Product category:
Telemetry, data acquisition + loggers
News Release from: Tai Feng Yuan Meters | Subject: AMR by SMS
Edited by the Processingtalk Editorial
Team on 31 October 2005
Prepay utility meters remotely managed
by GSM SMS
In developing and underdeveloped countries, a new dual display prepayment utility meter system, remotely managed by GSM SMS, solves many of the normally faced commercial problems
In developing and underdeveloped countries, the main commercial problems faced by power, water and gas utilities relating to consumption meters are as follows --Debt from the client
This article was originally published on Processingtalk on 30 May 2005 at 8.00am (UK)
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--Meter tampering by clients.
--Dishonesty and bribery of visiting meter readers.
--Stealing of power by clients.
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--Security and environment for where the meters are installed.
Without finding a solution to these challenges, such problems will lead to significant revenue loss to the utilities, with increased costs for maintenance and operations.
Based on modern patented optical direct-reading technology, Tai Feng Yuan Meters and AMR Co have developed a prepaid meter system which provides utilities with better solutions and service options.
The new pre-paid meters developed have a dual digital display, by LED and numerical wheel display, which is managed remotely by SMS based on GSM.
It is particularly applicable to developing and underdeveloped countries where such a pre-payment solution may be desirable.
* Protection for bribery, stealing, debt and tough installation environment.
A prepaid metering system can avoid any need to involve a meter reader, preventing dishonesty or bribery, and avoids credit problems.
The LED display provides protection in a tough installation environment with high temperature and humidity, increasing the meter lifetime and reducing the costs of maintenance and repair.
The second meter display, shown on optical direct-reading wheels, can collect the meter data exactly and also provide the external interface (RS232 or RS485) for remote management so that the utilities will not lose control of the prepaid meter.
* Remote Management mode on dual-display prepaid meter.
Remote managing on dual-display prepaid meter is realized by SMS modem.
One SMS modem is connected to the optical direct-reading wheel through a standard interface and data is transmitted to another one installed at the central office.
Through the GSM platform, utilities can read data of all dual-display prepaid meters remotely and have total management of them in order to monitor and prevent any tampering or stealing.
* Improved pre-payment mode to reduce cost of scratch card.
Clients just go to the service office of the utilities and pay money, to be credited to their meters.
The utilities will send the payment information to the specific prepaid meter remotely using SMS modem.
Thus, utilities can avoid the problems inherent with scratch type cards, where incorrect operation and input by the clients themselves causes faults, and it reduces the costs of making the scratch card, and operational maintenance problems.
* Sealed, protected meter cabinet.
The dual-display prepaid meter and SMS modem is totally enclosed.
So the unit can be contained within a cabinet suitable for protection from environment, and also to prevent stealing and tampering.
* Programmed multi-tariff available.
Dual-display prepaid meters can be programmed for multi-tariff rates, for example dependent on time of use.
After installation, utilities just make a simple adjustment to the prepaid meter to input information about the multi-tariff rate.
* Temporary clients.
Dual-display prepaid meters provide a simple method of introducing supplies to new temporary residents, by installation of a meter and operation of the pre-payment system.
The dual-display prepaid meter, now introduced by Tai Feng Yuan Meters and AMR Co, using the SMS modem and remotely managed system, provides a better solution for utilities in developing and undeveloped countries.
It can solve all the standard business problems existing in operation and maintenance of utilities that use a prepayment system.
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