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Content archived on 2022-12-27

RADIO CONTROLLED TARIFF AND LOAD MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

Objective

To increase the flexibility and reduce cost of multi-rate tariff metering it was decided to :
(a) Develop the best features of the individual products of solid state meters, radio-teleswhich and multi-rate tariff unit, available to the industry, into an integrated dual circuit single phase metering unit.
The unit to be suitable for single phase domestic supplies and capable of separate registration for
(i) customer controlled load and
(ii) utility controlled load using variable switching regimes. Also to manufacture 1,000 units for field trials.
(b) To demonstrate through field trials the feasibility of application, gauge customer acceptance in the technology and establish potential benefits of the tariff.
Integration of the metering products, as described above, was successfully achieved and the trial product has since been further developed and marketed by UK metering manufacturers.
The tariff experiment demonstrated that customers and suppliers could obtain benefit from variable time control on selected loads. The principle has therefore been incorporated into published tariffs by several Regional Electricity Companies. A period of cheap rate electricity is provided during the day, as well as overnight, for the radio controlled load.
Adoption of the tariff requires that wiring of electrical installations provides separation between the load that will be controlled by the supplier and that controlled by the customer.
It is therefore mainly applicable to new properties with electrical space and water heating.
The project team set about taking the best features of the following individual products and developing them into a single integrated product :
RADIO TELESWITCH
Jointly developed by the UK Electricity Supply Industry and meter manufacturers - a device capable of receiving signals superimposed on the national BBC Radio 4 transmissions using phase modulation. The device provides separate control for both space and water heating and initiates rate control signals to the associated meters(s). Integral contractors of 80A and 25A are included. The signals can initiate either programmed commands to conduct switching operations over a period, or immediate commands e.g. for the purpose of demand management.
ELECTRONIC TARIFF METERS
Developed by Schlumberger Industries and capable of measuring single phase, single circuit load across either one, two or three tariff rates, consumption being recorded on electro-mechanical registers. Tariff time control is by external means using a time-switchor radio-teleswitch.
MULTI RATE REGISTERS
Developed to work in conjunction with tariff meter these are either stand alone, attached or fully integrated into a meter and store consumption information against a more complex multi-rate tariff regime. The time control is mainly by internal electronic calendar clock and the devices are used for seasonal time of day tariffs.
All of the above devices have been produced in quantity within the UK and are still in use.
Integration was acheived and the resulting product was installed in homes throughout the regions of the participating Regional Electricity Companies. Sites were selected from normal customer recruiting techniques and were split into groups which included two different tariff regimes and a control group.
The product developed for the trial included two contactors each independently controlled by the Radio Teleswich signals. A 100A contactor was used for space heating and a 25A contactor used for water heating.
The radio signal also provided time synchronisation and controlled the rate/time matrix for the uncontrolled load element subject to the tariff structure. Alternatively the rate/time matrix was controlled by the internal calendar clock and a set programme in the memory.
In the event of loss of radio signal the meter continued to operate on the switching programme last received with time control from the built in clock until communication was restored.
A liquid crystal display provided information for customers and meter readers. Automatic stepping enabled display of each register in a pre-selected sequence showing date, time and consumption on each rate.
A communication port enabled interrogation of the memory by use of a communication "key" and also provided load profile data over half hourly periods at selected sites. This was acheived by use of a specially designed "memory key" which has left in the communications port for agreed intervals and provided a data logging facility.

Call for proposal

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Coordinator

ELECTRICITY COUNCIL
EU contribution
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Address
MILLBANK 30
SW1P 4RD LONDON
United Kingdom

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