Solution White Paper

Next Generation Smart Meters and AMI

Communications
September 2013

www.tpfz.com

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This is an unpublished work, the copyright of which vests in Technology Partners FZ LLC. All rights
reserved. The information contained herein is confidential and the property of Technology Partners FZ
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Next Generation Smart Meters and AMI Communications

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 2
Smart Meter Solution Components ....................................................................................... 4
Smart Energy Meters ........................................................................................................ 5
Wireless Communications Infrastructure and Platform ............................................... 6
Silver Spring Company Overview ............................................................................. 6
Leveraging Silver Spring Experience ....................................................................... 7
The Silver Spring Platform Technical Description ............................................... 8
Silver Spring Communications Module ........................................................... 8
Network Architecture ....................................................................................... 10
The Silver Spring Network ............................................................................... 11
Network Hardware ............................................................................................ 12
Network Design ................................................................................................ 13
Network Software ............................................................................................. 13
AMI Field Tools ................................................................................................. 15
UtilityIQ AMI Application Suite ................................................................................ 17
UtilityIQ Advanced Metering Manager ........................................................... 17
UtilityIQ Meter Program Configurator ............................................................ 18
UtilityIQ Outage Detection System ................................................................. 18
UtilityIQ Firmware Upgrader ............................................................................ 19
GridScape Network Manager .......................................................................... 19
UtilityIQ Back-Office Integration ..................................................................... 20
Deployment Models ......................................................................................... 21
Meter Data Management System ................................................................................... 24
Billing and CRM System Integration ............................................................................. 25
Conclusions ........................................................................................................................... 26

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Next Generation Smart Meters and AMI Communications

INTRODUCTION
In this paper, Technology Partners is presenting the latest generation technology for the
deployment of a fully integrated Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) solution. Such
solutions have been implemented by the most advanced utilities in the world, and are proven
to consolidate and maximise the technical benefits of the installation of Smart Metering
systems. These benefits include the monitoring of network losses, increased operational
efficiency and the ability to maximize leverage of world-leading back office systems such as
SAP Solution for Utilities to deliver completely integrated Billing and Customer Care solutions.
Benefits of the Technology Partners approach also includes:

Increased monitoring and reducing theft of power which drives the cost of power up
for paying customers

A detailed insight into the usage of electricity throughout the utility service area,
allowing the utility to effectively manage the rollout of planned increased generation
programmes

Form the basis of a cross-functional Smart Grid which can increase the reliability and
resiliency of the distribution system to provide the environment for economic growth

Reducing the overall cost of power to the utility and its residential and commercial
customers.

Technology Partners (TP) is a market leader in systems integration for Smart Grid projects in
the Middle East. Our practical experience over the last five years includes the implementation
of the largest and most sophisticated AMI solution in the Region for the Abu Dhabi Water and
Electricity Authority (ADWEA), in the United Arab Emirates.
This AMI and Smart Grid experience has given us specific insights into the most effective
technologies and architectures that will enable to not only cost-effectively develop a world
class AMI system, but also to provide the foundation for a Smart Grid infrastructure across its
entire utility value chain.

AMI: The Foundation for Smart Grid

The electrical grid encompasses all elements of the electricity supply chain, but it still cannot
effectively store energy. Simply put, when you need electricity, you have to make it, and
when you make it, you use it or lose it.

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Effective management of this complex supply chain requires the integration of multiple grid
systems, from generation to distribution and customer relationships. The starting point to
efficiently manage this system of systems is the ability to understand what is happening
inside the grid, and this can only be achieved by measuring actual metered usage at much
more frequent periods than that provided by traditional monthly meter readings and estimates.
Many utilities around the world, including in the Middle East, are working towards
implementing integrated Smart Grid systems which leverage, but go beyond Advanced
Metering Infrastructure. These systems include connection of all the grids end-points, from
process control at the generation stage through transmission and distribution SCADA
devices, right up to the end-users electricity meter.
Such systems have been proven to deliver long-term value to the utility, the customer, and
the environment:

Monitoring and controlling delivery of power down to the consumer in near real-time,
improving efficiency and encouraging conservation

"Customer portals" to increase customer usage awareness

Continuous power quality monitoring, and active management of all distribution

system elements

Outage identification and management

Improved planning and

maintenance schedules

Real time, in-field management of maintenance workers and inspectors

Carbon emissions management

Integration of alternative energy sources and co-generation programmes

Enhanced plant security

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accommodation

of

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infrastructure

construction

and

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SMART METER SOLUTION COMPONENTS

In this paper, Technology Partners is presenting a proven, latest generation AMI solution that
provides the foundation to manage the entire metering, billing and customer management
business cycle, from the collection of operational data (meter readings) to the delivery of
customer focused services (billing, customer services).
For this solution, Technology Partners has selected world-class components from leading
international vendors to deliver the best available and most cost effective Smart Metering
solution available today. All vendors of the selected products and services have a proven
track record of delivering complex international Smart Meter projects and business
connectivity.

Smart Grid

The diagram above illustrates the components described in this paper highlighted in blue.
These include a complete AMI system, from meters to Data Collection:

The supply of world leading Smart Meters from the worlds leading manufacturers

A latest generation Machine to Machine (M2M) optimised wireless communications

network from market leader Silver Spring Networks to read data from these meters at
up to 15 minute intervals. This system is unique in that communications and data
intelligence is embedded in the meters, removing the need to install the thousands of
Data Collectors that are required with conventional meter communications solutions

A data collection software (Head End), also a proven Silver Spring solution, that will
collect and verify the meter data

A fully integrated Meter Data Management system with proven integration to the
leading Billing and Customer Information Management Systems from SAP.

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Potential future expansions to a full Smart Grid system include integration of the core system
with SCADA and Distribution Automation Systems to improve outage management, and
ultimately a full Demand Response system facilitated by communications with intelligent, inhome appliances. These are highlighted in brown and green.

SMART ENERGY METERS

The smart meters are the end points of the AMI infrastructure. They are responsible for the
measurement and temporary storage of metering data, and are a critical part in the
implementation of remote control (like disconnect/reconnect, load shedding, and remote
alarm signaling). The Technology Partners AMI Solution includes a communications platform
that is truly independent of the meter manufacturer and metering protocol used, and is proven
to operate in several multi-meter AMI environments, freeing utilities from a dependence on a
single meter manufacturer. We believe this is an important consideration for all modern AMI
implementations to avoid constraints in the future. Use of the proposed Silver Spring platform
allows communication with meters from various manufacturers and data consolidation over a
variety of protocols.
Focusing on delivering solid AMI platforms,

Technology Partners

specialises in bringing together solutions that are vendor agnostic. To

achieve the best long term solution for our customers (both from a capital
cost perspective and from an operational and maintenance perspective),
we believe the solution should be open to using the best meters for specific
installation requirements. Technology Partners recommends and delivers
integrated metering solutions in conjunction with Landis+Gyr, a worldrenowned meter manufacturer headquartered in Switzerland, but with fully
supported operations in the Middle East.
The Landis+Gyr meters meet or exceed all the functional requirements of
a modern AMI system, including:

Landis+Gyr
E-350 Meter

IP67 protected, tamper-proof housings

Scheduled/Polled remote reading

Local communications

Automatic load shedding

Remote meter identification, disconnect/reconnect

Remote configuration for multiple tariffs or pre-payment

Outage alerts

Tamper alarm including forced opening and differential tamper

Coordinate logging function

Editable and upgradable

Measurement of Phase, Active Energy, Apparent Energy, Reactive Energy, Power

Factor, Total Harmonic Distortion

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WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS INFRASTRUCTURE AND PLATFORM

This paper articulates an AMI system that leverages the Silver Spring Network Platform. This
is the latest generation of Machine-to-Machine optimised networks from the world leader in
AMI data collection systems. The core of the Silver Spring platform is wireless connectivity
that creates a self-healing, multi-redundant mesh network between meters, data repeaters,
and access points to deliver an extremely reliable two-way network infrastructure with the
following features:

A single all IPV6, standards-based, interoperable network with the capability to

support ultimately multiple applications on a single platform, including AMI,
Distribution Automation (DA), Demand Response (DR), streetlight management,
rooftop Photovoltaic (PV), and Electric Vehicle (EV) integration. Silver Springs
network provides seamless integration from the communications modules in the
different devices into one back-office application to minimize integration costs and
time.

Two-way real time communication allowing for reduced operational expenses and
the ability to impact rising bad debt costs through theft detection, remote
connect/disconnect and the ability to add future prepay metering integration.
Combined, these solutions help utilities reduce costs and drive greater customer
satisfaction.

Lowest risk solution - Proven, deployed designs successfully connecting more than
17 million homes and businesses, across widely varying terrain and serving multiple
smart grid applications for utilities around the world..

Greater choice in vendor devices through the industrys most extensive ecosystem
of existing partners (75+) across meters, distribution automation, demand response
including HAN and load control devices, and applications such as streetlights, EV and
PV. Greater choice of endpoint technologies ultimately results in lower costs.

Silver Spring Company Overview

Silver Spring Networks was founded in 2002 with the goal of creating a smart grid platform
based on open, Internet Protocol (IP) standards, allowing continuous, two-way
communications between the utility and every device on the grid. Today, Silver Spring is a
leading smart grid solutions provider that enables utilities to achieve operational efficiencies,
reduce carbon emissions and offer their customers new ways to monitor and manage their
energy consumption. Through its integration partners, Silver Spring provides the hardware,
software, and services that allow utilities to deploy and run unlimited advanced applications,
including Smart Metering, Theft Detection, Demand Response, Distribution Automation and
Distributed Generation over a single, unified network.

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Leveraging Silver Spring Experience

Technology Partners and Silver Spring leverage their collective experience deploying smart
grid systems of various sizes over various timelines across the globe. Together, we have
deep experience in utility automation systems deployment and field management.
Utilities where Silver Springs smart grid AMI technology and energy efficiency solutions are
deployed include:

United
States &
Canada

American Electric Power, OH

Baltimore Gas & Electric, MD
Commonwealth Edison, IL
Con Edison, NY
CPS Energy, TX
Dominion Virginia Power, VA
Duke Energy, FL and NC
Florida Power & Light, FL
Indianapolis Power and Light, IN
Leesburg, City of, FL

Modesto Irrigation District, CA

Oklahoma Gas & Electric
Services, OK
Pacific Gas and Electric
Company, CA
Pepco Holdings, Washington,
D.C.
Sacramento Municipal Utility
District, CA
Guelph Hydro Inc., ONT

Australia
& New
Zealand

CitiPower and Powercor, Victoria

Endeavour Energy, NSW
Essential Energy, NSW
Jemena, Victoria

Brazil
Asia

United Energy, Victoria

Western Power, Western AUS
Unison NZ
WEL Networks NZ

CPFL Energia
Singapore Power

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Masers Energy, Malaysia

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The Silver Spring Platform Technical Description

Broadest Selection of Meters The Starting Point

Silver Spring Networks (SSN) applies its recurring
design principles of openness, flexibility, and
extensibility in working with our meter partners. Silver
Spring focuses on communications and partnering with
leading meter manufacturers around the world to
provide customers the broadest selection of highquality smart meters in the industry. In North America,
SSN partners with Landis+Gyr, GE, Itron and Elster to
provide single-phase and polyphase electric meters
equipped with the Silver Spring Communications
Module.

Our long-term working

relationship with Silver Spring
has resulted in the deployment of
millions of endpoints around the
world, including both residential
and commercial end users. We
look forward to continuing our
partnership as a Platinum Partner
and extending our ever
increasing value to utility
customers, said Jerry Figurilli,
COO North America,
Landis+Gyr.

By supporting such a broad array of manufacturers, Silver Spring helps its customers reduce
supply risk and gain the advantages of competitive bidding. Many of its existing customers
have taken advantage of our approach and have implemented a multi-vendor supply strategy.
Silver Spring Communications Module
The Silver Spring Communications Module (also known as a Network
Interface Card or NIC) for electricity meters includes a highly reliable,
IEEE 802.15.4g standards-based radio (optionally upgradable to 300
kbps) that provides two-way networking capability for a variety of
advanced electricity meters. The module communicates with meters
via a serial connection and can query all available meter registers.
Silver Spring network operations and communications technologies
remain meter agnostic so the Silver Spring Smart Energy Platform
can support a broad array of meters from a variety of suppliers.

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The Silver Spring Communications Module captures and relays, as supported by the meter,
consumption information, TOU registers, Demand/Reset functionality, remote connect /
disconnect actions, interval data (including multi-channel interval), net metering, event logs,
power quality events, and other information. The Communications Module allows for remote
meter configuration and programming and can be upgraded over-the-air via the wireless
network, eliminating the need for a truck roll to evolve the meters capabilities.
As an option, the Communications Modules has a second 2.4 GHz radio to support a Home
Automation Network (HAN) as a future enhancement. The Communications Module currently
supports the ZigBee Smart Energy Profile 1.1 protocol. The excess horsepower on the
module and support for over-the-air upgrades ensures the utility can migrate to SEP 2.0 when
that specification becomes ratified.

A robust, general-purpose, single network fabric with high-performance bandwidth

and low latency that provides reliable, secure, and cost-effective communications to
multiple vendors metering, Home Area Network (HAN), Load Control, and
Distribution Automation (DA) products as well as a wide variety of other grid devices
and applications such as EE, EV and Streetlight management.

A flexible architecture, including ample processing power and memory, adaptive

networking, rapid and secure over-the-air firmware upgrades, support for distributed
intelligence all to provide a long-lived foundation for a utilitys future needs.

An interoperable platform that supports internationally accepted standards such as

IPv6, IEEE 802.15.4g, IEEE 802.15.4.2006, ZigBee Smart Energy Profile (SEP) 1.1,
6LowPAN, TCP, UDP, HTTP, XML, CIM and MultiSpeak today, among other industry
standards. The processing power and memory in every Silver Spring device enables
the platform to be upgradable over time to support additional standards as they
continue to be defined, evolve, and gain widespread acceptance.

An operationally scalable system, with the largest deployed IP-based AMI

infrastructure worldwide, blends multiple wireless transports to provide full end-to-end
IP connectivity in the manner most cost effective for an utility's diverse environments.
These transports support Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI), DA, demand
response (DR), and other smart grid applications.

An overall solution consisting of networking, software, and services that has been
field tested for years, proven across millions of deployed devices, and demonstrated
to support a variety of deployment methodologies, velocities, and programs. SSNs
experience in real-world deployments of standards-based smart grid solutions is
unparalleled.

Proven, deployed designs successfully connecting more than 17 million homes and
businesses, across widely varying terrain and serving multiple smart grid applications
for utilities around the world. The Silver Spring Smart Energy Platform has
successfully delivered in excess of 26 billion meter reads for its utility customers,
giving them the assurance that the Silver Spring system delivers millions of accurate
and on-time meter readings, DA communications, and DR events, day in and day out.

A secure networking platform that incorporates an end-to-end, multi-layer security

architecture and uses proven IP-based technologies and associated security

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techniques to allow utilities to operate large-scale networks while minimizing security
risk. Stringent security mechanisms have been integrated into every layer of the
Silver Spring Smart Energy Platform, including:

sophisticated authentication and

authorization techniques for all intelligent endpoints, such as meters and grid
sensors; required digital signatures and private keys to prevent any unauthorized
access or activity on the system; and encryption for all communications across the
smart grid.
Network Architecture
Silver Spring provides an open-standard (IPv6), flexible, scalable, and secure platform that
serves as the communications infrastructure for a utilitys last mile distribution network. The
Silver Spring smart grid network seamlessly integrates multiple radios for HAN, Neighborhood
Area Network (NAN) and a Wide Area Network (WAN) into one communications network as
illustrated in the following diagram:

In the Silver Spring IP-based AMI solution, the Communications Module integrated into
electricity meters provides the networking capability for metering endpoints. The standardsbased IEEE 802.15.4g radio on the module operates on the unlicensed sub-gigahertz band
using Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum (FHSS) technology. The Silver Spring Access
Points and Relays also utilize the FHSS technology to relay data from endpoints to the utility
back office.
The Silver Spring network, operating at up to 300 kbps, creates a foundation to run various
applications that address many business objectives. Because of the flexible architecture,
applications such as DA, DR, Energy Efficiency (EE), Direct Load Control (DLC), and
Conservation Voltage Reduction (CVR) may be run on the Silver Spring communications
network allowing a utility to support current and future applications.

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The Silver Spring Network

The Silver Spring architecture combines a powerful radio with significant processing power on
each endpoint and network device, enabling distributed intelligence. This design allows the
Smart Energy Platform to support multiple smart grid applications and lets utilities add
capacity incrementally and economically as the network grows. Robust, scalable, and flexible,
this architecture greatly simplifies and lowers the cost of the network deployment.
The Smart Energy Platforms architecture ensures uniform operation across disparate
deployment environments, from urban to rural. It also enables the platform to support a much
higher ratio of endpoints per take-out point than other smart grid solutions, supporting as
many as 10,000 per AP but designed to support 5,000 to ensure full redundancy (with the
ability to carry additional gas and water traffic from the same locations on the same AP).
Silver Spring radios can reach a device up to a kilometer away, which is critical in rural
environments, and uses innovative software techniques to ensure highly reliable operation in
dense deployments. In addition to supporting RF mesh connectivity, the Silver Spring network
supports cellular and Micromesh, reducing the cost of connecting remote or hard-to-hear
locations. Silver Springs standards-based APs can connect with any backhaul technology,
including Ethernet/Fiber, GPRS/cellular, WiMAX, or a variety of other wired and wireless
options.
A mesh communications architecture is fundamental to the smart grid, which must support
millions of devices, each with modest bandwidth requirements (only a few kilobytes of data
per day) but with a wide range of latency requirements. For example, a peer-to-peer design
accommodates a mix of paths, with varying latency characteristics, which is a very
economical approach. The alternative rolling out infrastructure that supports low-latency
communications on every path end-to-end is prohibitively expensive. In addition, a meshed
architecture is much more robust operationally and can accommodate the inevitable changes
that will occur during the long life of a smart grid deployment. Augmenting this highperformance, self-forming mesh network with GPRS/cellular communications improves the
economics of reaching remote or hard-to-hear locales.
In contrast, deploying a point-to-point network across an entire service territory would present
an extremely challenging initial design as well as burden utilities with constant redesign and
adjustment to address ongoing environmental changes, such as foliage growth or billboard
construction. A mesh network automatically adapts and routes around these kinds of
obstacles, with support for GPRS/cellular communications as needed.

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Network Hardware
Access Point
The Access Point (AP) provides two-way connectivity between intelligent
endpoints and the utilitys back office. The APs flexible communication
features extend the reach and coverage of the network to thousands of
customer premises, and offers scalability that dramatically lowers the total
cost of ownership.
Since it has a backup battery, the AP can reliably route scheduled read and
management tasks even during an outage and it features robust security to
ensure full regulatory compliance and network safety.
The AP is a weather-hardened router that can be mounted on power poles or street lamps. All
outbound communications (requests for data) from head-end software and all inbound data
packets (data, alarms) pass through the AP. The AP can also pass information through
multiple Silver Spring Relays or through Silver Spring-enabled electricity meters and it offers
multiple paths to each endpoint through sophisticated mesh network routing that ensures
greater reliability and redundancy. The AP may be optionally configured as Ethernet only,
GPRS/cellular only, Ethernet and GPRS/cellular, or dual GPRS/cellular (two different
carriers).
Our sophisticated mesh network routing ensures greater reliability and redundancy in several
ways:

Dynamic network discovery and self-healing properties when terrain changes

(e.g., foliage or a billboard), traffic loads change, or devices lose power, endpoints will
adjust their paths through the network because they are constantly updating their
internal tables that store neighbor information

Backup power APs and Relays can also include a battery for backup power. In the
event of an outage, these network infrastructure devices can continue to forward
network traffic, such as last gasp messages from meters, to the back office.
Receiving these last gasp messages will allow a utility to immediately pinpoint the
location of outages, making onsite crew visits more efficient and speeding the time to
power restoration.

Automatic failover all endpoints store multiple paths back to the back office. When
an Access Point fails, the endpoints begin sending traffic to their back-up AP
immediately.

Other notable features of our network include:

Over the air firmware upgrades the Platform can upgrade the firmware of Silver
Spring network devices, Silver Spring Communications Modules in meters and other
third-party devices, and third-party endpoints themselves (the firmware of a meter or
a HAN device, for example).

Security Silver Spring protects communications via authentication, authorization,

and encryption. Encryption happens at Layers 2, 3, and 7 and leverages keys
administered by a Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) hierarchy. Each unique device pair
and device-to-software pair uses unique key pairs.

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Relay
The Relay enables utilities to extend network reach to more customers cost
effectively. Silver Springs highly reliable standards-based RF network
enables two-way communications between the AP and smart grid endpoint
devices, providing secure, real-time measurement and control.

Supports thousands of meters for cost-effective deployment

Provides multi-hop, two-way networking to extend the reach of utility

networks

Simple to install

Optional battery backup available

Full 1-Watt radio with long range visibility

Integrates seamlessly with smart grid applications, such as Advanced Metering,

Distribution Automation and Demand Response

Network Design
Typical Network Design Parameters:

Network APs and Relays are normally mounted at a minimum height of 23 feet (7m)
on existing utility assets (substations, lampposts, buildings, etc.)

APs can be configured for dellular or direct IP network connection for WAN
communications backhaul.

All network device locations require a site survey to determine their suitability.

Network Software
UtilOS Firmware
The Silver Spring UtilOS firmware provides a proven, extensible, and secure operating
system that drives the functionality of all Silver Spring devices. It provides a comprehensive
suite of advanced utility networking services, including network addressing and address
management, routing/switching with quality of service, device health and diagnostics
monitoring, synchronized network time, identity and authorization, security and encryption. All
these services can be configured via an XML-based monitoring and management interface. In
addition, UtilOS also enables the over-the-air firmware upgrades that keep Silver Spring
hardware up to date with utility needs.

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Network Security
From the start, Silver Spring recognized that the smart grid might be the target of malicious
activity and understood the vulnerabilities presented by interconnecting millions of remote
devices that have an operational life of 15 to 20 years. Consequently, the company has taken
an architectural approach to security and embedded it throughout the hardware, software,
and transactions running on the Smart Energy Platform.

In addition, Silver Spring leverages standard IP-based security technologies, which have
been developed collectively by the best security minds across the globe, proven to be highly
scalable, and hardened over decades of worldwide use against a broad range of attacks.
Silver Spring employs the strictest security standards throughout our proposed AMI solution,
including ISO 27001/2 and NIST 800-53. Thanks to security mechanisms such as
authentication, authorization, and encryption, Silver Spring endpoints and supporting
infrastructure are capable of detecting and alerting the network management system of
attempts at unauthorized actions as well as preventing security breaches. Each component
within the Silver Spring Smart Energy Platform can securely and uniquely identify itself to
every other relevant component of the system.
Silver Spring Baseline Security and Added Capabilities
Silver Springs baseline security capabilities include all functions to authenticate (who and
what is allowed onto the system), authorize (given your role, what can you do), and encrypt
(prevent snooping of content) communications across the Silver Spring system. These
capabilities span from the applications in the back office to each and every device in the field.
Silver Spring leverages hardware-based mechanisms to secure and accelerate these
functions, and Silver Spring uses Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) for its security certificates.
Silver Spring also uses a Certificate Authority, which acts as a trust anchor for every device

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communicating on the Silver Spring network. No device is allowed to self-sign its security
certificate, so we prevent man-in-the-middle and other spoofing attacks.
The add-on capabilities in GridScape KeySafe and GridScape Critical Operations
Protector (COP) augment Silver Springs industry-leading security in two key ways. KeySafe
stores the encryption keys in a Hardware Security Module (HSM) that is FIPS 140 Level 3certified and tamper proof. Should anyone attempt to compromise the keys, the HSM zeroes
out the keys, preventing their misuse. COP leverages the same HSM technology to rate limit
critical commands such as remote disconnect. Limiting the issuance of those commands
avoids the grid instability that would arise from a massive sending of disconnects, sent
maliciously by a hacker or disgruntled employee or sent accidentally from an employees
mistake.
GridScape KeySafe
GridScape KeySafe is a tamper-resistant Hardware
Security Module (HSM) that enables the secure
storage and processing of all cryptographic keys
and certificates used by the Silver Spring UtilityIQ
application suite. KeySafe provides utilities with effective protection against key compromise
and theft, including insider threats. Deployed in either Silver Springs secure hosting facilities
or a utilitys own data centers, KeySafe offers redundant failover for high availability and
disaster recovery.
Working in tandem with UtilityIQ application modules, KeySafe offloads the cryptographic
operations necessary to establish secure communications with meters and other Silver Spring
devices within the utility network. With its high-performance cryptographic engine, KeySafe
performs these operations at rates that scale to the largest utility networks. In addition,
KeySafe can act as the HSM for UtilityIQ Critical Operations Protector which enhances the
security of issuing sensitive commands such as a remote disconnect.

AMI Field Tools

The Field Service Unit (FSU) is a secure and compact
handheld device equipped with Silver Spring RF
communications that provides the link between Silver Spring
intelligent endpoint and infrastructure devices and the
software tools described below. The FSU can be used by
utility field engineers and technicians, for example, to
wirelessly configure and troubleshoot Access Points, Relays,
and Bridge devices that are mounted on utility poles or other
hard-to-reach locations.

Field Service Unit (FSU)

The FSU can also connect to Silver Spring Gas IMU devices deployed on gas meters and
Communications Modules integrated with our partners electric meters.

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The Communications Tester is a PC-based application for testing and analyzing the Silver
Spring Neighborhood Area Network (NAN) including Silver Spring Communications Modules,
Access Points, Relays, Bridges, and Gas Interface Management Units (IMUs). In conjunction
with the FSU, the Communications Tester enables engineers and technicians to transmit and
receive messages to and from these devices, log the data, and analyze the results. With this
software tool, the operator can perform firmware upgrades, read meter tables, check
configuration options, collect radio frequency statistics data, and exercise other
troubleshooting features.
Contingency Reader is laptop-based software that pairs with a Silver Spring Field Service
Unit (FSU) to read Silver Spring-equipped electricity meters in the field. Contingency Reader
provides a cost-effective solution for retrieving data from meters in hard-to-hear locations,
such as basements or meter closets. The tool also provides a way to retrieve data from
meters that are unreachable from the utility back office because of Neighborhood or Wide
Area Network (NAN or WAN) outages, storm damage, or equipment failures. By providing an
alternative way to read these meters, Contingency Reader offers utilities a way to reduce the
number of estimated bills generated each billing cycle.
The Electricity Communications Module Tester is a tool for verifying the operational status
of the Silver Spring Communications Module in an electricity meter. When combined with a
Silver Spring Field Service Unit and any method of powering an electricity meter, such as a
meter test board, the tool enables the utility meter shop or test lab to sample test inbound
meters and to assess field return meters. By leveraging the meter shops meter test boards,
the tool automates the meter shops test process and maximizes internal efficiencies.
The Electricity Communications Module Tester scripts the separate steps in the meter test
procedure into a single test process command and stores the test results in a local database.
This data may be exported to a file or printed. The result is an easy-to-use, production-ready
test tool for the utility meter shop customer and others.
NodeSim, a network simulation tool for emulating Silver Spring devices, is used for
datacenter hardware performance testing (compute, storage, networking, etc.). NodeSim is
included in our bid.

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UtilityIQ AMI Application Suite

Silver Springs UtilityIQ AMI Application Suite is a purpose-built, enterprise-class suite of
applications designed specifically to take advantage of the capabilities of the Silver Spring
mesh and GPRS/cellular network, and supports electricity, gas and water metering solutions.
The application suite includes UtilityIQ Advanced Metering Manager (AMM), and UtilityIQ
Meter Program Configurator (MPC). Silver Spring also offers software modules for managing
the Silver Spring network UtilityIQ Firmware Upgrader (FWU) enables firmware distribution
across the system and GridScape manages the network devices.
UtilityIQ Advanced Metering Manager
UtilityIQ Advanced Metering Manager (AMM) is an open, secure, and scalable meter
management application for a variety of advanced meter reading and data management
functions. UtilityIQ AMM provides complete support for meter reading, individually or in
groups, scheduled or in real time, across a variety of electricity, gas and water meters.
UtilityIQ AMM enables the efficient and verifiable collection, management, and analysis of
consumption, time of use and interval data, power quality measures, meter events, meter
status logs and more delivering market-leading meter reading and meter data management
support. Utilities access this data via an intuitive web-based interface or programmatically
through advanced web services (SOAP/XML) interfaces.
UtilityIQ AMM will measure, collect and analyze energy usage, and improve communications
with customers, suppliers and service providers. UtilityIQ AMM both automates costly and
time-consuming utility processes and manages remote reading of all major types of meters.
Other key UtilityIQ AMM features include:

Intuitive web interface or advanced web APIs for seamless integration with other
mission-critical applications.

More accurate billing, dramatic reductions in manual meter reads, and lower
equipment and maintenance costs.

Secure management for all types of signals to endpoint devices-whether related to

outages, peak pricing, connect/disconnect, and load control or distribution automation

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UtilityIQ Meter Program Configurator

UtilityIQ Meter Program Configurator enables wireless, remote programming of electricity
meters on a mass scale. The programming software uses push technology to deploy
programs to meters. It can send programs to meters individually or across millions of meters
simultaneously by sending the program updates across multiple Silver Spring Access Points.
When Meter Program Configurator successfully configures a meter with a new program and
validates it, the meter re-initializes and sends its program to UtilityIQ Advanced Metering
Manager for verification and approval. The combination of these software programs allows
utilities to update millions of meters without a single truck roll.
The UtilityIQ Meter Program Configurator software features:

Creates and stores meter programs for future use.

Transfers programs to meters wirelessly, eliminating truck rolls for meter updates.

Automates approval of programs within UtilityIQ Advanced Metering Manager.

Configures interval width and calculates internal interval storage.

Enables and disables self reads and offset times.

Runs automated, recurring audits of meters.

UtilityIQ Outage Detection System

UtilityIQ Outage Detection System (ODS) helps utilities identify outages and supports
restoration activities by correlating outage and restoration to connectivity patterns and
providing a visual presentation of outage severity, location, and restoration. UtilityIQ ODS
maintains these outage detection and restoration activities even during automated switching
activities.
Programmable exception policies enable filtering and aggregation by event type or duration.
Utilities can also configure settings regarding momentary outages UtilityIQ ODS then filters
out these momentary outages, allowing operators to focus on sustained outages. Simplified,
visual presentation of outage and restoration details speed resolution.
UtilityIQ ODS is suitable for a large-scale, multi-application network for large utilities or can be
delivered as a turnkey outage management system for smaller utilities. Either way, UtilityIQ
ODS provides a foundation for smart grid deployment while maintaining a high Return on
Investment (ROI).
Key UtilityIQ Outage Detection System features include:

Automated outage and restoration scoping and reporting

Rapid identification and scoping of outages and restoration activities

Extensive, programmable reporting on events and alerts

Visualization of outages by location and severity to minimize the impact of outages

and accelerate restorations

Tight integration with UtilityIQ AMM and easy integration with third-party back office
systems via secure web services and an enterprise message bus

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UtilityIQ Firmware Upgrader
UtilityIQ Firmware Upgrader (FWU) allows utilities to upgrade the firmware on Silver Spring
Communications Modules, Access Points, Relays and Bridges, as well as the native firmware
on meters, load control switches, and other supported devices. Utilities upload the new
firmware image to UtilityIQ Firmware Upgrader, at which point operators can add important
metadata about the image. Next, they distribute the firmware image to a set of specified
devices, install the new firmware, and verify that the installation was successful. Finally,
UtilityIQ Firmware Upgrader lets the utility audit firmware versions on network devices on a
regular basis to ensure compliance. Users can configure the application to automatically
upgrade any device to found to be running an old version of firmware without any user
intervention.
Other key UtilityIQ Firmware Upgrader features include:

Over-the-air updates to any Silver Spring device including Communications Modules

in partner meters

Support for incremental firmware upgrades as appropriate across a deployment

Efficient distribution of the updated firmware leveraging the AMI infrastructure

Secure relay of firmware code

System wide auditing to determine firmware versions

GridScape Network Manager

GridScape Network Manager is a highly configurable application that supports advanced
network management capabilities while interoperating with existing back-office and storage
systems. GridScape Network Manager supports device management, network health
monitoring, remote firmware upgrades and capacity planning and management. Most
importantly, it ensures that business-critical services such as demand response, dynamic
pricing, billing and collections, and automated outage/restoration management applications
get the data they need when they need it.
Based on network management best practices and open standards, GridScape Network
Manager can be easily integrated with existing operational and business support systems
such as Outage/Restoration Management, Demand Response Management, Load Control
Systems, Field Automation Services, and other systems. GridScape Network Manager saves
the expense of field investigations by enabling on-demand and historical analysis of
performance, capacity, and fault metrics. On-demand metrics are gathered and analyzed
through the GridScape Diagnostic Console, and historical metrics may be charted via
standard reports or custom charting interfaces. Device faults are exposed via the GridScape
Network Manager Event List and may be forwarded to a third-party management application
via the GridScape Network Manager event-forwarding infrastructure.
GridScape Network Manager provides:

Insight into key network fault, performance and capacity management criteria.

Dashboard-style access to network status by service, device type, capacity and

routing efficiency.

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Installation, configuration, provisioning, management, monitoring and diagnostic

functions.

Flexible alert policies to enable performance and fault policy exceptions and flag
device data outside pre-set tolerances.

Proactive performance analysis, which can queries multiple devices simultaneously

and delivers visibility into the state of the network at all times.

Capacity policies that allow operators to add capacity or adjust schedules to maintain
optimal network utilization.

Secure XML-based integration with existing applications.

Industry-standard protocols to ensure easy integration with third-party event

management systems.

UtilityIQ Back-Office Integration

Silver Springs utility customers throughout the world have engaged Silver Springs Solution
Architects to successfully guide integration of their systems with our products. These
engagements have repeatedly proven our expertise and efficiency, and through them we
have developed a set of best practice design patterns for integrating utility systems with our
products. We have successfully integrated with numerous MDMS systems, including those
from Landis+Gyr, Itron, Oracle, eMeter/Siemens and EnergyICT, as well as CIS systems,
including those from SAP, Oracle, and CustomerOne. By exposing multiple interface types
and a low level of granularity, we were able to integrate without any customization to the core
UtilityIQ modules. We were able to avoid customization by exposing more than 200 individual
service operations via our API.
UtilityIQ exposes all of its functionality as a web service. The complete user interface is built
on top of the web services layer. Any operation that can be performed from the user interface
can be performed directly via web services. Additionally, the WSDLs are exposed by UtilityIQ.
Data moves from applications to the web service and vice versa via the Simple Object Access
Protocol (SOAP). SOAP is an XML format that provides a standard protocol by which
applications can exchange data, regardless of platform or location. For asynchronous and
event based integration, UtilityIQ publishes XML messages (based upon the same XML
Schema Definition or XSD as the web services) to several Java Messaging Service (JMS)
queues.

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Deployment Models
Technology Partners offers multiple deployment options that allow utility customers to choose
the solution that best fits their needs. Each deployment option is designed to accommodate
different capitalization needs, skill levels, and risk profiles. Given the complex nature of the
technology and the large size of the deployments, a common approach begins with a
deployment model that shifts most of the risk and skill requirements to Silver Spring and its
partner. In this way, utilities can leverage Technology Partners and Silver Springs significant
experience to reduce deployment risk, speed the deployment, and deliver maximum flexibility
while maintaining long term ownership and capitalization.

W
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Deployment Model

Licensed Model
Implement, Support

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The figure below provides an overview of available deployment options.

Suitability

Utility

Utility

Utility

Utility

Perpetual

Maximum capitalization,
slower deployment

SW managed by SSN / HW
Implement,
Support
owned and hosted
by

Utility

Utility

Utility

SSN

Perpetual

Maintains high capitalization with

lower risk and customer skill
levels necessary

SaaS
Software as a Service

Utility

SSN

SSN

SSN

Term

Fastest deployment, lowest risk,

lowest resource requirements at
utility

Managed
Licensed
Model

(1) Network includes "Access Points, Relays, WAN Backhaul, Meters and Communications Modules"

Licensed Deployment Model

TP normally proposes the Licensed Deployment Model for the Middle East utilities. The
Licensed Model combines a traditional enterprise software license fee approach with
professional services from TP and Silver Spring to enable the utilitys information technology
(IT) organization to install, configure, and manage the UtilityIQ and GridScape back office
environments. The utility provides all data center facilities, network and server hardware,
third-party software licenses (including Oracle), and storage area network (SAN) storage and
backup infrastructure. The utility also provides all operations personnel to perform installation,
configuration and 24x7 monitoring, troubleshooting and maintenance for the environment. TP
provides training and knowledge transfer services.
As an option, TP can provide the Silver Spring Appliance. The pre-configured Appliance
contains the server, networking, and SAN systems necessary for the proposed Silver Spring
AMI system. See Silver Spring Appliance Description, below.

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Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) Option
In the Software as a Service (SaaS) option, Silver Spring builds, owns, and manages the
back office application at a Silver Spring secure data center. Silver Spring also provides all
network design and optimization. The utility owns and maintain the meters and network
elements, which the utility or Technology Partners can install. The SaaS solution provides a
secure web interface to a full complement of software components offered in the UtilityIQ
application suite as described in the UtilityIQ Application Suite description, below. Software
license fees are included in the monthly service fee. The solution fully supports integration
between UtilityIQ and other back office systems for on-demand transactions as well as bulk
data transfer via a secure VPN connection.
By leveraging existing infrastructure at the Silver Spring data centers, utility environments can
come online rapidly, significantly reducing one of the largest operational risks in any smart
grid deployment. Security is assured through Silver Springs operation and maintenance best
practices and SOC certified, N+1 redundant data centers. A shared infrastructure (routers,
storage, database, servers, backups, etc.) allows the utility to avoid additional costs and
delays associated with acquiring dedicated hardware without sacrificing data integrity and
security. Disaster recovery and business continuity services are offered as well as
staging/test environments for upgrade / patch validation. Upgrades / changes to all
environments are coordinated with clients using standard change management procedures.
All SaaS environments are managed and monitored by Silver Springs 24x7 operations center
and staff. We further assure customers peace of mind by offering intrusion detection services
and regular third-party penetration testing services.

Managed Services Option

As an alternative, TP can offer a Managed Service model for a Smart Meter Project. In
support of initial program efforts and to prepare a path to full deployment, this model includes
placement of a Silver Spring Appliance within the utilitys data center, with setup by TP and
on-going management of the AMI head end system performed by Silver Spring. In the
Managed Services model, the utility owns and hosts the infrastructure at its data center.
Similar to the SaaS hosted model described above, the utility manages its customers meters
and owns the AMI network assets, and, in cooperation with TP, is responsible for installing
and provisioning APs, Relays, and meters. TP installs the Appliance with the UtilityIQ and
GridScape environments in the utility data center. Once a secure remote administrative link is
connected to the Network Operations Center (NOC), experts at Silver Spring can then
manage and maintain the AMI solution remotely.

Silver Spring Appliance Description

To lower project risks and to speed deployment, TP offeris the Silver Spring Appliance. The
Appliance lowers risks by providing a proven platform optimized and validated for specific
Smart Grid projects on the Silver Spring Smart Energy Platform. Leveraging the Appliance
minimizes deployment time to launch because it comes preconfigured with Silver Springs
AMI applications.
Built with enterprise-class components, the Appliance will provide a simple, robust platform
for all utility environments. Benefits of the Appliance include:

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Increased simplicity Silver Spring has
performed the engineering tasks and QA of
all underlying systems components to ensure
they are optimized for Silver Spring software.
The Appliance will arrive at the utility with all
needed software already installed.
Enterprise-class

performance

The

Appliance contains best-of-breed and proven

components for each element of its
architecture. This increases the resiliency
and predictability of Silver Spring AMI
systems by building on a foundation of
enterprise-class
components.

hardware

and

software

Easy scalability The Appliance supports a range of deployment sizes, from a testing
platform for a few hundred devices to a full deployment, so it can handle all of the utilitys
environments. The Appliance is pre-tested and has defined scale points that allow for
predictable scaling with no forklift of major components required.

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METER DATA MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

Technology Partners recommends Gridstream Meter Data Management System from
Landis+Gyr as a world class MDMS that has been thoroughly proven in major AMI
deployments around the world. Many of these deployments include direct integration with the
Silver Spring communications and Utility IQ Head End software as well as with SAP Billing
and Customer Management solutions.
Without the need for costly and risky customisations, the highly configurable MDMS solution
from Landis+Gyr consolidates many streams of data from the Smart Grid into a manageable
flow of information, allowing revenue, distribution and customer operations to unlock the value
of this data.

Through a common application code base deployed to all customers, the

Gridstream MDMS is used to improve meter-to-cash and complex billing operations, manage
outage and restoration activities, measure demand for load forecasting and enable
presentment of near real-time usage to consumers. This means a solution that meets your
requirements, and is fully supported and easily updated.
The Gridstream MDMS is an integral part of not only billing, but also near real-time business
operations and decision making processes. For example, Oncor is able to use the Gridstream
MDMS and the AMI system to instantly detect outages, often fixing the problem before it is
reported by a customer, and also provide operations with a real-time view of outage status.
The MDMS manages automatically a continuous two-way flow of information from many
systems, promptly collects and reconciles multiple data streams and automates corrective
actions. The following diagram provides an overview of the Gridstream MDMS
implementation context.

With such a central role in the flow and management of information between core utility
systems and business processes, constant availability and predictable performance is
essential. Today, all Landis+Gyr Gridstream customers rely on the system every day to
consistently meet critical deadlines and processing windows, despite often varying or
unexpected workloads.

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The MDMS has been built with a streamlined architecture using the same technologies
already found in most utility IT environments. Both in-house and outsourced operations have
been deployed, and Technology Partners is pleased to support either or both deployment
approaches.
Included with the Gridstream MDMS are all the tools to operate and maintain the MDMS and
the underlying Oracle database. Upgrades are included through our Software Maintenance
Service. Additional Operational Support Services are available should they ever be required.
Upgrades are streamlined by design and packaged to include all required documentation,
files and scripts. It is understood that an MDM solution requires nearly 7x24 availability, and
upgrades have been specifically designed to minimize any downtime. They can be applied to
an existing environments in-place and maintain backward compatibility.
The Gridstream MDMS includes complete user and technical documentation distributed
electronically in HTML and PDF formats for un-restricted customer internal use. Documents
are updated with every release, are easily published and searchable.

BILLING AND CRM SYSTEM INTEGRATION

The SAP AMI Integration for Utilities software streamlines how customer meter data are
accessed and made available for instant consumption by the back-end systems that support
the CRM, Billing, and Analysis activities. Using a set of enterprise services based on XML
formats, the software acts as a communication and integration bridge between the databases
and applications involved in aggregating meter-reading data and servicing and invoicing of
customers.
This integration lays the foundation for a new way of achieving cost-effective customer
service, market efficiency and automation, and optimization of revenues and demand.
The diagram below illustrates a typical scenario using SAP AMI Integration for Utilities. A
distribution system operator or meter operator uses an AMI system to collect customer usage
information from electronic meter systems (also called smart meters), this data is centralized
in a shared meter data unification system (MDUS). Because utilities may use different AMIs,
the data formats vary, and the information is harmonized in the MDUS.

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SAP AMI Integration for Utilities then bridges the gap between the MDUS data and the SAP
for Utilities solutions. Using a set of enterprise services, the software talks to the MDUS,
pushes or pulls requested customer meter data, formats it for the back-end software used to
make the request, and passes it on for immediate billing, used by service agents, analysis, or
distribution to customers.
Because SAP for Utilities enables two-way communications, data in the MDUS can be
updated as well. For example, if a customer service representative determines a meter needs
to be replaced, the related data within the MDUS is updated almost instantly. This is just one
example of how SAP AMI Integration for Utilities can be used within an existing IT
infrastructure. Even if you manual processes are used to collect meter data, one can still
realize benefits from the software. For example, remote connects and disconnects can be
executed, on-demand meter reads, and automation of the creation of conditional service
orders. Greater ROI is realised the more the meter-reading process are automated with
increased frequency of data capture. All of these enterprise servicesbased communications
are enabled by the SAP NetWeaver Process Integration offering, which can interact with the
partner-developed MDUS solutions.

CONCLUSIONS
Technology Partners has deployed the largest Smart Grid network in the Middle East, and
one of the most sophisticated in the world, for ADWEA (Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity
Authority). TP has leveraged this experience, and that of its international partners,to offer a
truly world class end-to-end AMI System utilising next generation AMI technologies and
components.

These components include the latest generation of Smart Meters, an

economical and totally reliable utility-owned communications infrastructure, and scalable

Head End and MDMS software. All components have been proven in the worlds largest and
most complex AMI projects. Together, they form the best state-of-the art integrated Smart
Metering solution available today.

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