Choosing Advanced Metering Software and Hardware
Choosing metering software and hardware depends on reporting requirements, the specific features needed, the server's location, and software maintenance.
Reporting software needs to poll meters daily for logged data; meters should be programmed to log the average and extreme values of measured parameters, such as line voltage and current, every 15 minutes.
Reports should display logged data from each of the system's meters for the following parameters:
- Line voltage for each circuit
- Line current for each circuit
- Total harmonic distortion (THD) for each circuit
- Real power for each circuit
- Reactive power or power factor for each circuit
- Line voltage sags or swells outside tolerances
- Aggregated power per meter
- Aggregated power per building
The software should be able to display the recorded values of each of these parameters as a graph. The user should be able to zoom into a specific timeframe within the data, showing periods of interest in more detail. If the default interval for a graph is 30 days, the user should be able to change the interval to 7 days or 24 hours.
The reporting software should allow users to access reports over computer networks so they do not have to install licensed software just to review reports. The reporting software may have a limit restricting the maximum number of users allowed to view reports at one time. The software should be able to identify and record energy usage that is subject to utilities' peak demand charges. Power monitoring systems should be able to monitor gas and water meters in the future.
The reporting software should allow users to create summary displays (often called dashboards) that give abbreviated status reports on power usage by region or for critical buildings. The primary feature of the summary display is to report parameters that need attention.
Server Location and Software Maintenance
The reporting software should be installed on a server that has access to the Forest Service's wide-area network (WAN) or Intranet. Data from all advanced power meters should be polled daily so agency employees will have timely reports.
The reporting software will require maintenance. Maintenance includes adding new meters to the software's database as meters are installed and adding reporting features as users' needs change.
