1. Unitil Customer Facing Technology
Presented by Justin Eisfeller
April 29, 2016

2. Unitil Electric Metering Systems
AMI system: Landis & Gyr Gridstream TS2 and PLX hardware and Command Center software
Manual read system: ITRON MVRS
Legacy interval system: ITRON MV90
Meter Data Management System: Harrris-MeterSense
AMI
(L&G)
MVRS
(ITRON)
MV90
(ITRON)
MDM
(MeterSense)

3. AMI System Overview Power Line Carrier (PLC) Fixed Network
Two-way communication from customer meters to substations provided over power lines.
Daily or interval reads
Remote configuration
Outage detection
System snapshots
Reporting
Fixed network transmitting over power lines.
Power Line Carrier (PLC) communication using Ultra-narrow-bandwidth (UNB) technology.
Daily reporting of consumption data.
Bi-directional communication.
“Always On” connectivity model.
Multi-utility endpoints – gas and electric.

4. Command Center Software
AMI Capabilities
GridStream TS2
“Always On” two way PLC communication using Ultra-narrow-bandwidth technology
Automatic daily reading of meters
On-demand reads; scheduled reads; “virtual” and remote disconnects (limited deployment)
4 programmable Time-of-Use periods
Remote configuration of demand and TOU settings
Continuous outage detection
Extensive electric system data including voltage monitoring and system load snapshots
Reporting of reliability and power quality data including momentary interruptions and harmonics
Streaming 15 min interval data (bandwidth limited)
Customer load control and communication through ZigBee (Unitil not using – requires EP upgrade)
GridStream PLX
TS2 Capabilities plus:
Vastly expands effective bandwidth and available “channels”
Receive data 3 times per day: including 15 min intervals, 15 min voltage, usage and demand data
Near real-time communication
Backwards compatibility
Command Center Software
Capable of reading all Gridstream products: TS2, PLX, Mesh RF, and Cellular endpoints
Distribution Automation capabilities through Gridstream Intelligent devices
Integrated with Unitil OMS

5. AMI-OMS Integration Unitil OMS Customer Outage Portal
Example of staged outage restoration:
Outaged Customers indicated with red “M”
Restored Customers indicated with green “M”
15-20 minutes response time
Customer Portal: provides outage map
town totals
restoration estimates
plus Municipal map provides circuit information
Customer Outage Portal

6. WebConnect Customer Portal
My Unitil
Enhanced self-service website
View and print bills
Pay online – ACH or credit card, single or recurring
Detailed consumption history - net metering, TOU capability

7. WebConnect Customer Portal - 2017
My Unitil
Notification preferences by category – paper, phone, or SMS (text)
Outage management system integration – confirmation of electric outage activity at premise level with ETRs
Online service requests