Wales trial of manual and AMR metering and monitoring solutions

1. Wales trial of manual and AMR metering and monitoring solutions

2. Background. The Wales trial of Smart meters has come about primary due for the need to be able to monitor resource use as part of the environmental management system. One of the basic premises behind an EMS is that you should know what you’re using in terms of resources such as utilities and what you are producing in terms of waste. It was agreed with all Wales property managers that a “Wales template” meter monitoring system would be developed so that properties would be able to easily collect and enter meter read data on a monthly basis - www.ntmonitoring.net

3. Appointment of metering providers and the survey process. Working with the National Trust Energy Manager and the procurement department a competitive tendering process together with interviews of three potential service providers was undertaken. The tendering process included the supply and installation of electric / gas / oil / Lpg metering solutions, together with data collection services and a reporting system. A trial contract was confirmed with a successful company on the 12th June 2009. Information packs – Brought together site plans and information packs on all of the 13 trial properties. These provided details of electricity settlement meter account details, Mpan numbers, individual meter serial numbers, full property postal addresses and location of the meters, together with photographs . This information was forwarded to the developer as the basis of their site survey visits.

4. Site surveys: Property Managers/General Managers were contacted to discuss the individual site requirements. Dates were then arranged throughout for the surveying of each of the 13 properties. NB: This service was provided at no charge by the provider as part of the trial process. Future roll out of AMR metering to other NT properties would incur survey costs. The surveys were completed with a representative from the property – invaluable assistance in order to ensure that site distribution and unique circumstances were noted and understood.

5. A Final survey report was produced by provider by mid-November and indicative costings were provided for the individual property requirements

6. Metering supply and installation costs - Electric / gas / LPG / Oil Electricity: Following the completion of the competitive tendering process indicative costs were formulated by the NT Energy Manager –

7. Upon completion of the individual site surveys the complexity of working within historic buildings, and the locations of many National Trust properties began to be fully understood. The further adaptation of supplies which had seen many “add-ons” over a number of years, together with problems in ensuring that a modem signal could be achieved when dealing with potentially upwards of 4ft walls meant that costs increased.

8. Following receipt of these revised cost it was agreed that the preferred Ofgem settlement meters – Elster A1700, and preferred sub-meters – Elster A1140. Finalised supply and installation costs for these alone were agreed: These standardised costs for supply and installation of meters alone compare well with the original £250 stated within the tender return. With additional site specific requirements making up the remainder of the quoted works. Total costs for the supply and installation of electricity sub-metering with associated communication links to all 13 trial properties amounted to –

9. Water The process of installing water meters had already commenced, working with another provider as the main supplier of industry standard water meters accepted for billing purposes by all utility companies. NB: Although sites already had water meters installed, several had to be changed as they were not able to provide “pulsed” outputs. The generic costs for meter supply - The total cost for supply, trial hole investigations, initial flow monitoring of existing meters, specification CAD drawings, and installation of new water meters amounted to some £19,916.85. Included in this sum is the costs for installation and civil engineering works - £9970. The high costs are directly attributable to the civil engineering works associated with the installation of pulsed water metering where required (digging / CDM assessments / Method statements / protective fencing etc).

10. As part of this water meter installation program, technical installation specifications were developed. These will allow other National Trust properties to benefit from Utility company approved type of water meter, together with standardised installation method statements. (The complete range of specifications are available from the Wales Environmental Practices team).

11. Water meter AMR data loggers Technolog were appointed to complete these works by incorporating the associated communications equipment and also to provide data gathering services. It was agreed to sub-contract directly to Technolog as this would be a more direct and cost-effective process: Due to their direct links with all water utility companies as their preferred supplier and installer the process of gaining utility company approval for meter updating to AMR devices was straightforward. The cost for supply and installation of water meter AMR devices was £710 each –

12. Gas meters and loggers Once again, the previously completed environmental reviews meant that simple “contractor packs” of information and photographs of specific site requirements could be compiled and forwarded to Technolog quickly – thus negating expensive individual site survey elements. Again, it was decided to work directly with Technolog for the installation of Gas and oil loggers as they were able to provide straightforward, cost effective solutions. Specifically, the company required information on type and scale of the supply, together with pipe dimensions and local factors such as GPSM communication links.

13. Oil and Gas meters - Costs Oil Gas Site survey to determine a suitable meter View current meter Determine suitable location for a secondary meter Determine a suitable pulse enabled meter GSM signal strength test Provide photographs and details £120/meter Min number of meters to survey per site 3

14. Oil and Gas – Costs for the AMR loggers

15. The installation process was straightforward. Liaison with property staff was required to ensure that interruption to supplies at the properties was scheduled and managed (mainly installation works were completed on property closed days, or after hours). As with Water metering, the main consideration when dealing with mains gas metered supplies is to ensure that if a meter is already in place, it is able to provide a pulsed output. These meters came into manufacture and were installed post 1996. Quite easy to assess the suitability of your current meter as the majority have a date stamp on the meter dial –

16. Associated data collection charges and ongoing costs. Separate to the supply and installation costs of the various meters and communication links, there are additional costs attributable to the data collection. Electricity It was agreed that data would be recorded at 30 minute intervals. This data would then be collected by data company on a monthly basis and provided to the National Trust in an agreed format that would be compatible to separately developed NT meter monitoring systems The costs for providing this data gathering service will ultimately fall within individual property budgets, but for the purposes of the trial these costs were included in the overall project costs.

17. Gas/Oil/LPG/Water Technolog have agreed a charge of £5 annual charge per unit for data collection. This is not dependant on type, but across the full range of gas, oil, LPG, and water meters. They will then forward this information to data company, who will pass on in an agreed format to the NT along with the electricity data. IMServ have quoted costs for providing administrative services for this, and also to provide quarterly reports on gas monitoring information -

18. Lessons learnt from the survey and installation process. The trial project has highlighted several areas where other properties/regions can benefit from lessons learnt during the process. • The importance of collating information on existing meters. • Although the information on electricity metering was comprehensive (Mpan details / serial numbers / location descriptions), there was a further need to ensure that the “set up” of new meters matched the existing – • i.e. information on which meters were single rate / low and normal rates / and which registers on 5 rate polyphase meters were needed by the utility companies in order to invoice correctly. This information would form the basis of the consumption reports we will receive. • The association between main billing meters and sub-meters had to be fully understood. Again, to ensure correct provision of information on consumption • Additional benefits of working directly with Technolog – Designed and costed upgrade monitoring provision for the automation of the Aberdulais Waterwheel and turbine. The monitoring data will also be sent directly to the Environment Agency as part of the properties abstraction conditions.

19. The National Trust is a “complex client”. The nature of our properties has meant that “grace and favour” utility provision has historically built up. Property specific requirements mean that an initial site survey is beneficial. • Logistics of coordinating several contractors and companies to carry out works which invariably mean interruption to utility supplies, and our property operations must be managed. • The installation process was slowed as we were not informed at the beginning of the trial that we would be required to seek confirmation from utility providers to carry out works, and that we wished to appoint data company as our metering provider. • Data company’s internal mechanism for translating site survey information into costed schedules of works does not follow standard guidelines. It is based on individual engineer’s assessment. We found that these varied greatly from site to site, particularly with regard to ancillary items such as steel framed cabinets, and mounted boards.

20. Summary. Carry out an environmental review in order to confirm meters and requirements for properties. Compilation and cleansing of baseline data to identify suitable AMR “Smart” meter properties. Draw together existing meter details / property address information / GIS location maps / agree site contact points / any other information you feel may be relevant (location of other services etc) Water meter surveys may be required to confirm routes, “grace and favour distribution”. Investigation digging may also be required to confirm location and sizing of supply pipe work. Contact the respective AMR suppliers/installers. Arrange site survey visits and quotations. Appoint the company. Complete the company template installation request forms confirming which meters are to be installed as AMR devices. Contact the respective utility providers in order to confirm that you wish to appoint xxxx as your approved AMR installer, and that they will upon completion forward all gathered data to them for invoicing purposes. The utility companies will advise on the correct procedures. Schedule outline installation dates, and confirm these (what, where, and when) with GM’s and PM’s.