Dimitri Tyuhtin
In 2011 IDGC Holdings and Integrated Energy Systems, two of the leading Russian energy companies, jointly commenced a Smart Metering pilot project in the area serviced by IDGC of the Urals. The project was launched under the “Count. Save. Pay” federal program drawn up by the “Technology Development and Update Commission” attached to the office of the Russian President.
A joint working group created to implement the project was formed by representatives from IDGC Holdings OAO, IDGC of Urals OAO and also Integrated Energy Systems ZAO. The key focus lies in determining the best technologies used for arranging retail market metering, the recognition of potential problems, generating strategies to solve problems, decrease energy loss and operating expenses as well as improving customer service.
As a part of the project, the energy companies intend to create a metering automated control system (or ACS). It will include boundary meters for domestic consumers and small businesses (installed, if needed, at consumer facilities), data-collection units installed on transformer substations as well as a data acquisition and processing center.
The project will be launched at Permenergo in 2011-2012. The Company intends to replace and mount approximately 50,000 intelligent meters in the Perm region (Sadovyi urban district) and integrate them into a unified ACS.
“Certainly, it is a rather painstaking project, but it will have significant repercussions because it is aimed at teaching our customers how to manage their own energy consumption”, said Oleg Zhdanov, Permenergo director. “The project is designed to create an open system, and any consumer can sign-in and see their own consumption and payments. The use and analysis of such information should help our customers to take deliberate energy-saving measures”.
A new Smart Metering system will provide the transparency and operability of the following processes: record of readings, data transition to billing systems, meter monitoring, on-line configuration of network distribution and consumption as well as possible remote customer curtailment based upon requests from retail suppliers.
Over 50 Russian meter producers showed interest in our project. Technical expertise has determined the short list, and after negotiations they received an offer to generate technical solutions for a particular Perm urban district. The participants are Russian leaders in ACS development and implementation. They are very experienced, highly innovative and use cutting-edge energy technologies.
The installation of new meters began on June 06, 2011. Five sites on the pilot territory are equipped by devices produced by both Russian (Incotex, Energomera, Matrix) and foreign (Echelon, SAGEM) manufacturers. 150 apartment buildings are currently being equipped with the devices, with the overall quantity of the assembled meters exceeding 15,000. The devices may use several tariffs, meter both consumption volume and capacity (the latter being important for network prameters calculation) as well as being able to send feedback remotely. Inhabitants of the area are satisfied with the innovations: “A 3-tariff meter is very convenient for us, since we are out during the day-time. We manage our household duties, like garment washing, cleaning and cooking, in the evening when the tariff is low”, they comment. “We also like the design of the meters and it is easy to use them“, said one customer.
IDGC of the Urals has also arranged a tender to choose a contractor for developing a top-level ACS based on Smart Metering technology. Sixteen of the largest IT firms showed interest in the tender. Seven companies, including four foreign ones, have submitted their offers during the negotiations.
Synchronously with the pilot project, the working group intends to work out proposals stipulating amendments to the Russian legislation, standardization of financing sources and mechanisms as well as exploitation with a view to replicate the project all over Russia.
There are also plans to determine the efficiency the project. A possibility to update business processes related to metering by gridcos and retail suppliers will appear after implementation and a full review of the pilot project.
Energy-Efficient Technologies in the Urals Grids
IDGC of the Urals is a united operating company of the Urals region dealing with the transfer and distribution of energy in the Sverdlovsk, Chelyabinsk and Perm regions.
Our operations are aimed at increasing the efficiency of grids. The Company pursues a policy of elaborating and implementing programs dealing with the increase of supply reliability, energy-efficient technologies, investment attraction and network development.
We have reseached and implemented our program for increasing energy efficiency increase, comprising several actions including increasing metering quality, reactive capacity compensation, implementation of cutting-edge lighting and heating technologies as well as the optimization of the current supply chain.
We intend to spend over US$ 120 mln on these key programs in the Sverdlovsk, Chelyabinsk and Perm regions between 2011-2015.
