What the water AMI market can learn from electric utilities

Greg Myers, VP Global Product Management of Trilliant Networks, Inc., highlights how the water AMI market can benefit from the learnings of working with electric utilities.

A major challenge for water utilities is how to migrate away from walk-by, drive-by, and AMI 1.0 solutions to AMI 2.0 without a complete replacement of all meters. Additionally, they need solutions that help them identify leaks in their distribution system to best manage water usage cost-effectively.

The water utility sector is mirroring the migration that the electric utility industry has gone through with AMI 1.0, for many of the same reasons. They have had the benefit of seeing electric utilities go through this process and understanding the key benefits they can achieve. They have also learned from the challenges electric utilities have had in selecting the right next-generation technology solutions for their business.

One of the major lessons learned from the electric market experience is how important it is to not be locked into a single-meter supplier

Trilliant has the most universal AMI head-end system in the industry integrated with well over 300-meter types in the electric and gas AMI market. Trilliant is bringing this same “Power of Choice” opportunity to the water AMI market.

We can work with you to digitally transform your water meter strategy with a universal gateway that provides multiple interface options, and a head-end system that supports both complete and tactical deployments.

Trilliant’s head-end system, UnitySuite®, also provides a network and data collection management system that is being used for managing our own and third-party cellular (including NBIoT), third-party LPWAN, and mesh solutions – all from the same AMI head-end system implementation. This also enables a consolidation and normalization of integration points, simplifying the integration process.

UnitySuite supports tactical deployments which enable a utility to migrate from one system to another at their own pace, without disruption to the utility’s existing business processes. or deploy at specific premises to implement a new application like prepayment, or remote water shut-off".

Trilliant’s expertise in a variety of wireless AMI systems has provided extensive experience in how to best manage disparate systems. With the variety of existing communications types in the market today, it is a challenge for a single vendor to integrate wireless communications into a system working in concert and providing a common WAN communication path.

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Trilliant offers a universal gateway that provides multiple interface options that can communicate with LoRA®, WMBus®, and NBIoT® in a single deployed unit. This provides the utility with maximum flexibility to continue optimizing their current assets in the field, and easily migrating to the next generation.

Trilliant’s AMI for smart water solution includes:

Software

• Trilliant’s proven device-independent UnitySuite HES platform with our “water application” module;
• API support for third-party water-related applications;
• Water analytics and customer portal;
• Software driver support for commercially available integrated cellular water meters.

Hardware

• Trilliant LPWAN next-gen network technology for these “hard to reach” battery-operated endpoints;
• Development of a Trilliant LPWAN-based Meter Interface Unit (MIU) for interfacing with water meters using 3-wire UI-1203 protocol (commonly used in North America);
• Development of a Trilliant LPWAN--wireless MBUS gateway for interfacing with wMBUS meters installed for walk-by/drive-by meter reading (commonly used in EMEA region).

Trilliant LPWAN remote monitoring unit that can interface with water SCADA RTUs for command and control of water distribution assets.

A few examples of Trilliant’s AMI for smart water in progress include:

• Deployments in North America using Trilliant’s LPWAN for Water MIU;
• Suite metering support for water in Canada using Trilliant’s LPWAN MIU Hub;
• Pilots progressing in the Isle of Mann, using Trilliant’s LPWAN to wireless MBUS gateway.

Ready to transform your smart water strategy? Let’s talk. We’re happy to discuss the next steps that make sense for your utility’s unique needs. Contact Trilliant today!

About the company

Trilliant is proud of a 30+ year history serving the world’s energy companies, utilities, and smart cities – securely, sustainably, reliably. We are passionate about delivering mission-critical solutions to our customers. Designed to offer The Power of Choice, our flexible, multi-tiered platform is device-agnostic, and drives optimal endpoints and outcomes. Visit us at www.trilliant.com