Sectors
Smart meter data: what utilities can do with it
Advanced metering produces far more data than billing needs. Here is how utilities use the rest.
Advanced metering infrastructure records consumption at intervals throughout the day and communicates it automatically. Billing uses a fraction of this data. The rest supports operations, customer service, and planning, if the utility has the data platform to use it.
Uses beyond billing
- Leak and theft detection. Continuous flow at a residence or unexplained consumption patterns.
- Outage detection. Meters that stop reporting indicate outages before customers call.
- Customer portals. Usage views that help customers manage consumption and understand bills.
- Demand analysis. Load patterns for system planning and rate design.
- Non-revenue water. Comparing production to consumption by district to find losses.
- Conservation programs. Targeting and measuring the effect of programs.
Data platform requirements
Interval data is voluminous. A time-series-capable data platform, ingestion from the head-end system, integration with the customer information system for account context, and integration with GIS for location. Retention policy for interval data. Access controls, because consumption data reveals occupancy patterns.
Privacy
Interval consumption data is personal information in many jurisdictions. Utilities need policies on retention, access, sharing, and customer consent, and technical controls to enforce them.
Integration with operations
Alerts from meter data feed work orders. Outage detection feeds the outage management system. District metering feeds leak investigation. These integrations are software work.
Getting started
Most utilities begin with billing and customer portal use, then add leak detection and outage detection. A data platform built for the first uses supports the later ones.
What to ask vendors
How data is exported from the head-end system, in what format and frequency; what APIs exist; and who owns the data.