solutions

The JOMAR TLC Software Solutions can be configured to support Utilities in the initial learning phase, simulation and meter testing, project implementation and final Roll-out of a smart meter deployment. The following list of items are part of the TLC environment:

Mobile Work Force Management tracks and controls meter installation, initialization and capture of critical data (i.e. GPS co-ordinates) of meters, transformers, feeder lines and sub-stations
Real-time updates of meter data for the Operational Data Store-Repository
Configurable Rules Engine for monitoring the initial unit and integrated AMI communications to assess the overall performance and health of the network
Third party CIS (Customer Service and Billing) Systems are fully integrated with the Operational Data Store - Repository and updated with all data required to support the Customer Billing Process and Service Orders.

Initial communication testing for the AMI set-up and deployment uses ‘Listening Technology’ that processes all meter alarm and event data in parallel with the AMI. The following topics are also part of the Smart Meter Support and project roll-out:

Support for Meter Service TechniciansOperations and Engineering in trouble shooting and fine tuning of the AMI network using real-time processing of meter alarms and outage management mapping that is fully integrated with Mobile Work Force Management
Volume, Unit and fully Integrated testing of all meter register and interval data, along with relevant billing determinants
Volume, Unit and Integration testing of Legacy and third party Systems

MDM - Meter Data Management and Outage Management Support

Sensus and Elster AMI Technology
Monitoring the Health of the AMI Network
- Operational Data Store - Repository
- Configurable Business Rules
Meter management processes in an AMI environment
- Remote connect and disconnect
- Meter changes and removal
- Meter alarms are overlaid with interval and register reads to assess meter and network health, read quality and backfill requirements
Real-time processing of meter alarms and events
Data aggregation and analysis techniques and functions - meter register, interval, alarm and event data including history
Billing cycle management
Synchronization of meter data with customer information and billing system
VEE - validation, editing and estimation with automated processing of meter data billing exceptions
- MDM Billing Request/Response Services and TOU Billing data
- Customer service support tools
Automated generation of Service and Work orders
Customer Presentment of meter interval, register data and alerts
Mobile technology, SmartPhones and Tablet device Integration
Multiple commodities - Electric, Gas and Water
Suite Metering for apartments and condominiums
Residential vs. commercial and industrial meters
Outage Management Support
- Powerfail and restore alarms are consolidated, mapped with Google Earth and layered over the grid to locate and track outages

Assessment and mapping of the outage scope
- Coordination of dispatching crews with equipment form their present location
- Number of customers affected by power outage and progress of power restoration
- Monitoring power restoration of primary lines, sub-stations, feeder lines, transformers and end points
Power generation
- Processing inputs from wind, roof and ground mounted solar panels
- Virtual Metering and how it can be applied to support the analysis of loads based on the data model relationships of substation, feeder, transformer and meter
Bi-Directional metering support
Net Metering Settlement calculations for customers providing power inputs reconciled against their Consumption
Mobile ERP Software and Enterprise Software Functions integrated with Meter Data Management, Outage Management Support and CIS.
- Inventory Management for tracking and maintaining the inventory of new and old Smart Meters (i.e. swaps or replacements
- Mobile Workforce Management and Work Order Management
- Scheduling and Monitoring projects, jobs, work orders and service orders
- Financial Management, Asset Management and Costing of projects, jobs, work orders, service orders and Preventive Maintenance Repair Orders
JOMAR ‘Gateway Technology’ provides seamless integration for:
- CIS - Customer Information Systems
- GIS - Geographical Information Systems
- SCADA - Control Room and Field Services staff can ping selected meters from their browsers or SmartPhone and Tablets to monitor and manage outage response
- Smart Home Area Networks and Load Control Devices
- Provincial IESO support for mandated test scenarios
- Regulatory Compliance Reporting (CAIFI, SAIFI, CAIDI and MAIFI)
- Provincial MDM/R - IESO software upgrades and automatic reconciliation with Meter Data Management and ODS Repository.

‘Next Generation CIS Software’

The TLC environment requires that we rethink the role of CIS to manage new tasks and processes integrated with Meter Data Management, Outage Management Support and Mobile ERP, including Enterprise Software Solutions.

For example, CIS including Billing processes can be engineered around the technology framework to support:

Multiple AMI Vendor Technologies (i.e. Sensus and Elster)
Suite Metering requirements for condominiums and apartment complexes
Power Generation Inputs from sources such as wind, roof and ground mounted solar panels

Deployment of load control devices in home area networks
Bi-Directional and Net Metering

Call us at 519-740-0510 to find out how to participate with a group of LDCs and JOMAR in developing the ‘Next Generation CIS’ integrated with Meter Data Management, Outage Management Support, Mobile ERP Software and Enterprise Software Solutions supported by Mobile Apps that integrate SmartPhones and Tablets.

Mobile ERP Software and Enterprise Software

Financial Management

General Ledger, Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable is supported by multi-currency and drill-downs to source transactions. Cash Management and Cheque Reconciliation are integrated with Bank Services.

Budgeting and Financial Statement Generation integrate Microsoft Excel. Fixed Asset Accounting (third party software ) is integrated with our Financial Software and Asset Management Tracking.

Project, Job and Work Order Costing including Cost Allocations

Material and labour are reported on Work Orders and Service Orders. This information is used to calculate the actual cost incurred on jobs or projects to be compared with the estimate.

Work Order costs can be allocated to the maintenance or repair of assets and vehicles.

Service Order costs are integrated with the CIS - Customer Care and Billing Systems.

Purchase Order costs and Sub-contractor’s service costs are allocated to jobs and engineering projects identified on the Purchase Order for cost allocation to capital projects, fixed asset accounts and outsourcing of vehicle maintenance.

A complete maintenance, repair and cost history is available for equipment and vehicles that can be part of the capital equipment acquisition program.

The cost incurred to install or refurbish major assets also becomes part of Utility Asset Management System and the cost calculation that provides for the asset depreciation schedule in Fixed Asset Accounting.

On-line cost roll-up for monitoring and reporting of costs incurred on jobs, projects, work orders, service orders and the maintenance/repair of assets including equipment and vehicles.

Mobile Workforce Management, Resource Scheduling and Tracking

Mobile Workforce Management is supported by project, job and resource scheduling to improve the utilization of resource allocation. Resource Scheduling includes: crews and inventory availability, purchase materials, sub-contractors services, equipment and vehicles allocated to jobs, projects and maintenance of utility assets.

Real-time Resource Scheduling provides Schedulers with on-line access for coordination of inventory and material availability, status of purchase orders and sub-contractors services with the aforementioned work force and vehicles to improve service response especially in emergency situations.

Optional. A work force database can be set-up for assessment of work force capacity and crew or vehicle availability and for dispatching them to the correct outage location.

Tracking of sub-contractors’ activities over the internet improves the flow of materials across the full service supply chain, utility operations, engineering and field services.

Workflow Management

E-mail notification and event triggered action messages are integrated with workflow management to enhance the flow of materials across the full service supply chain and the flow of work through departments.

Utility Resource Scheduling Board

The Schedule Board facilitates scheduling of small jobs or service orders of short duration to improve customer services. Schedulers can maintain daily, weekly and monthly schedules with a shared view of real-time schedules by department for service orders and work orders, jobs and projects.

Work Order and Service Order Management

Real-time Work Order and Service Order scheduling is integrated with jobs, projects, transportation and maintenance of utility assets. Parts, materials, crews, equipment and vehicles can be allocated on-line, recorded and charged to a work order for cost monitoring of jobs or projects and progress reporting.

Monitoring Work Orders is integrated with jobs and projects. Parts, materials and labour are recorded on Work Orders or Service Orders and the job or project status can be monitored in real-time.

Purchasing and Sub-contracting Services

On-line Purchase Order Processing is supported by Purchase Requisitions. Purchase Orders, the receipt of goods and vendor invoice processing are integrated with Accounts Payable. Purchase Orders include the allocation of order line items to jobs and projects or capital projects.

Tracking of Sub-contractors’ and Purchase Orders is supported by Work Flow Management to improve the efficiency of the service supply chain and the flow of materials across all operating departments.

Re-order Reporting is triggered by the inventory replenishing process for buyers to review and approve the Purchase Orders generated by the MRP - Material Requirements Planning run prior to releasing the P.O.s to vendors. The selection of preferred vendors may be based on company policy.

Re-order Reporting is triggered by the inventory replenishing process for buyers to review and approve the Purchase Orders generated by the MRP run prior to releasing the P.O.s to vendors. The selection of preferred vendors may be based on company policy.

Inventory and Warehouse Management

The Inventory Management System supports raw materials, parts, kits, assemblies of equipment, instruments, meters and transformers by SKU, lot and serial number. Tracking can also be provided by Serial Number and software components.

On-line Inventory “Availability” checks provide information for the creation of Service Orders, Work Orders and Repair Orders in coordination with Purchase Order status for replenishing raw materials, parts and other items.

Multiple units of measure include length, weight, roll of cable or wire by type and volume (square footage) with conversion to metric units as standard feature of the system.

Warehouse and Yard Inventory include wires or cables (by type) and steel coils (by heat number). Recording of the remaining length of a wire spool or cable (after cutting of a piece of it) is part of JOMAR’s ‘Roll Stock Control’, and multi-level Inventory Control by SKU, Lot and Roll.

Materials required for large projects can be assembled in the yard for transfer to a site, or assembled on-site prior to commencing the project. Materials can be reserved or allocated in the system using the concept of a ‘Logical Warehouse’ location. Materials received can be kept under quarantine in a ‘Logical Warehouse’ until their inspection and QC status is resolved.

Material Reservations. The requirements date for ‘Soft Allocations’ can be changed to accommodate other material priorities in the ‘Time Phased’ MRP - Material Requirements Planning process.

‘Allocations’ of materials and parts made to jobs, projects and Work Orders or Service Orders can be reversed or ‘De-allocated’ if the schedule date of the jobs or projects is changed substantially or the job/project is cancelled. Materials and parts being De-allocated are immediately returned to the on-hand inventory to maintain the integrity of the Inventory system.

Physical inventory ‘wall-to-wall’ or ‘cycle counting’ are available as a standard feature of the system. Inventory costs are posted to the General Ledger.

Re-ordering is triggered by the MRP process (if it is used) for exploding bills of materials for parts requirements to perform major repairs of vehicles, equipment and instruments.

Inventory Availability. On-line access is provided to the bills of material of equipment and vehicles to determine parts “Availability” and for creating a parts (picking) list.

A Bin Locator System and Touch-screen Technology for parts picking lists are integrated with Warehouse Management.