How to implement metering and associated systems
- Use ‘standard’ equipment where possible
- Use/adapt existing hardware where possible
- Know the Users expectations.
- Maximise reliability, resilience and simplicity
Try and standardise equipment, try and avoid proprietary solutions, avoid locking yourself in, so that you have options for the future.
It simply doesn’t make sense to rip kit out that is serviceable, so make sure enough work has been done in trying to use existing kit before making any changes.
It’s in no-one’s interest to fit equipment for the sake of fitting equipment. In this regard, track record and experience are essential to designing the best solution.
From an implementation point of view a meter should only be deemed commissioned when the correct data is seen in the visualisation software. Nothing has been achieved until the end user can see the right information.
Maximising Return on Investment (ROI)
To ensure that any aM&T system is as cost effective as possible ensure you consider the following:
- Measure all major loads
- Undetected loss – not just significant loads
- Tenant recharge or cost allocation
- Ensure metering aligns with production & normalising requirements
- Proving savings (Measurement & Verification) and verifying continual adherence to savings.
Don’t forget the unmetered set of loads or undetected losses, no matter how small as if they are constantly on, they should be considered for metering. Furthermore, if for example you want to have a predicted kWh per production unit, it must be ensured that metering matches your production line as this may affect where the metering is located
Most importantly get to know your site to help specify the right solution.
Operating a Sub Metering System
- No system runs itself for ever – so don’t expect perfect data and perfect communications without maintenance
- Focus on data completeness (i.e. X data points vs. Null data)
- Have processes to identify the issues and a contractor capable of rectifying them.
Consider data quality alarms. Ensure the actions time frame matches the system resilience or data criticality (i.e. 20 days memory needs fixing in 20 days). If critical this should have a process in case of failure. Without alarms or processes in place, an irretrievable gap in the data could occur.
Additional aspects include whether this should be set at a meter, building or process level? Data quality alarms are an essential part of a metering solution. This should be balanced against the service agreement required.
Remember – all systems need to be managed