Using Advanced Metering Infrastructure Data to Detect and Improve Customer Voltage Quality Issues

Abstract

Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) is being adopted worldwide by electric utilities because of the benefits offered by the automated meter data it provides. The utility industry has been exploring methods to best leverage the abundance of AMI data now available to maximize customer power quality and develop delivery efficiencies to reduce customer electricity rates. Utilities are required by regulations to provide power at voltage levels within a set bandwidth of the nominal delivery voltage to the customer. Variances in the voltage delivered by utilities can cause a multitude of issues for the individual customer and for the entire distribution grid system. AMI meters are capable of providing voltage data at frequent time intervals, a 1-hour interval sample and 15-minute interval sample are quite common. A DMAIC process can be developed to allow an electric utility to appropriately review and act upon the AMI voltage data available. In this paper the voltage specifications will be defined (D) and measurement (M) of data explained. Analysis (A) of the abundant data is an area of significance. Suggestions are made from the analysis to improve (I) the utility management of voltage issues and control (C) the distribution grid to better maintain within specifications.