Grinpal Energy Management, an empowered joint venture company with Palace Consulting Engineering (Pty) Ltd and Saab Grintek (Pty) Ltd, has developed its second-generation AMR system (Automatic Electricity Meter Reading) which will increase utilities' revenue, prevent electricity fraud and increase the quality of service.
"We have taken a novel approach in the design enhancements from our first generation system and are now able to offer municipalities and electricity utilities a range of systems that will match specific local requirements. Substantial improvements on the ease of installation and maintenance have been achieved, automating many processes that were previously driven by a paper system," says Gert Gous, managing executive of Grinpal.
Electricity fraud has become a major business concern ranging from illegal connection, to bypassing of the meter on a permanent basis to the "weekend bypassers". The "weekend bypasser" is a new phenomenon, although it may well have been practised for some time. A "weekend bypasser" leaves the meter in circuit during weekdays, but bypasses it over the weekend when most electricity is being consumed, in this way reducing the individual bill but losing revenue for the utility.
Grinpal has several metering options available. The most versatile is the Integrated Services Management System (ISMS) which can be deployed with a split or non-split meter.
The ISMS provides real-time information on important parameters and has the ability to automatically implement connections and disconnections. This allows for credit policies to be exercised without human intervention. The system detects and reacts to any breach of system integrity such as tampering or genuine breakdowns of supply.
The communications technology combines Powerline Carrier, trunked Radio, GSM, GPRS and RS485 communication to optimise operational costs.
Customers are issued with a credit card-sized card encoded with the meter number. They are able to purchase units of electricity 24 hours a day from ATM-type vending machines situated at local authority offices and any such venues as the utility may decide. Upon payment, units are automatically logged and available immediately.
In the split automatic meter reading option the original AMR meter is housed in a secure enclosure outside the consumer's home with only the display unit in the house.
The non-split AMR option incorporates a meter display, communications module and remote breaker and is mounted inside customers' premises in a tamper-proof enclosure. The unit is more economical than the split system and has been designed to fit in the same space as the standard prepaid meter making for easy upgrading from legacy systems to the new units.
Grinpal has also developed a compact cell concentrator, typically one per transformer area which greatly reduces communication costs. It collects information from individual meters, concentrates the information, while maintaining the integrity of each individual meter, and communicates this in real-time with the control centre.
"We have opted for the fully online integrated approach to overcome the problems associated with other systems such as drive-by systems which are open to fraud and intimidation," Gous said.
"By eliminating electricity fraud and implementing automated credit policies, power utilities will increase their revenue. This benefit should ultimately filter through to the consumer as lower rates of tariff increases in the future, as well as ensuring sustainable service delivery. In addition, the new system will enhance service delivery, as breakdowns can be detected often before the customers report it," he said.
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Saab is one of the world's leading high-technology companies, with its main operations focusing on defence, aviation and space. The group covers a broad spectrum of competence and capability in systems integration.
Saab Grintek
Grintek is a leading empowerment technology group and employs some 1 300 people, most of whom are engineers and technicians. The company is a privately held partnership between Kunene Bros Holdings (29.7 %) and Saab AB (70.3%) of Sweden. The group specialises in three main market segments, namely telecommunications and selected niche opportunities within industrial and defence electronics. Saab Grintek is a business unit of Saab.
Saab Grintek Technologies
Saab Grintek Technologies applies the group's core technologies in the ICT, transport and energy sectors through the development of its own products as well as partnerships and distribution agreements with world class suppliers.
The division provides tailored and innovative solutions from initial project and business requirement consulting, through to implementation, integration, continuous support and training.
The company focuses on providing high end communications solutions in the following areas: transmission, voice, data, wireless, convergence services, antennas, RF components, DC power systems, pre-payment electricity meters, electric load management systems and a full range of professional avionics and aeronautical electronics.
The division's solutions have been implemented in over 500 top South African companies and in more than 22 African countries. Over 25 leading international vendors have selected Saab Grintek Technologies as a South African service provider and partner. Saab Grintek Technologies' head office and support centre is located in Centurion, Pretoria, and it has full regional support offices in Cape Town and Windhoek.
Grinpal Energy Management
Grinpal Energy Management (Pty) Ltd is an empowered joint venture with Palace Consulting Engineering (Pty) Ltd and Saab Grintek (Pty) Ltd. Grinpal offers integrated energy management systems incorporating pre-payment meters and load management systems.
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