Utility network and revenue assurance
First Claim
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1. A computer-implemented method for detecting anomalies of a utility distribution system, the method comprising:
- receiving, through a communications network, utility metering data obtained at a utility meter of a plurality of network elements characterizing a network topology, the plurality of network elements comprising a plurality of meters including the utility meter, a plurality of transformers, a plurality of circuits, and at least one substation;
measuring, based on the utility metering data, a utility consumption associated with an entity, the entity being a physical property; and
monitoring the utility consumption for an anomaly based on entity profile characteristics associated with the entity, the monitoring comprising computing real-time values of utility consumption characteristics of at least one peer grouping including a plurality of entities with similar entity profile characteristics, the plurality of entities including the entity, the at least one peer grouping comprising one or more peers of the entity, the at least one peer grouping being refined when new data associated with the utility consumption is received, the monitoring comprising comparing the real-time values of the at least one peer grouping with the utility consumption associated with the entity to determine the anomaly, the at least one peer grouping being refined by executing a plurality of weighting algorithms on updated peer profile data associated with the entity, the utility consumption characteristics comprising a ratio of current load on a transformer of the plurality of transformers to an average load on the transformer during a predetermined period of time, the monitoring comprising determining changes in the network topology, the monitoring being further based on patterns of utility consumption of the entity, the patterns being updated in real-time.
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Abstract
A system and method for detecting anomalies in the measurement and distribution of utilities is disclosed. Utility metering data obtained at a utility meter is received through a communications network. A utility consumption associated with an entity is then measured based on the utility metering data. The utility consumption can then be monitored for anomalies based on entity profile characteristics associated with the entity. The utility analytics system and method can be applied to the electrical utility industry, but also applicable to gas and water distribution, and other utilities.
26 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method for detecting anomalies of a utility distribution system, the method comprising:
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receiving, through a communications network, utility metering data obtained at a utility meter of a plurality of network elements characterizing a network topology, the plurality of network elements comprising a plurality of meters including the utility meter, a plurality of transformers, a plurality of circuits, and at least one substation; measuring, based on the utility metering data, a utility consumption associated with an entity, the entity being a physical property; and monitoring the utility consumption for an anomaly based on entity profile characteristics associated with the entity, the monitoring comprising computing real-time values of utility consumption characteristics of at least one peer grouping including a plurality of entities with similar entity profile characteristics, the plurality of entities including the entity, the at least one peer grouping comprising one or more peers of the entity, the at least one peer grouping being refined when new data associated with the utility consumption is received, the monitoring comprising comparing the real-time values of the at least one peer grouping with the utility consumption associated with the entity to determine the anomaly, the at least one peer grouping being refined by executing a plurality of weighting algorithms on updated peer profile data associated with the entity, the utility consumption characteristics comprising a ratio of current load on a transformer of the plurality of transformers to an average load on the transformer during a predetermined period of time, the monitoring comprising determining changes in the network topology, the monitoring being further based on patterns of utility consumption of the entity, the patterns being updated in real-time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A utility analytics system comprising:
an analytics computer adapted to receive utility metering data obtained at a utility meter of a plurality of network elements characterizing a network topology, the plurality of network elements comprising at least a transformer, the analytics computer adapted to measure a utility consumption associated with an entity based on the utility metering data, and to monitor the utility consumption for one or more anomalies based on entity profile characteristics associated with the entity, the monitoring comprising computing real-time values of utility consumption characteristics of at least one peer grouping that includes a plurality of entities having similar profile characteristics, and comparing the real-time values of the at least one peer grouping with the utility consumption associated with the entity, the at least one peer grouping being refined by executing a plurality of weighting algorithms on updated peer profile data associated with the entity, the utility consumption characteristics comprising a ratio of a monthly load on the transformer of the plurality of transformers to an average load on the transformer, the monitoring accounting for changes in the network topology, the at least one peer grouping being modified when new data associated with the utility consumption is received in real-time, the monitoring being further based on data presented by one or more peers of the entity, the data presented by the one or more peers indicating a change in the entity profile characteristics associated with the entity, the monitoring being further based on patterns of utility consumption of the entity, the patterns being updated in real-time. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for detecting anomalies of a utility system, the method comprising:
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monitoring utility metering data obtained at one or more utility meters of a plurality of network elements forming a network topology, the network elements comprising at least a transformer, the monitoring comprising computing real-time values of utility consumption characteristics of at least one peer grouping comprising a plurality of entities having similar entity profile characteristics, and comparing the real-time values of the at least one peer grouping with a utility consumption associated with at least one entity of the plurality of entities to determine whether the at least one entity is anomalous, the at least one peer grouping being refined by executing a plurality of weighting algorithms on updated peer profile data associated with the entity, the utility consumption characteristics comprising a ratio of current load on the transformer to an average load on the transformer, the one or more entities comprising one or more physical properties, the monitoring comprising determining changes in the network topology, the at least one peer grouping being modified when new data associated with the utility consumption is received in real-time; transmitting the utility metering data through a communications network to an analytics computer; and generating, using the analytics computer, utility consumption data patterns of utility consumption data for the one or more entities based on the utility metering data, the utility consumption data patterns being enhanced using data presented by one or more peers of the one or more entities, the utility consumption data patterns being updated in real-time. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification