{"id":15834,"date":"2016-11-17T15:37:47","date_gmt":"2016-11-17T20:37:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/digital.hbs.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/smart-meters-gateway-to-a-better-grid\/"},"modified":"2016-11-17T15:37:47","modified_gmt":"2016-11-17T20:37:47","slug":"smart-meters-gateway-to-a-better-grid","status":"publish","type":"hck-submission","link":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/smart-meters-gateway-to-a-better-grid\/","title":{"rendered":"Smart Meters: Gateway to a better grid"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Next Generation of Power: Smart Grid<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The Internet of Things (IoT) \u2013 defined broadly as the embedding of physical devices and infrastructure with electronics, software, sensors, and network connectivity that enable them to collect and exchange data \u2013 is one of the most powerful trends in digitization. Powered by decreases in the cost of sensors and breakthroughs in processing power and bandwidth to connect devices, it is expected to provide massive gains in operational efficiency and economic benefit1<\/sup>. One industry that is especially positioned to gain from this trend is the utility space. Referred to as the \u201cSmart Grid\u201d, the IoT of the utilities industry has gained a lot of attention for its potential to transform this capital intensive, geographically dispersed industry. At the heart of the Smart Grid concept is the Smart Meter, a building block for this connected network that allows for two-way communication between consumers and utilities2<\/sup>. Itron \u2013 a longtime leader in advanced meters \u2013 is helping lay the framework for the Smart Grid.<\/p>\n

Background<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Itron was founded in 1977 in a garage in northern Idaho. It began when a team of engineers set out to develop computers and software to greatly reduce the labor intensity of meter reading techniques used at the time. Its first breakthrough came in the 1980s with its Electric Meter Reading (EMR) products which allowed utility workers to log meter readings electronically rather than by paper. This brought the dual benefit of substantially decreasing labor costs associated with meter readings while enhancing the accessibility of data collected. In the 1990s, Itron again pushed the frontier of metering technology by introducing Automatic Meter Reading (AMR)3<\/sup>. AMR improved on EMR by equipping electric, gas, and water meters with a meter module to transmit data to collection systems. This bypassed the need for visual inspection, thereby completely automating the process4<\/sup>.<\/p>\n

Itron in the Digital Era<\/strong><\/h3>\n

In keeping with its tradition of innovating meter technology, Itron ushered utilities into the digital age with its development of the OpenWay Smart Meter in the mid 2000s (see Figure 1 below for a present-day example of an Itron Smart Meter).<\/p>\n

Figure 1: Itron\u2019s OpenWay CENTRON Smart Meter<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"figure-1\"<\/a><\/p>\n

These Smart Meters built upon AMR technology by recording consumption of electricity in short intervals \u2013 typically an hour or less \u2013 and communicating this back to the utility. Unlike traditional AMR, Smart Meters, the main hardware component of advanced metering infrastructure (AMI), enable two-way communication between the meter and the utility. AMI offers huge promise for consumers and utilities as the foundation for the Smart Grid5<\/sup>. The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 provided an early outline of benefits of the Smart Gird, as seen in Figure 2 below.<\/p>\n

Figure 2: Characteristics of a Smart Grid as described by Title XIII of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 20076<\/sup><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
    \n
  1. Increased use of digital information and controls technology to improve\u00a0\u00a0 reliability, security, and efficiency <\/strong>of the electric grid<\/em><\/li>\n
  2. Dynamic optimization of grid operations and resources<\/strong>, with full cyber-security<\/em><\/li>\n
  3. Deployment and integration of distributed resources and generation<\/strong>, including renewable resources<\/em><\/li>\n
  4. Development and incorporation of demand response<\/strong>, demand-side resources, and energy-efficiency resources<\/em><\/li>\n
  5. Deployment of `smart’ technologies<\/strong> (real-time, automated, interactive technologies that optimize the physical operation of appliances and consumer devices) for metering, communications concerning grid operations and status, and distribution automation<\/em><\/li>\n
  6. Integration of `smart’ appliances<\/strong> and consumer devices<\/strong>. <\/em><\/li>\n
  7. Deployment and integration of advanced electricity storage<\/strong> and peak-shaving technologies<\/strong>, including plug-in electric and hybrid electric vehicles, and thermal storage air conditioning<\/em><\/li>\n
  8. Provision to consumers of timely information<\/strong> and control options<\/em><\/li>\n
  9. Development of standards for communication and interoperability of appliances and equipment connected to the electric grid, including the infrastructure serving the grid<\/em><\/li>\n
  10. Identification and lowering of unreasonable or unnecessary barriers to adoption<\/strong> of smart gird technologies, practices, and services<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

    Implications of Smart Grid<\/strong><\/h3>\n

    To many, the Smart Gird offers many advantages over the traditional grid structure. These include real-time, flexible incorporation of new energy technologies such as renewable energy sources \u2013 whose intermittent supply profile necessitates constant monitoring of production levels \u2013 energy storage and advanced energy management systems. Another key aspect of the Smart Grid is its demand response capabilities through which utilities communicate with customers to jointly decide how and when to consume and produce power. While utilities receive real-time data on consumer consumption and send time-based pricing data, customers (and their energy management systems) can use this data to make decisions such as to voluntarily reduce consumption, switch to on premise generation, or program smart appliances which react to changes in pricing6,7<\/sup>.<\/p>\n

    Path Forward<\/strong><\/h3>\n

    Itron has expanded on its legacy of manufacturing traditional meters to become a leading player in the development of Smart Grids, partnering with many utilities to deploy Smart Meters throughout the world. It has partnered Cisco to leverage the networking veteran\u2019s wireless communication technologies and grid routers into its own products. The two companies first partnered in 2010 to advance Smart Meter technology and develop a network to facilitate communication between Smart Meters, distribution networks and customer interfaces9<\/sup>. Recently, the two designed the Itron Riva platform to deliver advanced computing power for control and analysis applications for end customers to better meet the technological demands of the Smart Grid10<\/sup>.<\/p>\n

    Despite promising developments in Smart Meter technology by Itron and other vendors, the Smart Grid has been slow to take off for many utilities due to the highly regulated and capital intensive nature of the industry which makes it slow to innovate. As it looks to solidify its future success in the Smart Grid space, Itron needs to build the market for its technology with utilities. It should continue to develop its software and analytical capabilities related to Smart Meter data collection as well as its utilities consulting arm to convince key decision makers of the business opportunity. For utilities, Itron technology may offer a gateway to productivity improvements, revenue gains and increased reliability and safety12<\/sup>. The challenge now is to convince utilities to unlock this potential.<\/p>\n

    Words: 779<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. The Internet of Things: Making Sense of the Next Mega-Trend. Retrieved Nov 16, 2016 from Goldman Sachs website, http:\/\/www.goldmansachs.com\/our-thinking\/outlook\/internet-of-things\/iot-report.pdf<\/a><\/li>\n
    2. Top 10 Trends Shaping the Utility Industry in 2016. Retrieved Nov 16, 2016 from Gartner website, https:\/\/www.gartner.com\/doc\/reprints?id=1-3IA02R0&ct=160922&st=sg<\/a><\/li>\n
    3. Our History. Retrieved Nov 16, 2016 from Itron website, https:\/\/www.itron.com\/na\/about\/history<\/a><\/li>\n
    4. Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI). Retrieved Nov 16, 2016 from Federal Energy Regulatory Commission website, https:\/\/www.ferc.gov\/EventCalendar\/Files\/20070423091846-EPRI%20-%20Advanced%20Metering.pdf<\/a><\/li>\n
    5. Itron Becomes World\u2019s Largest Metering and AMR\/AMI Company: With Purchase of Actaris. Retrieved Nov 16, 2016 from Metering and Smart Energy International website, https:\/\/www.metering.com\/itron-becomes-world-s-largest-metering-and-amr-ami-company-with-purchase-of-actaris\/<\/a><\/li>\n
    6. Smart Grid. Retrieved Nov 16, 2016 from Federal Energy Regulatory Commission website, https:\/\/www.ferc.gov\/industries\/electric\/indus-act\/smart-grid.asp<\/a><\/li>\n
    7. Assessment of Demand Response & Advanced Metering. Retrieved Nov 16, 2016 from Federal Energy Regulatory Commission website, https:\/\/www.ferc.gov\/legal\/staff-reports\/12-08-demand-response.pdf<\/a><\/li>\n
    8. Smart Meters. Retrieved Nov 16 2016 from Victoria state government website, http:\/\/www.smartmeters.vic.gov.au\/about-smart-meters\/reports-and-consultations\/advanced-metering-infrastructure-cost-benefit-analysis\/2.-background<\/a><\/li>\n
    9. Cisco, Itron partner on smart grid networks. Retrieved Nov 16, 2016 from ZDNet website, http:\/\/www.zdnet.com\/article\/cisco-itron-partner-on-smart-grid-networks\/<\/a><\/li>\n
    10. Itron Launches Its Grid Edge Intelligence Platform to Merge Meters, Comms, Apps and IoT. Retrieved Nov 16, 2016 from Green Tech Media website, https:\/\/www.greentechmedia.com\/articles\/read\/Itron-Launches-its-Grid-Edge-Intelligence-Platform-to-Merge-Meters-Comms<\/a><\/li>\n
    11. Adapt and Adopt: Digital Transformation for Utilities. Retrieved Nov 16, 2016 from Bain website, http:\/\/www.bain.com\/publications\/articles\/adapt-and-adopt-digital-transformation-for-utilities.aspx<\/a><\/li>\n
    12. The Digital Utility: New Opportunities and Challenges. Retrieved Nov 16, 2016 from McKinsey website, http:\/\/www.mckinsey.com\/industries\/electric-power-and-natural-gas\/our-insights\/the-digital-utility-new-opportunities-and-challenges<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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