EA_MS & IT

IT-1 | EnergyAxis 7.5 – Rollout Workshop

General availability for 7.5 is Q2. Learn how Elster coordinates EA_MS upgrades with the required changes to the OS and Oracle. Also covers firmware upgrades, including prerequisites for upgrading meters and backward compatibility of EA_MS and gatekeeper versions.

Roberto Kraemer

IT-2 | What’s New in EA_MS 7.5 from the User’s Perspective (

Highlights the new features in EA_MS 7.5 such as setting voltage thresholds in REX2 meters, LAN Security, and new data components, as well as changes to some existing screens and functionality.

Kathy Smith

IT-3 | Master Class – Load Profile Reads using EA_MS 7.5

Session covers improvements in LP reads in EA_MS 7.5. Will include round table discussion of utility experiences with LP reads in previous releases.

Susane Nemecz

IT-4 | Creating and implementing TOU schedules

In addition to creating schedules and assigning meters, this session will touch on field experiences of utilities that went through this exercise lately.

Susane Nemecz

IT-5 | Server configurations to address system expansion and new rollouts

Requirements for multi-server configuration; distributed servers; options for database storage.

Ken Jones

IT-6 | Virtualization of EA_MS

How does it work? What are the pros and cons? What do you need to make it happen? And what are the steps?

Ken Jones

IT-7 | Demonstration of EnergyAxis System 7.5 demand response features

See how easy it is to use messaging, commission new devices, and retrieve DR data from the field with EnergyAxis System 7.5

Carol Fisher and Don Shoemaker

Network

NET-1 | LAN troubleshooting

Improving LAN performance using EA_MS headend, EA_Inspector field tool, repeater placement and other approaches.

Susane Nemecz

NET-2 | WAN provisioning and troubleshooting

Learn how to enable WAN security as well as how to select, manage and provision the WAN with your data communications provider.

Susane Nemecz and Bryan Shang

NET-3 | When and how to deploy the new Elster WAN interface cards (WICs)

Discover the advantages of the new WICs. Bring back data from network-independent A3 ALPHA meters to any system that has MV90. Find out how to check the RSSI of the WAN radio using MeterCat. Compare the advantages of Ethernet WICs vs. wireless WICs. Session includes a look at special option boards and new documentation.

Bryan Shang and Steve Worth

NET-4 | Statuses, events, alarms

This session helps your understand the implications and respond effectively. What are statuses, events, and alarms, and how are they handled in EA_MS? How can users clear statuses? Which are the most common statuses/events which needs immediate attention?

Kathy Smith

NET-5 | Use your EnergyAxis network to control DA devices

An introduction to the EnergyAxis Router Gateway hardware and software that makes it happen.

Ken Jones and Carl LaPlace

NET-6 | How the EnergyAxis mesh LAN network works, including mixed mode networks (Gen1 and Gen2 hardware)

How the mesh builds out, mesh self-optimization and healing; priority reconfiguration message routing; priority repeater; mixed mode

Ron Pate, Clarence Batterink, Jeff Richardson

NET-7 | Using GPS/GIS to troubleshoot the LAN

Graphical analysis tools such as Map Info and Google Earth can be extremely useful when you are trying to figure out why certain meters just don’t communicate the way you expect. Learn how to leverage the GPS coordinates in your system to optimize your network. Session includes a software demo.

Clarence Batterink and Jeff Richardson

Multi-utility

MU-1 | EnergyAxis gas and water solutions workshop
Gas and water network management using EA_Installer

Includes meters supported, mounting options, operating parameters, programmable features (time, intervals, sync, etc.). Also covers “installing/debugging” an EA gas and water modules using the Installer handheld tool.

Steve Makgill and Joe Turgeon

Solutions

SOL-1 | Deployment 101: Best practices and lessons learned for a successful AMI roll-out

Recommended for utilities embarking on new or greatly expanded deployments

Chris Kozlowski and Harris Glover

SOL-2 | “How To” Series: Real world distribution transformer asset management

Toronto Hydro is deploying over 5000 transformer monitors to improve their asset management. In this session, you can learn how to apply this hardware and software technology to your utility.

Carl LaPlace and Carol Fisher

SOL-3 | “How To” Series: Voltage conservation using EnergyAxis

EA_MS now supports voltage conservation with a special application. Learn how to deploy hardware, what data to collect, and how to get the best results from this solution.

Ron Pate and Ken Jones

SOL-4 | “How To” Series: Demand response for rural agricultural or industrial locations

Using Elster’s polyphase Remote Load Control solution and WAN-enabled A3 ALPHA meters.

Carl LaPlace and Bryan Shang

SOL-5 | “How To” Series: End-to-end security with EnergyAxis

This session provides both an end-to-end overview and a primer on the EnergyAxis security capabilities; it also provides an update on the latest features adn enhancements provided in the EnergyAxis System 7.5 release.

Jeff McCullough

SOL-6 | “How To” Series: Outage management using EnergyAxis

Designed to help you use and optimize the outage management capabilities in EnergyAxis, this session will cover security, hardware options, and EA_MS functionality.

Harris Glover and Ron Pate

Hardware

HD-1 | Meter configuration workshop

It seems basic, but how you configure your meters can potentially make the difference between good and GREAT system performance. Learn what the various options are, what impact they can have on your system, and how to make it happen.

Ron Pate, Clarence Batterink, and Jeff Richardson

Trainers

Clarence Batterink
Product Manager – Electricity, Elster Metering, Canada

Clarence Batterink has been involved more then 35 EnergyAxis AMI projects in Canada which have deployed over 1.9 million meters. His role includes assisting customers in understanding and defining their needs, making commercial and contractual arrangements, and providing support in metering, IT infrastructure and systems integration. Since 2002 Clarence has been the Product Manager – Electricity for Elster Metering. In this position he is responsible for the promotion of, and successful deployment of Elster’s electricity meters, AMI systems and Smart Grid products in Canada. Clarence has had a particular focus on Elster’s EnergyAxis AMI system and through that has developed a strong knowledge of customer needs, project deployment and associated IT requirements for AMI.

Carol Fisher
Product Manager, Demand Response Solutions

Carol has more than 25 years of utility experience spanning integrated resource planning, system operations, substation design, project management, new product development, solutions marketing, and business and strategic development. As Product Manager of Demand Response Solutions, Carol is responsible for supporting Elster’s utility clients’ AMI plans to “grow beyond the meter,” focusing on Elster’s demand response business strategy. Prior to joining Elster, Carol held engineering positions at Central Louisiana Electric Company. Carol holds a BS Electrical Engineering from Louisiana State University and an MBA from Northwestern State University.

Harris Glover
Director, System Projects

 

Kenneth Jones
Product Manager, EnergyAxis Management System

Kenneth Jones is responsible for the utility enterprise portfolio for both advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) and distribution automation (DA) solutions within the EnergyAxis family. Ken’s expertise lies in both carrier and enterprise system software development. His software industry expertise spans developing carrier grade services to transform network operation centers utilizing Service-Oriented Architectures (SOA), Next Generation OSS (NGOSS), and Software as a Service (SaaS) reference models. Ken has written blog articles for the Wall Street Journal and is an active member of Open Smart Grid users group. He received an MBA from the Kenan-Flagler Business School at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill and a Bachelors in Business Administration from Susquehanna University.

Chris Kozlowski
Manager of Projects

Chris Kozlowski has world-wide responsibility for project management and implementation of Elster AMI systems for non-IOU electricity, water and gas customers. Kozlowski brings three years of experience at Elster and 13 years as a project manager for design and implementation of various wireless telemetry applications from both a network and hardware prospective. This includes various AMR/AMI, security, chemical distribution, municipal police and fire departments as well as mobile field service applications. Kozlowski holds a BS in Electronics Engineering Technology from DeVry University.

Roberto Kraemer
AMI System Technical Team Lead

Since 2007, Roberto Kraemer has provided support and trouble-shooting for EnergyAxis systems in the field, focusing on Latin American utilities. He currently is the technical team lead for EA_MS coordinating the EA_MS/MAS roll-outs and upgrades. Roberto has over 9 years in systems support and over 25 years of global IT experience in the industry in a variety of roles at Nortel and RedPrairie.

Carl LaPlace
Senior Product Manager, Advanced Grid Initiative

Carl LaPlace has been involved in the development and product management of power distribution automation (DA) solutions for over 25 years. Throughout his career, LaPlace has worked closely with utilities to understand their DA requirements. As strategic Senior Product Manager for Elster's Advanced Grid Infrastructure (AGI) initiative, he effectively leverages Elster solutions to meet evolving smart grid requirements for DA. LaPlace holds numerous related patents and has authored a number of papers. He has been directly involved in the development of DA controls and systems ranging from LTC voltage regulators, MV reclosers, DA switch sectionalizers and related DA communication protocols and system applications. He is a long time member of IEEE.

Steve Makgill
Product Manager, Multi-Utility Solutions

Steve Makgill has managed multi-utility solutions including gas and water products for EnergyAxis since 2006. He also manages the EA_Inspector field tool as well as TRACE AMR gas products. Makgill has extensive experience with new product definition and introduction of technology products spending over a decade in the telecommunications industry.

Jeff McCullough Director of IP Communications, Systems Tools and System Test

Jeff McCullough is responsible for IP communications development evolution, EnergyAxis System verification, EnergyAxis System Tools development, and EnergyAxis Security solutions. Jeff’s 25 years of experience include extensive work in telecommunications, including network management solutions, evolution and introduction of new technologies, secure system offerings and federal government system solutions, software development and delivery of new feature functionality, customer support, and customer training. Jeff is an alumnus of North Carolina State University, where he obtained his Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering.

Susane Nemecz
AMI System Support Manager

Since 2004, Susane Nemecz has provided support and trouble-shooting for EnergyAxis systems. She currently manages the Support team that delivers day-to-day technical support for 80+ EnergyAxis customers under system maintenance agreement. Nemecz was involved in the initial software development of EA_MS (MAS) and has performed QA testing of several releases. She has also coordinated roll-out of several of the major system upgrades of the EnergyAxis Management System (EA_MS/MAS) and EA_Gatekeeper (collector) upgrades. Nemecz has more than a decade of experience in the Utility industry.

Ron D. Pate
Senior Product Manager

Ron Pate is the product manager responsible for electrical components of the EnergyAxis AMI system, including the REX family of meters and mesh network interface cards (NICs) for gatekeepers and A3 ALPHA meters. He has worked with electric utilities extensively since 1989 and has worked for Westinghouse, ABB, Ohio Transformer, Grand Eagle and Elster. Throughout his twenty years in the business, Pate has been involved in the engineering development and marketing of instrument transformers, power transformers, electricity meters, and metering systems. He holds a BS Electrical Engineering with honors from North Carolina State University.

Jeff Richardson
Director, Technology Solutions, Elster Metering (Canada)

Jeff Richardson is responsible for technical support, training, and regulatory affairs for Elster's Canadian operation. He has served on several industry technical committees, including the Measurement Canada VA joint working group and the committee that developed the ANSI C12.18, 19, 21 & 22 communication standards. He has worked on metering and utility solutions since 1991, and played a key role in the success of the Ontario Smart Metering Initiative, the world's largest deployment with daily interval data reads from every meter. Jeff holds an engineering degree from the University of Toronto, and is a registered professional engineer.

Bryan A. Shang
EnergyAxis WAN Product Manager

Bryan Shang manages Elster's WAN solutions and WAN partners for EnergyAxis. He is responsible for the comprehensive WAN assessment program which tests all WAN solutions for compatibility, reliability, and conformity according to Elster's practices. Shang has over 26 years of industry experience specializing in telecommunications. He has worked for industry leading companies such as Nortel Networks, Fujistu Network Systems, ADC Telecom, and ITT. Shang holds a dual degree in Electrical Engineering and Biomedical Engineering from Duke University, and a JD from North Carolina Central School of Law. Shang spent over 6 years as a practicing patent attorney, most recently as in-house patent counsel with ABB, preparing and prosecuting patents applications.

Kathy Smith
Lead Project Engineer

Kathy Smith has 30 plus years serving the utilities industry, including software engineering, design and implementation, system integration, system interfaces with firmware, and facilitating training to Elster’s utility and AMI/AMR customers. Kathy has implemented and managed Elster’s EnergyAxis systems and EA_MS software training at utilities in the US, Canada, Central and South America, New Zealand, and Australia. She has a highly successful track record of meeting or exceeding Elster’s customers’ requirements. Kathy has a BS in Computer Science from Duke University and holds three smart grid related patents.

Joseph Turgeon
Director, Smart Grid Solutions, Elster American Meter

Joe Turgeon is responsible for smart grid vision and strategy for AMI communications and smart metering focused on the gas utility segment. He is currently a member of Elster Group’s Technology Forum Executive Committee as well as the American Gas Association’s – Distribution Measurement Committee - Smart Grid Taskforce. Prior to Elster, Joe has 25 years of global experience in the wireless telecommunications industry in a variety of senior roles at Alcatel, Cisco Systems and Tekelec.

Steve Worth
Director of WAN Technology

Steve Worth is responsible for WAN and Infrastructure product development encompassing Wireless and Ethernet WAN Interface Cards (WICs), AGI Low Voltage Nodes, IP AxisLink router and the non-metered gatekeeper product family. Steve has over 10 years of experience in the Smart Grid industry developing product system solutions. Prior to joining PowerOneData in 2000 (acquired by Elster in 2008), Steve spent 20 years developing industrial control system solutions for a variety of industries including Oil and Gas production and automotive test application.