Anaheim Public Utilities – MDM
Anaheim Public Utilities (APU) has begun implementing eMeter’s EnergyIP MDM solution so that it will process, analyze, and store data for Anaheim’s 160,000 electric and water meters. EnergyIP unmatched flexibility will enable APU to connect to its existing applications with minimal time and cost. EnergyIP will fully integrate with several disparate applications, including two AMI systems, two C&I systems, and the manual meter reading system with four utility back office applications – CIS/Billing, Work Management, Outage Management, and GIS. APU also selected EnergyIP over competing MDM solutions because it also proved best for enabling the integration of future applications that could further bolster APU’s programs.
Upon completion of the implementation, EnergyIP will provide daily interval data Validation, Estimation, and Editing (VEE), flat rate, Time of Use (TOU) and critical peak billing determinants, automated exception processing, real-time outage and restoration event management, load data for distribution planning, and AMI asset tracking and lifecycle management. Additionally, the EnergyIP suite of analytic tools will empower Anaheim to optimize its operations.
“EnergyIP will serve as the foundation of advanced metering at Anaheim Public Utilities… Our experience with eMeter’s staff, as they supported our Residential Advanced Metering Systems (RAMS) and Spare the Power Days pilots, showed their customer commitment as well as the ability to deliver quality software and services.”
Anaheim Public Utilities Department – RAMS Pilot
eMeter provided implementation and technical consulting services for the Anaheim Public Utilities Department (APU) Residential Advanced Metering Systems (RAMS) pilot, which demonstrated the practicality of smart meter technologies for residential and small commercial customers. This includes identifying all technical components required for the successful interrogation communications, and transmission of customer data. All customer data is secured in a confidential manner, with data transmission over secure networks, and sole ownership of the data remains with Anaheim Public Utilities. eMeter will provide mechanisms to automatically detect and flag unsuccessful communications or missing data, as well as monthly analytical statistics and reporting.
“Our long-term goal is to provide dynamic pricing information to all 94,000 residential electric meters within our service territory. eMeter helped us demonstrate how innovative rate programs and new technology can create more astute energy consumers. Advanced notice of critical peak periods armed homeowners with the information they need to reduce their electricity bill.”
Anaheim Public Utilities – Rebate Pilot Program
Anaheim Public Utilities (APU) teamed with eMeter to implement its program, known as the “Spare the Power Days” Rebate Program, a pilot program conducted during the summers of 2004 and 2005 that tested customer acceptance and peak demand reductions. During critical peak energy usage days – hot summer afternoons between June 1 and September 30, when system peak demands are very high – participating customers received a rebate of 35 cents per kWh on their bills for every kWh reduced below their normal usage during peak hours – noon to 6 p.m. Customers were notified via automated telephone calls or email on the day preceding each Spare the Power Day.
eMeter provided the following services in support of the pilot: pilot design, customer recruitment and enrollment, meter installation management, data collection and management, Spare the Power Days notifications, customer feedback following Spare the Power Days, calculation of demand reductions and rebate amounts, customer and meter tracking, customer appliance surveys, customer telephone and email support, project management, Anaheim Public Utilities executive briefings, and other services needed to complete the pilot.
“Spare the Power Days” paid off in reduced power consumption and lower consumer costs for energy. It earned the City of Anaheim Public Utilities Department the 2004 award for Best Demand Response Initiative from the Energy Planning Network.
“We are eager to learn more about demand response and critical peak pricing… The Spare the Power Days Program is appealing to customers, because they can save money on their bills and help out their communities with peak load reductions at the same time. The rebate approach differs from traditional critical peak pricing programs with their high on peak prices, and we think the rebates will be popular with our customers.”