Effects on Utility Operations
Aclara TWACS Technology influences utility end results in many ways.
Net Server Administration
The Aclara TWACS Technology Net Server is the "brain" of the two-way automatic communications system. An administrator manages collected metering and interval data, which affects every utility function, from management to customer service to billing.
Meter Transponder Installation
When a utility implements the Aclara TWACS Technology two-way automatic communication system, one of the first steps is the installation of remote transponders in all meters. New meters are fitted with transponders by the meter manufacturer before installation or existing meters are retrofitted on site.
Line Management
When using Aclara TWACS Technology, there is no need for repeaters on the line or ground-blocking devices such as regulators, breakers, or capacitor banks.
The outage assessment and restoration feature makes finding, fixing, and verifying power a much more efficient project. The two-way communication feature makes for less time wasted looking for outage locations and verifying restoration.
Substation Maintenance
With help from Aclara TWACS Technology, a small team installs or supervises installation of system components necessary to upload and download information between the utility, meters, and other remote devices into the utility substations. Aclara provides assistance with installation and maintenance as well as troubleshooting, training and support.
Billing Support
Aclara TWACS Technology eliminates estimated reads while providing accurate data and usage history. The system’s ability to provide daily reads allows customers to choose their billing cycle. This helps to distribute the workload of billing more evenly throughout the entire month.
Customer Service Benefits
A significant benefit of Aclara TWACS Technology is having the ability to do on-demand reads and determine usage history. The solution helps customer service representatives respond quickly and accurately to bill complaints, special read requests, or payment problems.
Marketing Advantages
The impressive list of features and benefits of Aclara TWACS Technology allows utility marketing departments to recruit new customers and retain current ones. For example, the system eliminates the need for customers to submit their own meter readings to the utility, allowing timely, accurate billing. Other benefits for marketing include instant-demand reads and remotely disconnect/connect electric service.
Operating Improvements
Aclara TWACS Technology reduces costly functions such as hard disconnects/connects, manual meter reading, and power outage/restoration monitoring. It also simplifies energy audits and adjustment of billing dates. Plus, hourly interval data can be collected for commercial accounts, in compliance with deregulation requirements. In addition, the system’s outage assessment program saves unnecessary expenditures by providing pinpoint problem detection and accurate dispatching of service crews.
Pre-Pay Metering
Aclara TWACS Technology offers the PowerStat IV pre-payment system from CIC Systems either as a stand-alone technology or integrated with the Aclara TWACS Technology, allowing utilities to offer an alternative to standard billing practices for customers who prefer the convenience of pre-payment.
Utility Management
With Aclara TWACS Technology, utilities reduce the risks of investing in advanced metering initiative/automatic meter reading systems. The utility owns and operates its own system, covering virtually 100% of both rural and urban service territories over existing power lines. The utility owns and controls all interval data with Aclara TWACS Technology, which adds up to rapid payback and future growth opportunities.
The utility’s bottom line is positively affected by the system's ability to:
- Eliminate debt load drag
- Reduce property intrusion liability
- Perform load management
- Reduce labor costs
- Create new revenue streams
- Reduce credit risk
- Reduce energy diversion
- Increase customer satisfaction