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Broadband Over Power Linesan AMR Perspective

Eric Venable Senior Application Engineer

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What is BPL?

BPL is the technology which enables Broadband internet access via electrical outlets in a home or through Wi-Fi from a neighborhood transformer. It is a technology which works by injecting signals in the 2-30 MHz range in powerlines and repeating the signal after regular distance. The transformers are either bypassed by couplers or the signal is forced through the transformer.

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Who are the players?

Main.net Ameren PPL Avista ( Spokane) City of Manassas Dominion Southern Company FPL TECO PG&E Current Technologies Cinergy Pepco Hawaiian Electric Kissimmee Power Authority Ambient Corp Con Ed Southern Idaho Power Orange & Rockland Amperion AEP PPL Southern Bowling Green Alliant Progress Energy TXU Hawaiian PG&E Idaho Power

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Who are the players?

Other emerging players are

Corridor Systems Powercomm DS2 Mitsubishi Ascom And many others

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How does the technology work?

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How does the technology work?

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How does the technology work?

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Why are utilities interested?

Utilities can offer broadband service to every home with their ubiquitous network. Broadband is the fastest growing telecom segment in United States. Utilities see a promise of various utility applications on the broadband, IP enabled network piggy riding on their electric network.

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Which utilities are piloting BPL?

Douglas PUD Chelan PUD Avista Indianola Municipal RPU Idaho Power IPALCO

Consumers Clyde Bowling Green Penn Yan Cinergy AEP

Orange & Rockland ConEd PPL Conectiv

PG&E

A LOT OF THEM
APS Hawaiian Electric OPPD Ameren Alliant TXU Cullman Coop Fayetteville Southern Kissimmee Bowling Green TECO

PEPCO SMECO City of Manassas Central Virginia Coop

Dominion Sierra Pacific

Duke Progress Energy Santee Cooper New Horizon Coweta Fayette EMC

Florida Power & Light

Commercial deployment

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Trial

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Elements of BPL Rollout

From the end users perspective, BPL technology works by sending high speed data along medium or low voltage power lines into the customers home. The signal traverses the network over medium and low voltage lines either through the transformers or by-passes the transformer using bridges or couplers. BPL technology transports data, voice and video at broadband speeds to the end-users connection. The user only needs to plug an electrical cord from the BPL modem into any electrical outlet then plug an Ethernet or USB cable into the Ethernet card or USB interface on their PC. Any Internet Service Provider (ISP) can interface with the BPL network and provide high speed Internet access.

The data signal can also interconnect with wireless, fiber or other media for backhaul and last mile completion.

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Elements of a BPL Rollout

HV Lines
To FiberBased Data Network

Cell #1

MV Lines LV Line
Cell #3 Cell #4

Cell #2

HV Lines

Cell #5

MV Lines MV Substation

HV Lines

HV Lines

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To FiberBased Data

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Who is pushing for BPL?

FCC

Needs multiple means to provide broadband access to all US. Supporting other new broadband technologies as well.

BPL Vendors
Strong marketing of trials. Almost all are VC funded currently well funded.

Utilities
Some utilities have strong financial stake in the BPL vendors.

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Challenges for BPL

Economic model is still somewhat unproven. Current capex numbers for BPL infrastructure are $150 per home passed on an average. Some utilities may consider this high and not be willing to spend this money. The issue of BPL being a part of regulated side or business or the non regulated side is very complex. Needs regulatory assurances. Technology will need more testing. Testing for manufacturability, reliability Business models are complex. The low risk models can contain regulatory risks. The technology is not future proof. This is a deterrent to utilities.
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Challenges for BPL

Radio interference, if large scale, may shut off the technology very quickly. Utility applications hold lot of promise- but most experts agree that utility applications should not be the basis of a successful business model broadband internet access should be the basis. Consumer premise equipment is still not cheap. It is unknown if these equipments will follow the price roadmap of other competing wireless broadband technologies. Other competing wireless broadband technologies have great promise and big backers. Wimax ( Supported by Intel, IBM )

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Regulatory Issues

Regulators want to treat this business as just another Telecom business ( same taxes etc.) This will seriously hurt the business case. VOIP is one of the many bones of contention. Should BPL guarantee a 911 call? Common Carrier issues.

Does utility want to go in that debate?

If utility benefits are to be accrued, then regulators want to make sure that none of the rate cases include this investment. Use of poles other broadband users want the BPL model to pay the same rent as they do for hanging BPL stuff on poles ( around transformers).

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BPL & AMR

Technically feasible. Several ways of achieving it IP addressable meter Sensus Icon with mu net Comverge Others BPL modem equipped meter BPL as a backhaul Currently only Electric AMR being talked about. All consultants state that AMR on BPL is not a low hanging fruit. Outage Management is considered a low hanging fruit.

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BPL & AMR: Scenario 1

There are three ways Meter can be coupled with BPL for AMR purposes.

BPL Modem in Consumer Premises

IP Network Address Translator (NAT)

IP Addressable Electric Meter

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Scenario 1 : Option 1
The customer subscribes to Utilities BPL service. Utility provides an IP addressable electric meter and a NAT.
Price to utility $______ for an IP addressable solid state meter + BPL Modem & NAT Overall capex per customer: $150 + $______ = $??? per customer Assumptions: 100% customers will choose to take the utilitys BPL offering If not, add another $100 for a BPL modem

Other issues include Nobody today has a reliable , ANSI approved $_____ meter with IP addressable capability. BPL modems are typically indoor devices. They have not been ruggedized to work for long times. Possible wiring needs from the meter to NAT. This will assume that utility goes all out to deploy BPL in all its territory. Rural customers, meters in the middle of nowhere will need some technology support. Cost of per home passed is very high for long feeders. Issues of repeater maintenance. For the meter to be addressed two way, utility may need a fixed IP address. There are higher costs associated with it.
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Scenario 1: Option 2
Utility chooses to install a BPL modem for AMR purposes alone (assuming the customer does not subscribe to utilitys BPL service) and an IP addressable meter.

Add another ~$100 for a BPL modem to the cost, so the total capex of AMR per Electric meter. >$250

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Scenario 1: Option 3
Utility may choose a Wi-Fi based BPL and installs a Wi-Fi Based Electric Meter.

No Wi Fi enabled electric meter available. Cost! Have been some talk about the chances of developing a
meter with a Wi-Fi capability.

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BPL & AMR: Scenario 2

Solid State Electric meter with an internal BPL modem.

Current estimates for cost of such a meter -- ??? Capex cost of BPL per home passed remains ($150 per
home passed).

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BPL and AMR: Scenario 3

Use BPL as a backhaul option for the CCU in a fixed network environment.

Trials are on :
City of Bowling Green (with Amperion) ConEd (possibly)

The advantages include:

Solution for Gas, Electric and water utilities. No need to develop new endpoints.

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Pros and Cons of BPL

Pros
Provides new revenue source. Utilizes utility core assets. Provides AMR, power quality and other AMR-related services. BPL has worked on small scales and even utilities who have tested it say theyre confident it will work in large rollouts.

Cons
Not a core service Technology not quite proven in a large roll-out. High cost. Competitive environment that includes corporate giants such as AT&T.
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Conclusion

BPL will be a niche Broadband Access technology most probably in the semi-urban towns. The technology is under close market scrutiny for its ability to support a successful business model. Some utilities may delay their AMR decision with a hope of using BPL one day.

You need to keep our ear on the ground for meter manufacturers planning to offer BPL enabled solutions.

BPL has the potential to become the most ubiquitous broadband network available. Michael Powell, FCC Chairman
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Questions?

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