Solution Description

Advanced Meter Infrastructure (AMI) solutions create a network between advanced meters and utility business systems. The AMI network facilitates the collection and distribution of metering information to customers, other parties and to the utility itself. AMI systems support demand response, time of use, critical pricing, and other advanced functions all aimed to improve customer service and maximize operations.

GE has created a solution that goes beyond the collection of metering data. GE's Advanced Distribution Infrastructure (ADI) solution is designed to make possible real-time distribution system information as well as to allow utilities to control network assets from the operations center to the customer location. ADI supports applications as diverse as advanced metering, demand response, capacitor bank monitoring, switch control, outage / restoration management, volt / VAR control, fault detection, isolation & restoration (FDIR) and distribution management.

Today, most utilities seek to implement single-purpose communications products to implement metering, distribution automation, and other applications that require remote control data collection over the network between the substation and the customer location. With numerous choices for each application, utilities can end up with a variety of parallel, non-interoperable products and systems. In addition to this, many applications cannot be cost-justified due to the high cost of communications and the use of another stand-alone communications network. In the current regulatory and operating environment, utilities are being driven to implement a number of new and expanded initiatives designed to lower costs, improve reliability, and / or meet new regulatory mandates.

The GE ADI offering allows utilities to have unprecedented flexibility and functionality in implementing a standard platform for a variety of advanced applications throughout the utility network. Using proven standards-based networking products and technologies, GE can help utilities implement scalable, extensible automation solutions with a lower Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) and better return on investment.

Core Network

Core Network Infrastructure
The ADI solution has the flexibility to operate over multiple communications transports using different technologies. The core network will be configured to leverage the existing public infrastructure and private networks, significantly lowering both capital and operating expenses.

Operating and Management Systems
The ADI integrated network manager provides a flexible platform for advanced utility information and control networking. The data management system secures and stores real-time data from the system endpoints. This package is consolidated into a single back-office application to seamlessly integrate with the customer's operational and business support systems.

Applications

Advanced Metering
GE's family of I-210 residential and kV2C commercial and industrial meters are equipped with interface modules to support two way, real-time reading of consumption, TOU, and interval data from the meter. Additional features supported include: tamper detection, outage / restoration detection, remote meter configuration, demand resets, remote disconnect, and more. GE's business support software enables all of these features to be remotely monitored and controlled from the utility's central office.

The ADI solution is technology-neutral with respect to the various communication protocols. Our solution operates over the following communications protocols: RF, PLC, and Digital Cellular. The BPL protocol will be integrated prior to 2007.

Volt / VAR Control
Large inductive loads such as air conditioners, furnaces, dryers, etc can consume VARs instead of Watts. Since the residential meters only measure Watts and this is what the customer is billed for, utilities want to keep the number of VARs to a minimum. This can be done by switching in capacitor banks to compensate for VAR losses.

Switching in capacitor banks due to high VAR consumption will increase voltages, which may at times exceed the mandated voltage limits. Therefore an advance control system is not only needed to maintain voltage (LTC Control) and VAR losses (Cap Bank Control) but to coordinate between LTC and Cap Bank control to maintain an optimal voltage level while simultaneously reducing VAR losses. Advanced algorithms within the automation equipment located at the substation or at the DMS control room can accomplish this task.

Fault Detection, Isolation & Restoration (FDIR)
With today's high electricity costs, customers have come to expect a higher level of power quality from their electric utility. Higher power quality requirements have become even more critical with the proliferation of electronic devices such as VCRs, computers and clock radios, which are intolerant of even the smallest interruption of power. These issues have become so important to utility customers that federal and state standards are now mandated for power quality and utilities are now penalized if the number of interruptions exceeds these mandated standards.

To limit the number of customers affected by an interruption due to a fault, distribution feeders are broken up into sections isolated by motorized switches or breakers. GE's advanced FDIR algorithm can detect which section of the feeder the fault occurred, quickly isolate that feeder section by operating the isolating switches or breakers and restoring power to the non faulted sections. Thus only those customers on the faulted section are affected by a power outage.

Distribution Management System
Distribution networks have become too large and complex for human operators to monitor and control manually. This is especially true if advanced algorithms such as VOLT/VAR control and FDIR need to be executed. An advanced computer based system called a Distribution Management System (DMS) is required to provide the operator an overview of the status of the distribution network, sound alarms when abnormal conditions occur, and execute advanced algorithms such as VOLT/VAR and FDIR.

GE's ENMAC DMS is a vital building block within the ADI solution. ENMAC is a SCADA-based system, which enables network operators to manage real-time operations of their distribution assets. The advanced network analysis from this system improves system performance, while reducing costs.

Benefits

Core Network

• Lowers TCO by operating many applications over a common network vs. multiple, disparate systems
• Lowers overall operating cost
• Defers CapEx programs costs
• Lowers training costs
• Lowers installation costs

• Reduces complexity (avoids multiple, non-integrated application)
• Supports a variety of implementation and functional requirements
• Leverages existing utility networking assets
• Supports integration of third party products

• Supports phased to full scale implementations / deployments
• Standard Internetworking technology infrastructure
• Extensible functionality to support future requirements

• Security capable of supporting highly sensitive, mission critical applications
• Full system traceability, acknowledgement and logging for robust system reliability
• Complies with Internet security standards

Applications

Volt/VAR Control

• Improve overall reactive compensation
• Maintain adequate reactive margin
• Improve end of feeder voltage
• Automate current manual operation of feeder equipment
• Reduce transmission system losses that result from heavy system load transfer
• Reduced fuel costs

• ROI < 2 years as a result of cost savings from reduced T&D system losses & fuel costs
• Gain ~ 1MVAR per transformer
• Reduced / delayed distribution rebuilds
• No need to manually inspect primary equipment
• CapEx and OpEx deferment

Fault Detection, Isolation & Restoration

• Reduce outage duration
• Reduced SAIFI, CAIDI, & MAIFI scores
• Ensure safety and reliability automation systems
• Expand entire system over 1000 switches
• Integrate existing reclosures and substation equipment

• Reduce outage duration by 35%
• Standardize DA solution deployment system wide
• Interlocking and system checks to ensure safety
• System has been operating for over 10 years on over 1000 switches

Distribution Management System

• Meet regulatory performance targets at minimum cost

• Avoid severe regulatory penalty
• Meet regulatory performance targets
• Gain performance-based rate

The Quantifiable Impact of Deploying ADI

Kerry Evans
Service Solutions Manager
Tel: 678 844 5654
Kerry1.Evans@ge.com