0. Towards standardization of AMI in South Africa by Edison Makwarela 23 February 2016

1. Presentation Agenda AMI Drivers and background in South Africa
Key standardization definitions
Overview of current AMI deployments in South Africa
Considerations and requirements for standardization
AMI Standardisation approaches and proposals
Overview of the Draft NR049 Architecture
Brief comment on security
Concluding remarks

2. Key Drivers for AMI
Maximise Operational efficiencies - Achieve improved billing accuracy through automated reading, revenue protection and low voltage (LV) network monitoring and visualisation.
National Regulatory Support – Comply with national regulations (773) with respect to the use of smart systems and time-of-use tariffs for customers consuming above 1,000 kWh / month.
Support Demand Management through:
Load Shifting - Shift load of medium to high (1000kWh/month) residential consumers (LSM 7 and above) through TOU tariff.
Promoting Customer Behaviour Change - Incentivise the efficient use of electricity, power conservation through TOU tariff to promote lifestyle changes.
Load Control – Control non-essential appliance load during system constraints / emergencies.
Micro-generation – Facilitation of micro-generators billing

3. AMI Meter functionalities
Time-of-Use ENABLED
Staggered come-back loads for load reduction/shifting
Two-way Wireless Communication
Prepayment or
Credit meter
Dynamic customer messaging
Remote disconnect & reconnect
AMI
Meter
Remote Load limiting/reduction on supply capacity
Outage & Fault Notification
Power Quality (Voltage)
Monitoring
Remote Individual Appliance Control Device
Remote Electricity readings, if required water meter Reading
Administer Free
Basic Services
Detection of Tampering and Load Shed Bypassing
Under Frequency detection

4. Some definition for consideration ...
Standardisation (from Wikipedia):
The process of developing and implementing technical standards. Standardization can help to maximize compatibility, interoperability, safety, repeatability, or quality. It can also facilitate commoditization of formerly custom processes.
Openness means that the functional architecture specified shall be capable to meet current and future needs, integrate new communication technologies, and be implemented in a range of physical embodiments, including fully integrated, modular and multi-part equipment
Interoperability is the ability of a system to exchange data with other systems of different types and/or from different manufacturers.

5. Typical AMI System – Current implementations
Master Station
AMI Master Station W e b S r v i c s
AMI Master Station 2
AMI Master Station 3
AMI Master Station 1
*No HAN*
Proprietary CIU
Proprietary ACD
*No common HES*
Proprietary systems
*Prop. DCU/Meter*
Enterprise Systems

6. AMI areas that require standardization
Functional Requirements
Meters and other field devices (e.g. DCs, ACDs, etc.)
Communication protocols
Common Language
Interoperability
Specification for metering devices
Mechanical, ports, Electrical, Environmental, etc.
Communication technologies (PLC, RF)
Common Head-End systems
Data Security
Minimum requirements specified
Utilities to add their specific requirements

7. Considerations for SA Standards
Large investment in STS prepayment technology – over 10 million meters
490 STS certified products, 124 manufacturers globally, only open standard that certifies credit transfer by means of a 20 digit numeric token carrier up to the Application layer.
As IEC member country SANC is obliged to follow IEC standards by preference where these exist.
The IEC framework for smart metering mandates DLMS/COSEM as the semantic Application layer protocol for smart meters and the use of lower layer communication profiles. These profiles are developed and published as various IEC standards.
NRS049 references IEC as its primary departure point and follows the IEC profile standards where these exist.
There are 597 DLMS/COSEM certified products, 74 manufacturers certifies semantic inter-operability up to the Application layer.

8. AMI Open Protocols Approach
MDMS
Master Station
(MS)
Data Concentrator
(DC)
Stand-alone meters
Meters
CIU
ACD
TCP/IP
IEC
DLMS/COSEM
G3 PLC
Fibre, RF, 3G, 4G, etc.
NRS049
SEP 2 | HomePlug
ZigBee | STS
NRS049, SABS/IEC
STS (Prepayment)
G3 PLC, Fibre, RF, 3G, 4G, etc.
Fibre, RF, 3G, 4G, etc.
Data Security
Interoperable &Interchangeable system
IDIS

9. AMI Open Protocols Approach
(with secure kiosks/enclosures)
MDMS
Master Station
(MS)
Data Concentrator
(DC)
Stand-alone meters
Meters
CIU
ACD
TCP/IP
IEC
G3 PLC
Fibre, RF, 3G , 4G, etc.
DLMS/COSEM
(Companion Spec)
NRS049
SEP 2 | HomePlug
ZigBee | STS
STS (Prepayment)
SABS/IEC
Fibre, RF, 3G, 4G, etc.
Data Security
Standards
Interoperable &Interchangeable system
(Companion Spec.)
IDIS
Secure Kiosk Controller HES
SK Controller

10. NRS049 Architecture version

11. Additional Smart Prepaid Requirements
Facility for the meter to be set up in pre-paid or post-paid mode.
Facility for the customer's credit to be entered via the system back-end or via the meter ; Emergency credit?
Facility for customers and municipalities/utilities to choose different credit token systems i.e. currency or kWh
Separate Import/export registers (Net metering) & Net billing
Outage detection (loss of supply to the meter)
Provide accurate real time clock for time-stamping events/alarms and time- related activities on the meter
Update the meter firmware to include updated/new functionality
Provide for future interfacing with non-energy metering applications
Customer Portal & Mobile Interface
GPS Registers
Allow future-proof communications (open system)

12. Data Security, Data Protection & Privacy
Challenges
Consumers need privacy assurance
Public networks and open standards makes smart meters vulnerable to cyber attacks
Legal metrology block must be protected from undue influence from other functions.
Reverse engineering - the most probable attack!
HES m
CIU DC m
CIU m
CIU
DLMS/COSEM Level 1 Security and Public/Private keys

13. Concluding remarks
South Africa need open protocols and standards, preferably a national standard
Recommendation is to adopt existing and proven IEC standards & Protocols, we cannot afford to re-invent the wheel
Proprietary protocols and products are a no go area.
NRS049 is being revised to include open protocols for a smart metering systems.
Companion specification to be finalized based on IDIS

14. Thank you