top of page
Fixing a Pipe

About Smart Metering Technology

Introduction

Manual vs AMI vs AMR meters

In India, traditionally water meters are read manually, necessitating on-site visits from meter readers each billing cycle. If a meter is not accessible, the utility bill is based on estimated consumption. Automatic Meter Reading (AMR) technology, introduced in the late 1980s globally, eased this process by electronically transmitting readings when a remote device passes by the meter. It removed the aspect of human error in recording reading manually but still necessitated site visits for each cycle.

​

By the early 2000s, metering technology advanced further with the inception of Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI). Employed across electric, gas, and water sectors, AMI meters enable two-way communication between utilities and meters, enriching data collection. These meters use various communication channels, such as Fixed Radio Frequency networks, Broadband over Power Line, and Power Line Communications, to send data in near-real-time. This data is stored and managed for analysis by a Meter Data Management (MDM) system at the utility's end.

 

Utilities have to weigh the merits of continuing with AMR technology or transitioning to AMI. Since AMR deployments do not offer a substantial advantage in costing, the decision to transition to AMI which offers a more data-rich environment for both utilities and customers is an easy one for most utilities.

Screenshot 2023-11-03 at 8.44.09 AM.png
Screenshot 2023-11-03 at 8.44.01 AM.png
Understanding LPWAN and LoRaWAN Technologies

Low-Power Wide-Area Network (LPWAN) is a type of wireless telecommunication network designed to enable long-range communications at a low bit rate among connected devices, such as battery-operated sensors. One of the trailblazing technologies in the LPWAN space is LoRaWAN.

​

LoRaWAN is a media access control (MAC) layer protocol designed for large-scale public networks with a single operator. Built atop LoRa, or Long Range, technology, LoRaWAN facilitates communication between lowpowered devices and Internet-connected applications over long-range wireless connections.

​

The requirement for LPWAN technologies stems from the fact that water meters need to be extremely energy-efficient devices. Technologies like 2G, 3G, and Bluetooth cannot be used to transmit data daily as it results in rapid battery depletion. Ideally, the battery installed in the meter should last for the meter’s lifetime or, at a minimum, 8-10 years. Though changing batteries is an option in the meters we provide, considering the effort and cost involved, it’s always preferable to opt for technologies that are extremely energy-efficient, have been tested on a large scale, and are wellsuited to interference and outdoor weather conditions.

Advantages of AMI Metering

Meter Operations

  1. No manual meter reading

  2. Two-way meter communication

  3. Track real-time consumption

  4. Remotely detect continuous usage & consumption anomalies

  5. Identify vacancies

  6. Identify tampering

  7. Detect noncommunication or meter errors

  8. No false readings due to airflow

Water Operations

  1. Communicate better and more accurately

  2. Analyze data more easily

  3. Increase revenue Increase efficiency

  4. Decrease non-revenue water (NRW)

  5. Pressure management in flat areas (pilot)

  6. Detect leaks

  7. Optimized distribution

  8. Demand Forecasting

Customer Service

  1. Ability to resolve customer inquiries with realtime data Improve billing

  2. Consumers have the agency to access their data online

  3. Flag potential high consumption before customer receives bill

  4. Pinpoint and address illegal connections

  5. Stabilized rate and revenue variability

Sustainability

  1. Decrease fuel consumption

  2. Reduce emissions from vehicle routes

  3. Decrease per capita consumption (GPCD) of water

  4. Decrease overall water demand through efficient use and leak detection

bottom of page