Smart Metering

Introduction

In May 2006, City Power Johannesburg instructed Rubbytad X-Factor AMR, in conjunction with Power Measurement, to install 9 500 SMART AMR meters in the greater Roodepoort area. The contract, the first phase of City Power’s ongoing attempt to replace all conventional metering points in the greater Johannesburg with SMART AMR meters, included installation and maintenance of the entire system over a period of three years. The phase one contract was successfully signed off in May 2009 and phase two has commenced at approximately the same time. This contract covers +/- 18 000 metering points and will cover areas targeted by City Power as high revenue loss / high non technical loss areas.

Brief Overview of Project / Installation Process

The technical team will receive the targeted area’s complete billing information and all available GIS information from City Power. The billing information consists of suburb names, addresses, stand numbers, account numbers, existing meter numbers etc. The GIS information will show suburbs and stand numbers in a map format. It will also indicate the location of all sub stations (distribution network). The ADDAX communication network will be installed and tested to ensure all SMART metering points will be able to communicate with the control centre. The communication network consists of GSM / GPRS / Ethernet – LAN communication between the control centre and master routers in the field, MV (Medium Voltage) communication between master routers and slave routers and LV PLC (Low Voltage Power Line Carrier) communication between the slave routers and metering points. If the communication network is fully functional, the meters will be installed; the new billing information will be captured and forwarded to City Power. The meter technology used in phase two is STS certified and can be used in either credit work mode or pre-paid work mode, and this function can be remotely managed.

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