To achieve these benefits, utilities need to look at the overall picture of how the data is being used, not just on what data is now available from the AMI system. For those who have not yet implemented AMI, that overall strategy should be part of the initial planning, not an afterthought. For those with AMI already in place, the sooner the right strategy is in place, the sooner the benefits can be achieved.

For example, while it is true that the implementation of an AMI system requires an appropriate meter data management system (MDMS) to validate, store, and distribute the large volumes of data that will be generated, but that is only the beginning. An MDMS needs to manage and synchronize all of the data needed to achieve the desired objectives, not just meter data, and be able to organize and aggregate the data for use by a range of different applications. The ability to validate the data differently for different applications is most likely required. The overall strategy of how benefits are to be achieved needs to be part of the MDMS decision.

And that’s where Aclara Software can help. The Aclara Software Nexus MDMS was designed from the application down, rather than the data up, to ensure that the system is optimized to support the type of applications required to generate the true benefits from AMI. Aclara’s MDM Data Repository supports forecasting, distribution asset optimization, revenue protection, complex billing, settlement, and a host of other applications that fully leverage the AMI data. And, it integrates with our Customer Care and Revenue Management Solutions to leverage AMI data to enhance customer service and support demand-response and other utility programs.

Reduce Peak Loads

Utilities looking to implement demand-response programs to address peak load concerns are faced with the issue of promoting the programs to their customer base and getting customers on anything but direct load control programs to take action.

Aclara Software’s Customer Care and Revenue Management Solutions help address these issues by:

• Targeting customers for demand-response programs based on whatever information is available about them, including rate class, usage patters, location, and energy profile that may have been collected from the customer for other Aclara applications, including bill inquiries and energy analysis. This approach can help target those customers likely to have the most significant impacts by participating.
• Promoting the program by helping customers understand what the impacts will be them, and even providing them with strategies to benefits further, such as by shifting load to the off-peak or adjusting thermostat settings during a critical peak period.
• Providing customers with rapid feedback, such as information the day after a critical peak event showing customers how they have done and providing them with strategies to reduce costs further the next time.

In demand-response pilots in California, this type of customer information has been demonstrated to impact customer behavior and reduce peak resource requirements.