As an increasing number of homeowners decide to take advantage of distributed renewable resources such as rooftop solar, we may need to rethink the current regulatory paradigm and governance structure of the electric market. This thesis examines the shortcomings of current net metering programs in California. While the current Net Metering 2.0 proceeding highlights a clash of solar advocates and electric utilities, it is in fact revealing an underlying structural flaw that has been present all along. In order to send the appropriate price signals to solar customers, both the structure by which utilities recover costs and the rate at which solar customers are compensated must be reconceived. I show how the current debates over the appropriate price to compensate solar customer are built on a flawed rate structure. Without addressing the underlying inefficiencies of current rate structures, it is unlikely that we will maintain utilities’ financial ability to operate and maintain grid infrastructure and provide solar customers with the proper incentives to reach the ideal transition to solar energy.

This contribution presents an operating strategy for a novel valve structure for mobile machines’ working hydraulics which combines the flexibility and energetic benefits of individual metering with the functionality of common primary pressure compensation (IPC). The aim is to set up a system that uses a minimal amount of sensors and simple control algorithms. A control strategy theoretically described in /1/ is modified to facilitate the practical implementation on a mini excavator implement as a test rig. This test rig consists only of components that are currently available off-the-shelf to show that it is possible to develop an individual metering system under these economic restrictions. The novel is more energy efficient than common flow sharing systems but provides the same functionality. The control algorithm is experimentally evaluated in terms of functionality and energy consumption. Simulations show potential for further improvements.

As intelligent hydraulic systems with embedded sensors become more ubiquitous, the real or perceived reliability challenge associated with sensors must be addressed to encourage their adoption. In this paper, a fault-tolerant control strategy for an intelligent independent metering valve that allows continued operation if a sensor fails is described. The twin-spool valve example utilizes position sensors to stabilize the spool positions and eliminate hysteresis, and pressure sensors to provide digital pressure compensation, electronic load sensing, and other features. An independent metering valve has redundancy provided by four sensors working together to control the flow into and out of a single actuator. Although two sensors are needed to control the flow through a spool, the controller can be reconfigured to ensure the flow is always controlled on the spool with both sensors working. To accomplish this, the concept of cross-port pressure control is introduced that uses the faulty side of the valve to maintain constant pressure on the non-faulty side. By maintaining a constant pressure, the flow in and out of the actuator are balanced. Experimental results on the boom of a backhoe demonstrate the operation of the fault tolerant control strategy.

The need for a more sustainable approach to water consumption has increasingly gained attention in the last decade. The domestic sector accounts for over half of abstracted water in the UK and, as such, has become a major target for water efficiency interventions. Current research and water efficiency interventions are dominated by a positivist approach, focusing on a limited range of factors that can be quantitatively measured. This thesis questions the dominant approach and argues that a more holistic overview of water efficiency can be achieved through the consideration of socio-technical and behavioural theories. Taking a more constructivist approach, this research draws on four theories from socio-technical and behavioural fields and combines them to create a framework for the analysis of water efficiency interventions. The framework is applied to two case studies, exploring water users' perceptions of water, water supply, personal water use, and their responses to the water efficiency interventions. The case studies were selected to provide examples of current mainstream approaches to water demand management. Research methods used included semi-structured interviews and observation. The research findings support the argument that the current dominant approach to domestic water efficiency interventions is limited and, in some cases, ineffectual. Issues of trust, knowledge, motivation and the relationships between water users and water companies were raised. The thesis concludes that the use of a constructivist perspective could help to provide a more effective approach to understanding and improving water demand management.

In the U.S., clean energy goals and the move towards a clean energy economy are causing the electric power sector to add emerging and innovative renewable energy resources into their generation mix. Electric utilities (EU) face a monumental challenge to create, deliver, and capture value from emerging and disruptive technologies. This study seeks to address the impact of solar photovoltaics on the EU market by investigating the role of business model changes within the domain of urban and rural U.S. electric utility organizations. By integrating the evolving EU business model with the Competing Values Framework (CVF), a new lens is created to assess the changing and evolving business behavior within the EU industry. Furthermore, a predictive and prescriptive tool emerges associated with organizational ambidexterity (OA). Finally, four lessons are presented that will help EU leaders become more anticipatory, adaptable, and responsive in this changing renewable environment.

The aim of this work is design of system for wireless data collection from energy meters. The work shows issues of smart metering and explains meters communication. There is designed and described concept of the system composed of RF modules connected to data concentrator. Designed RF module uses SoC radio CC430F5137 and it is connected to a data concentrator via RS485 bus. For the purposes of communication as well as firmware update, the communication protocol is designed. In the next part the work focuses on design and creation of RF module frmware, bootloader for RF module and software application for energy meter data processing.

This work deals with technology and innovation management issues on the particular case of electricity smart metering in the Czech Republic. The popular literature on this topic is not reflecting on industries with high level of regulation in demand determination, which is the precise case of this industry. Positions of distribution network operators, technology suppliers, end-consumers and the regulatory players are analyzed. Comparison with other European countries is shown with market development predictions also taking part of the analysis. The outcome of this work reflects on the 2012 decision of the regulatory authority in the Czech Republic, which is to decide on a mandatory roll-out of this technology. This work presents the path towards this decision and discusses the potential outcomes.

Atualmente a medição de energia elétrica para residências em centros urbanos é realizada por meio de medidores eletromecânicos lidos de forma manual. Neste processo uma série de problemas foram observados, dos quais se destacam: erros de leitura, dificuldade de acesso ao ponto de medição, bancos de dados sem atualização, dentre outros. A automação do processo de medição e da leitura, com base nos medidores existentes ou com o uso de medidores eletrônicos da energia elétrica, além de resolver os problemas citados, tem potencialmente uma série de vantagens, que incluem: combate a fraudes e furto de energia, implementação de tarifas diferenciadas em função da hora de consumo (tarifa amarela), corte e religamento remoto de energia, implementação de programas de energia pré-paga, levantamento de curvas de carga e eliminação de erros e custos do processo de leitura manual. Por outro lado observa-se que existem no Brasil cerca de 43 milhões de medidores residenciais instalados, sendo relativamente baixos os custos dos medidores eletromecânicos e do sistema de leitura manual. Desta forma, somente será possível implementar sistemas de automação da medição de energia elétrica residencial se os sistemas ora propostos forem ao mesmo tempo de custo reduzido e altamente confiáveis. O sistema de automação em estudo irá considerar inclusive o aproveitamento dos medidores eletromecânicos existentes, com a instalação de sistemas eletrônicos de coleta dos dados de consumo comunicando-se com concentradores locais, que por sua vez são interligados a sistemas computacionais instalados dentro da concessionária. Os resultados do estudo mostram que hoje existe uma concreta possibilidade de se obter sistemas de automação da medição de energia elétrica residencial seguros e de custos reduzidos. O trabalho ora proposto será desenvolver um sistema automatizado para a medição de energia residencial em centros urbanos, constituído por um módulo concentrador para oito residências, com comunicação deste para um centro de operação da concessionária. Será apresentada a metodologia para a implementação do sistema e considerado um estudo de caso. / In these days, the energy measurement system for residences in urban areas is carried out by eletromechanical meters, which are read manually. Several problems have been observed in this process, which we can emphasize: reading errors, difficulty to access the measurement place, outdated databases, etc. The reading and the measurement automation processes, based in the current eletromechanical meters or with the electronic version of these equipment, besides solving the mentioned problems, have several advantages, such as: minimization of fraud and robbery of energy, implementation of differentiated rates depending on the time of the day (ex:yellow rate), remote energy switch-off and switch-on, implementation of a prepaid system, possibility to get the load curve of each consumer and elimination of error and costs embedded in the manually reading process. On the other hand, we can observe that in Brazil there are an estimated 43 millions residential meters already installed, and the costs for the current measurement system, and also of the meters, are very low. In this scenario, the implementation of a automated system for residential energy measurement is that the proposed system has a very low cost at the same time provides a high reliability. The proposed automation system will consider the reutilization of the current mechanical meters, with the installation of an electronic systems for the consumption data collection, communicating with local concentrators, which in their turn are linked to a computing systems in the energy company. The results of the present work show that, nowadays, there is a real possibility to get, a trustable and cheap automated measurement system for energy in residential urban area. The proposed work is the development of an automated system, for residential energy measurement in urban area. It's composed of a concentrator module for eight residences, with communication from this point to the energy company's operation center. It will be presented a methodology to implement such a system and also a case study.

Este trabalho aborda a conformidade dos medidores de energia em sistemas não senoidais, na busca do aumento de qualidade no faturamento de energia elétrica. Para tanto, enfoca a medição mais justa e um melhor relacionamento entre concessionária e consumidor. As análises foram realizadas nos laboratórios da Eletropaulo, do Instituto de Eletrotécnica e Energia da Universidade de São Paulo, e no Laboratório do Centro de Estudos em Regulação e Qualidade de Energia (Enerq), USP. Trata-se de um estudo que faz parte de um projeto maior de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento da Agência Nacional de Energia Elétrica (ANEEL). Seu objetivo foi investigar se a distorção de tensão e corrente nos medidores de faturamento de energia elétrica provoca desvios na energia medida. Pretendeu-se ainda avaliar se as harmônicas inseridas nos medidores eletromecânicos possuem maior ou menor desvio na energia medida, em comparação aos medidores eletrônicos. A metodologia utilizada incluiu levantamento de estudos de pesquisa e desenvolvimento, além de ensaios de laboratório com amostras de equipamentos de dois fabricantes nacionais. Como parâmetros para os ensaios, levantaram-se curvas, por meio de medições de cargas reais. Os resultados das medições obtidas em situações reais foram comparados com aquelas levantadas nos laboratórios. Os resultados dos ensaios laboratoriais foram analisados e comparados com os limites estabelecidos nas normas vigentes, dentre as quais, destacam-se: o Regulamento Técnico Metrológico do INMETRO e os Procedimentos de Distribuição de Energia Elétrica no Sistema Elétrico Nacional PRODIST. O presente estudo concluiu que os instrumentos ensaiados em conforme normas, quando parametrizados para não considerar a potência de distorção no cálculo de reativo, atendem os parâmetros de exatidão. Esses dados são válidos tanto para as funções de VArh quanto para Wh. / This work addresses the reliability of energy meters in nonsinusoidal systems, looking for the increase of quality in the electric energy billing. To that purpose, it focuses on a fairer metering and a better relationship between the concessionaire and consumer. The tests were carried through in the laboratories of Eletropaulo, of the Electro-Technology and Energy Institute in the University of São Paulo, and in the Laboratory of the Center of Studies in Power Quality Regulation (Enerq), USP. This study is part of a bigger project in Research and Development of the Electric Energy National Agency (Aneel). Its objective was to investigate whether the distortion of voltage and current in the electric energy billing meters had deviations in the metered energy. It was also intended to evaluate whether the inserted harmonics in the electromechanical meters have greater or minor deviation in the metered energy, in comparison to the electronic meters. The methodology used included a survey of studies, research and development of the electric sector, besides laboratory tests with two national equipment samples. As parameters for the tests, wave were formulated by means of real load metering. The results of the metering obtained in real situations were compared with those collected in the laboratories. The results of the laboratory tests were analyzed and compared with the limits established in the norms in force, amongst which one highlights: the Technical Metrological Regulation from Inmetro and the Electric Power Distribution Procedures in the National Electric System Prodist. The present study concluded the instruments analyzed under normalized conditions, when parameterized to not consider the distortion power in the calculation of reactive, meet the 60Hz frequency, within the accuracy parameters. These data are valid both for the VArh functions and the Wh.

Este trabalho aborda a conformidade dos medidores de energia em sistemas não senoidais, na busca do aumento de qualidade no faturamento de energia elétrica. Para tanto, enfoca a medição mais justa e um melhor relacionamento entre concessionária e consumidor. As análises foram realizadas nos laboratórios da Eletropaulo, do Instituto de Eletrotécnica e Energia da Universidade de São Paulo, e no Laboratório do Centro de Estudos em Regulação e Qualidade de Energia (Enerq), USP. Trata-se de um estudo que faz parte de um projeto maior de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento da Agência Nacional de Energia Elétrica (ANEEL). Seu objetivo foi investigar se a distorção de tensão e corrente nos medidores de faturamento de energia elétrica provoca desvios na energia medida. Pretendeu-se ainda avaliar se as harmônicas inseridas nos medidores eletromecânicos possuem maior ou menor desvio na energia medida, em comparação aos medidores eletrônicos. A metodologia utilizada incluiu levantamento de estudos de pesquisa e desenvolvimento, além de ensaios de laboratório com amostras de equipamentos de dois fabricantes nacionais. Como parâmetros para os ensaios, levantaram-se curvas, por meio de medições de cargas reais. Os resultados das medições obtidas em situações reais foram comparados com aquelas levantadas nos laboratórios. Os resultados dos ensaios laboratoriais foram analisados e comparados com os limites estabelecidos nas normas vigentes, dentre as quais, destacam-se: o Regulamento Técnico Metrológico do INMETRO e os Procedimentos de Distribuição de Energia Elétrica no Sistema Elétrico Nacional PRODIST. O presente estudo concluiu que os instrumentos ensaiados em conforme normas, quando parametrizados para não considerar a potência de distorção no cálculo de reativo, atendem os parâmetros de exatidão. Esses dados são válidos tanto para as funções de VArh quanto para Wh. / This work addresses the reliability of energy meters in nonsinusoidal systems, looking for the increase of quality in the electric energy billing. To that purpose, it focuses on a fairer metering and a better relationship between the concessionaire and consumer. The tests were carried through in the laboratories of Eletropaulo, of the Electro-Technology and Energy Institute in the University of São Paulo, and in the Laboratory of the Center of Studies in Power Quality Regulation (Enerq), USP. This study is part of a bigger project in Research and Development of the Electric Energy National Agency (Aneel). Its objective was to investigate whether the distortion of voltage and current in the electric energy billing meters had deviations in the metered energy. It was also intended to evaluate whether the inserted harmonics in the electromechanical meters have greater or minor deviation in the metered energy, in comparison to the electronic meters. The methodology used included a survey of studies, research and development of the electric sector, besides laboratory tests with two national equipment samples. As parameters for the tests, wave were formulated by means of real load metering. The results of the metering obtained in real situations were compared with those collected in the laboratories. The results of the laboratory tests were analyzed and compared with the limits established in the norms in force, amongst which one highlights: the Technical Metrological Regulation from Inmetro and the Electric Power Distribution Procedures in the National Electric System Prodist. The present study concluded the instruments analyzed under normalized conditions, when parameterized to not consider the distortion power in the calculation of reactive, meet the 60Hz frequency, within the accuracy parameters. These data are valid both for the VArh functions and the Wh.