Driven by benefits of enhanced efficiency, greater transparency into operations and improved savings, the metering industry is going through a transformative change. And at the heart of this evolution lies the smart meter operations center. Often referred to as SMOC, it acts as a centralized hub for continuous and management of smart metering infrastructure. However, one thing that utilities need to keep in mind is that not all SMOCs are created equal. In order to fully maximize their investments and receive tangible returns, utilities need to consider key features before adopting a SMOC solution.
In this blog, we will explore in detail as to how investing in SMOC is not just about deploying technology, but also future-proofing your operations and gaining a competitive advantage.
Key Features to Look Out for When Adopting SMOC
Modular and open architecture
Gone are the days of investing in platforms that stifle innovation and create vendor lock-in. A modern SMOC must be built on an open architecture, enabling phased deployments and seamless integration with existing systems(MDM, CRM, GIS, billing). This helps organizations minimize instances of disruption during the implementation process, allowing for a more agile adoption approach.
So, what does this mean for utilities? First of all, open APIs are non-negotiable since they facilitate seamless information exchange between SMOC and other systems within the metering infrastructure, ensuring greater interoperability and preventing data silos. From an IT Operations approach, adopting an agile SMOC helps manage integrations smoothly, and C-level executives, it translates to reduced vendor lock-in and better long-term ROI.
Consider a utility that wants to integrate a new distributed energy resource management system (DERMs) with their SMOC. With open APIs, the interaction process becomes streamlined, enabling the utility to adapt to changing grid conditions and customer demands. For instance, Grid’s SMOC is designed to act as a single source of information, bringing together data on project progress such as IT systems implementation and health monitoring metrics. Our solutions integrate seamlessly with workforce management systems, MDM (meter data management), HES (head-end systems) and consumer billing platforms. This helps utilities ensure that all SLAs are monitored on a single screen.
Scalability and performance
Smart meters generate vast amounts of data, and the volume will only continue to grow as utilities integrate more devices into the grid. An ideal SMOC must be able to handle this exponential data growth, along with future device integrations like sensors or grid assets and increasing data transaction volumes without affecting the grid performance.
The architecture of SMOC must be designed to scale horizontally, i.e. allowing the utility provider to add resources as needed to maintain peak performance. Additionally, the organization should also conduct thorough performance benchmarking to ensure that SMOC is able to meet both their existing and future operational requirements. This process involves testing the system’s ability to handle data loads during peak hours, process complex inquiries with ease and support a large volume of concurrent users.
For example, a utility that wants to implement a dynamic pricing program for its consumers. SMOC must be designed to handle surge in data requests from customers checking prices and adjust their energy consumption in real-time.
Automated device management
With a modern SMOC, utilities should be able to automate key tasks like meter provisioning, remote configuration and firmware updates. Automating these key tasks not only reduces the need for manual intervention but also minimizes errors and improves operational efficiency. For IT operations, this results in reduced workload, allowing them to focus on strategic initiatives. Field technicians would experience fewer truck rolls, which leads to significant cost savings and improved response times.
When implementing SMOC, utilities must look out for an ADM (automate device management) system that automatically manages device configurations of every low voltage network device. This involves bulk transaction processing that supports configuration changes, routine checks of device configurations and detection of disconnected devices. For example, imagine a scenario where a vulnerability in firmware is discovered within a particular meter model. With automated device management, SMOC is able to remotely update the firmware on all affected meters, helping them mitigate security risks without costly and time-intensive manual update processing.
Mobile workforce management
For the smooth functioning of field operations in smart metering management, SMOC should integrate with mobile workforce management systems. This feature allows utilities to efficiently dispatch field technicians, and facilitate seamless data exchange between stakeholders.
With this integration, field technicians can get access to meter data, troubleshooting guides and customer information directly from their mobile devices, which allows them to resolve issues more effectively. These systems equip field technicians with mobile tools and real-time data that allows them to resolve issues on the first visit, minimize instances of repeated visits and improve end-consumer satisfaction.
For instance, when a consumer reports a power outage, the integrated systems within the SMOC can quickly identify the affected meters, dispatch field technicians quickly and provide them with necessary data to diagnose the issue quickly. Low-code solutions like Grid’s SMOC, which can be integrated to provide revenue analytics on billing collection per month, balances on prepaid meters along with billing units and values. This streamlined integration approach ensures that AMISPs are able to monitor the payment outputs from the AMI project and recovery of payments are on track.
Before we wrap up…
By prioritizing automation, scalability, modularity, etc, utilities can transform their SMOC from just a technology investment to a strategic asset. One that drives innovation, efficiency and improved consumer engagement. Achieving these goals, however, requires a change in mindset- from viewing SMOC as a cost center to recognizing its potential as a needle mover for a smarter and more resilient utility ecosystem. Like our solution Grid, which is designed to integrate seamlessly with your existing metering infrastructure, providing an end-to-end view of smart metering operations. Curious to find out how you unlock a more efficient and responsive utility network? Connect with the Grid team or one of our experts today and find out how!
