Field demonstration of (a telephone) system for distribution automation. Final report

Technical Report · Wed Jul 29 04:00:00 EDT 1981

OSTI ID:5746496

The DOE-funded installation described provides the Omaha Public Power District (OPPD) with a small-scale load management system with the following capabilities: direct load control; peak pricing; time-of-day metering; demand metering; automatic meter reading; and distribution equipment monitoring and control. The system also reads gas and water meters and consists of the following components: Remote Terminal Units (RTUs) for monitoring and control; existing telephone transmission and switching network; Automatic Meter Reading (AMR) controller - interfaced to the telephone network via a test trunk; energy management (EM) controller - interfaced to the telephone network; and data terminals at various locations connected to the two controllers. The function of each system component is described. A 1-yr field demonstration which began August 1, 1978 is described and statistics on system performance are presented. The OPPD feels that the Distribution Automation System performed as anticipated, for the most part, with 97% accuracy in the meter readings. Time-of-day metering also was accurate in recording time-of-day usage. The peak pricing and load control functions of the RTUs worked to the satisfaction of the district. The high failure rate of the residential, apartment and commercial RTUs is a significant concern and were mainly due to lightning storms. The sectionalizing switches and capacitor control RTUs did not function satisfactorily. This field test proved that the telephone system is a viable communication link to District meters and equipment. However the tariff charged by the telephone company must be reduced significantly before a telephone system for distribution automation would be feasible for the OPPD.

• Research Organization: Darcom, Inc., Albuquerque, NM (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC01-77ET29025
• OSTI ID: 5746496
• Report Number(s): DOE/ET/29025-T1; ON: DE82004268
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

200300* -- Electric Power Engineering-- Power Transmission & Distribution-- (-1989)
24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION
AUTOMATION
BUILDINGS
COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS
COMMUNICATIONS
CONTROL
CONTROL EQUIPMENT
DATA TRANSMISSION
ELECTRIC UTILITIES
ENERGY MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS
ENERGY SYSTEMS
EQUIPMENT
FIELD TESTS
LOAD MANAGEMENT
MANAGEMENT
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
PEAK-LOAD PRICING
POWER DEMAND
POWER DISTRIBUTION
POWER TRANSMISSION
PRICES
PUBLIC UTILITIES
REMOTE CONTROL
RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS
TELEPHONES
TESTING