Abstract: An edge computing device may control load devices and DER (distributed energy resource) devices. The edge computing device may be associated with an electric meter located at a premises or with a distribution transformer located at a secondary substation. The control of the load devices and DER devices may be based in part on forecasted pricing information that considers factors such as equipment ratings for distribution equipment, environmental conditions, historical patterns of generation and load, and user input.

Abstract: An electric meter includes a housing, a first set of connection paths, and a second set of connection paths. The first set of connection paths couple to a meter socket and are electrically coupled to a first electrical connection path between first phases of an electric distribution power source, a distributed energy resource device, and a load. First electrical metrology components of the first electrical connection path are positioned within a first segment of the housing. The second set of connection paths couple to a meter socket and are electrically coupled to a second electrical connection path between second phases of the electric distribution power source, the distributed energy resource device, and the load. Second electrical metrology components of the second electrical connection path are positioned within a second segment of the housing that is non-overlapping with the first segment of the housing.

Abstract: A time synchronization maintenance method includes determining, by a node of a mesh communication network, a transmission time to transmit data in a transmission queue. The method also includes determining, by the node, an amount of time until commencement of a next beacon signal slot used to transmit a time synchronization beacon signal from the node or another node of the mesh communication network. Further, when the transmission time is greater than the amount of time until commencement of the next beacon signal slot, the method includes delaying transmission, by the node, of at least a portion of the data in the transmission queue until completion of the next beacon signal slot.

Abstract: A power supply control circuit for controlling operation of a power supply for an electricity meter during an alternating current (AC) power outage includes: an input section configured to receive a representation of an output voltage of the power supply and a power loss signal; a comparator section configured to generate an output signal based on the power loss signal and the representation of the output voltage; and a feedback control section configured to control a feedback signal to the power supply based on the output signal from the comparator section. When activated by the output signal from the comparator section, the feedback control section is configured to change the feedback signal with respect to the feedback signal from a feedback circuit caused the output voltage. The change in the feedback signal causes the power supply to stop supplying the output voltage.

Abstract: This disclosure involves verifying that a power network model corresponds to an electric power network providing electrical power in a geographical area. For instance, a validation device computes a validation score for a power network model based on a connectivity score, an asset score, and a power-flow score. The connectivity score indicates connectivity errors in the power network model as compared to the power network. The asset score indicates power-delivery errors in the power network model with respect to power-consuming assets serviced by the power network. The power-flow score indicates power-flow calculation errors in the power network model with respect to voltage ranges for the power network. The validation score is repeatedly computed for iteratively updated versions of the power network model until a threshold validation score is obtained. The validated power network model is provided to a control system for identifying and correcting errors in the power network.

Abstract: Methods for verifying and updating connectivity information in a geographic information system may consider location information for meters and transformers and voltage data obtained by the meters. Meters that are incorrectly associated with a transformer may be flagged and candidate transformers may be evaluated to identify a correct association. The analysis may consider voltage data from multiple meters to determine correlation values. Correlation values or confidence factors may be used to identify a transformer for the correct association.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for adjusting clock frequencies of endpoint devices in a mesh network for narrowband and ultra-narrowband communications. An endpoint device receives a reference timing signal over a wireless network from a reference device in the network. The endpoint device determines the current value of the clock frequency of the endpoint device and further determines the frequency difference between the reference frequency of the reference timing signal and the current value of the clock frequency. Based on the frequency difference, the endpoint generates a control signal and applies the control signal to the crystal oscillator of the endpoint device to adjust the frequency of the crystal oscillator. The endpoint device communicates with another device in the network using the oscillating signal generated by the adjusted crystal oscillator.

Abstract: A node includes a processor coupled to a wireless transceiver and a memory. The memory includes instructions that can cause the processor to store a broadcast channel hopping timing interval and a broadcast channel hopping sequence, as well as, channel hopping timings and channel hopping sequences for tracked neighbor nodes. The instructions can also cause the processor to determine whether a destination node for a unicast message corresponds to tracked neighbor nodes. Based on a determination that the destination node does not correspond to any tracked neighbor nodes, the processor can determine (i) a broadcast dwell interval based on the broadcast channel hopping timing interval and (ii) a next broadcast channel based on the broadcast channel hopping sequence. Additionally, instructions can cause the processor to transmit the unicast message to the destination node during the broadcast dwell interval.

Abstract: A system for generating and applying a secure token in a resource distribution network is provided. For example, a headend system generates a time-based token based on a time duration specified for a meter. The time-based token indicates the time duration for the meter. The time-based token is further generated based on an identifier of the meter. The headend system transmits the time-based token to the meter via at least a mesh network. After receiving the time-based token, the meter validates the time-based token to determine that the time-based token is generated for the meter based on information related to the identifier of the meter. If the meter determines that the time-based token is valid, the meter connects premises associated with the meter to a resource distribution network for at least the time duration specified in the time-based token.

Abstract: A method for providing data to a group of devices on a pallet includes: positioning a set of NFC antennas at different locations around a perimeter of the pallet, each antenna of the set of NFC antennas being configured to surround the pallet; broadcasting, by an NFC reader/writer utilizing the set of NFC antennas, an identification command simultaneously to the group of devices on the pallet, each device of the group of devices including an NFC tag storing a unique ID indicator; receiving, by the NFC reader/writer, unique ID indicators from each device of the group of devices that receives the identification command, transmitting, by the NFC reader/writer, individual commands to each device of the group of devices to enable energy harvesting by the NFC tag. The energy harvested by each device provides power to operate a processor and a nonvolatile memory of the device in a low power mode.

Abstract: A utility meter assembly having a base that is secured to a front cover. The assembly includes a dual locking system having a first locking position and a second locking position. In the first locking position, the front cover is removably secured with the base. In the second locking position, the front cover is permanently secured with the base to prevent separation of the two components unless one or both components are destroyed.

Abstract: An electric meter includes a housing, a first set of connection paths, and a second set of connection paths. The first set of connection paths couple to a meter socket and are electrically coupled to a first electrical connection path between first phases of an electric distribution power source, a distributed energy resource device, and a load. First electrical metrology components of the first electrical connection path are positioned within a first segment of the housing. The second set of connection paths couple to a meter socket and are electrically coupled to a second electrical connection path between second phases of the electric distribution power source, the distributed energy resource device, and the load. Second electrical metrology components of the second electrical connection path are positioned within a second segment of the housing that is non-overlapping with the first segment of the housing.

Abstract: A deployed node may automatically switch from one configuration to another configuration. The node includes a first firmware image that corresponds to a first configuration and a second firmware image that corresponds to a second configuration. The node executes the first firmware image to run the first configuration. At some point, the node determines that a switch to the second configuration is appropriate and switches to the second configuration by activating the second firmware image. The switch does not require intervention by a central system or any manual intervention. In some instances, the configurations are associated with different communication protocols.

Abstract: A system for generating and applying a secure token in a resource distribution network is provided. For example, a headend system generates a payment-based token based on a payment made for a meter. The payment-based token indicates a credit value to be applied to the meter. The credit value can range from a negative credit value limit and a positive credit value limit. The payment-based token is further generated based on a meter identifier. The headend system transmits the payment-based token to the meter via at least a mesh network. After receiving the payment-based token, the meter validates the payment-based token to determine that the payment-based token is generated for the meter. The meter further determines the balance associated with the meter based on the credit value specified in the payment-based token. Based on the balance, the meter connects or disconnects premises associated with the meter from a resource supply.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for using a distributed ledger with a utility network. The utility network includes a set of utility collectors that are connected to a backhaul network. Each of the set of utility collectors includes a memory configured to store a copy of a distributed ledger. The utility network includes personal area networks (PANs). Each of the set of utility collectors is connected to a corresponding PAN and is configured to act as a PAN coordinator for a corresponding set of utility devices on the corresponding PAN. A utility collector requests to join a distributed ledger system. The utility collector receives an approval indicating that the set of utility collectors approve of the request to join the distributed ledger system and a current state of the distributed ledger. The utility collector instantiates a copy of a distributed ledger based on the current state, thereby joining the distributed ledger system.

Abstract: A meter collar includes a connection path to form an electrical connection between a distributed energy resource (DER) meter and line voltage wirings of an electric distribution system and a second connection path to form an electrical connection between the DER meter and neutral wires of the electric distribution system, a DER device, and a load. Further, the meter collar includes a third connection path within the meter collar to form an electrical connection between the DER meter and output voltage wirings of the DER device. Furthermore, the meter collar includes mating connectors electrically connected to a first end of a corresponding connection path to accept mating connectors of the DER meter. The meter collar also includes mating connectors electrically connected to a second end of the corresponding connection path to mate with the line voltage wirings, the neutral wires, and the output voltage wirings.

Abstract: Technologies for autonomously determining location information of a network node in a mesh network are provided. For example, a mesh network includes primary nodes whose locations are known and secondary nodes whose locations are to be determined. A secondary node is configured to identify in-range primary nodes among the primary nodes that are in the communication range of the secondary node, and determine whether the number of the in-range primary nodes is above a threshold. If the number of the in-range primary nodes is above the threshold, the secondary node further determines a distance between the secondary node and each of selected in-range primary nodes, and calculates a location of the secondary node based on the distances and the respective locations of the selected in-range primary nodes. The secondary node further transmits the calculated location to a headend system over the mesh network.

Abstract: Load control device, system and method for controlling a state of operation of at least one electrical load by receiving remote load control commands from at least one remote command centre with at least one receiving means of the load control device; and/or generating local load control commands with at least one local control unit of the load control device; and processing a stack of the remote load control commands and/or the local load control commands with at least one command processing unit of the load control device; and implementing an effective load control command containing at least one instruction for the effecting of the load control operations based on the stack for effecting load changing operations influencing the state of operation of the at least one electric load with at least one load interface unit of the load control device based on the at least one instruction.

Abstract: In some aspects, a channel hopping sequence for communication on a mesh network is generated. The hopping sequence may include multiple channels assigned to respective positions in the hopping sequence. In some cases, a first channel is assigned to a first position such that the first channel may transmit communications in a first transmission mode, such as a low-bandwidth transmission mode. In addition, an additional channels adjacent to the first channel is also assigned to the first position such that the combination of the first channel and additional channel may transmit communications in a second transmission mode, such as a high-bandwidth transmission mode. In some cases, a whitelist is determined based on the assigned channels. The whitelist may indicate channels that do not conflict with the assigned channels during transmission of a communication. In addition, channels may be assigned to the hopping sequence based on the whitelist.