The Hutchinson Utility Commission
has selected an advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) platform that gives them “double vision”– enabling them to remotely monitor both their electric and natural gas meters. The FlexNet communications network, from Raleigh, North Carolina-based Sensus, will support more than 10,000 AMI endpoints for electric and gas meters by 2012.
Hutchinson Utility is leveraging advanced metering technology to improve operational efficiency, support energy and resource conservation initiatives, and provide enhanced customer service to the residents and businesses of Hutchinson, Minnesota.
“Sensus offers a robust system that can monitor and measure both our electric and natural gas distribution,” said John Webster, AMI Coordinator at Hutchinson Utilities. “With FlexNet, we have a streamlined solution for supporting communications with our meters. The new system mitigates human reading error and ensures billing accuracy from one central location.”
Hutchinson, which partnered with Monticello, Minnesota-based Groebner & Associates, a full line distributor of products and services for the natural gas industry; and Atlanta-based HD Supply, a wholesale distributor of infrastructure and energy products, in the in the AMI and smart metering selection process, will use FlexNet across its eight square-mile service area to improve record-keeping, accuracy, and theft detection; take advantage of current smart grid development initiatives; and better manage and balance their natural gas purchases and sales.
In addition to the FlexNet system, Sensus will provide Hutchinson with more than seven thousand iCon electric meters and more than five thousand natural gas meter SmartPoints that will facilitate remote readings for both utility types.
The FlexNet AMI solution gives Hutchinson a dedicated communications highway where they can partition specific lanes to accommodate new features and applications in the future. Hutchinson plans to implement electric and natural gas load studies to ensure that the systems are correctly sized to maximize efficiency. They will also utilize FlexNet to improve their system reporting on voltage and outage detection. Hutchinson customers may benefit from future projects such as demand management, smart thermostats and in-home displays.
“Monitoring electric and natural gas distribution on one system is just another example of Sensus on the cutting-edge of advanced metering infrastructure technologies,” said Chris Wykle, director of Gas Marketing for Sensus. “Our system is tested and proven to be a solution for the future of smart grids.”
Earlier this month, Sensus announced that Garden City, Kansas, had successfully deployed the Sensus FlexNet AMI system for both its electric and water utilities. The AMI program includes smart electric and water metering in addition to distribution automation applications, demonstrating the benefits of using a licensed-spectrum approach to AMI that adheres to open standards and supports multiple-applications with one dedicated network.
Prior to implementing an AMI system, Garden City outsourced meter reading to a contractor, so they have removed those costs and reduced the number of trucks on the road. In addition, they eliminated the need to estimate usage during winter months when meters are often inaccessible due to snow and ice. Other benefits of the AMI program include notification of theft of service and freeing up staff time once spent on billing corrections.
“Our water customers have given positive feedback that the new meters are identifying leaks they were previously unaware of,” said Leland Cable, water and wastewater manager for Garden City. “We are in the process of using information gathered by the FlexNet system to identify and repair leaks throughout our distribution system.”
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Cheryl Kaften is an accomplished communicator who has written for consumer and corporate audiences. She has worked extensively for MasterCard (News - Alert) Worldwide, Philip Morris USA (Altria), and KPMG, and has consulted for Estee Lauder and the Philadelphia Inquirer Newspapers. To read more of her articles, please visit her columnist page.Edited by
Jennifer Russell
