Glossary

Glossary of terms used on this site

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Glossaries

Term Definition
Alerts

A notice by the AMR system that something function in it is outside acceptable parameters. For example, a meter that has not registered any advancement over a long period of time would generate a “non-advancing meter” alert. See also: burst pipe alert, non-advancing meter alert, possible tampering alert, and slow-leak alert.

Allocation

Often used interchangeably with RUBS (see RUBS). Also, see Utility Allocation.

Allocation types

The basis by which utility expenses are apportioned to users. Common types include unit count, occupant count, occupant ratio, square footage, and a combination of occupant count and square footage. Less common types include bathroom count and fixture count. Essentially, all allocation types use some sort of rule of thumb to guess how much water was used.

AMR

Acronym for Automated Meter Reading. A technology used in utility meters for collecting the data that is needed for billing, administration, and management purposes. AMR works by extracting consumption reads in either pulse or encoded format from the meters and transmitting the information to a control center. AMR technology does not require physical access or visual inspection.

Backhaul

A term probably derived from the trucking industry; in submetering it is taken to mean getting data to a point from which it can be distributed over a network (usually the Internet). See also: GPRS, LAN, WiFi.

BMP

Acronym for best management practice(s).

Cellular data

The ability to transmit digital information over a cellular network. There are many protocols to enable this process including GPRS and UMTS.

Control Center

Software package that receives measurement data from the Gateway and can be used to analyze it and transform it for use in billing.

Cubic feet

A frequently used unit of water measurement, one cubic foot is equal to 7.48 U.S. gallons

DCU

Acronym for Data Collection Unit. In an AMR system, a legacy central device that collects usage data from meters. Also known as Data Collector Device, Central Station and other, similar variations. DCUs are slightly outdated technology and are generally being phased out.

Drive-by AMR

Legacy AMR technology where measuring personnel would have to slowly drive by a meter in order for their radio receivers to pick up the metering data. See also: Walk-by AMR.

Drive-by AMR

Legacy AMR technology where measuring personnel would have to slowly drive by a meter in order for their radio receivers to pick up the metering data. See also: Walk-by AMR.

DU

Acronym for “dwelling unit”

Encoded meters

A water, gas, or electricity meter whose output can be read digitally. Encoded meters are both more accurate and more expensive than Pulse meters.

End-point

Alternate name for a radio transmitter attached to a meter.

EPA

Environmental Protection Agency

EPACT 1992

Energy Policy Act, signed into law by President Bush in 1992. Mandated exclusive manufacture of 1.6 gpf toilets as well as low-flow aerators and showerheads.

FCC

Acronym for the Federal Communications Commission. The Federal agency in charge of regulating telecommunications of all sorts.

Fixed network AMR

More complete, more precise name for AMR that recognizes that there are older, more primitive forms of AMR such as ‘walk-by’ and ‘drive-by’.

Fixed rates

Part of a master metered or resident utility bill that is not affected by consumption.

Frequency

The radio frequency used by the AMR system's transmitters to connect to its Gateway, Receivers, and Repeaters.

Gateway

In an AMR system, the central device that receives, transforms, and channels the data from the transmitters and onto the Internet for use by the system’s Control Center.

GPRS

Acronym for General Packet Radio Service. A highly reliable (if slightly slower) protocol for Cellular data used in GSM mobile phone networks.

HCF

Hundred Cubic Feet. Typical unit of measure for water used by utilities.

Hot water hybrid

The practice of estimating a resident’s total water usage based on metered hot water usage.

Hot water ratio billing

The practice of estimating a resident’s total water usage based on metered hot water usage. Also, Hot water hybrid

Impact properties

Multi-family properties that are using a billing method where residents receive a regular bill determined by a system such as submetering, RUBS, or hot water hybrid, etc.

In-rent properties

Multi-family properties that do not separately bill residents for water and/or wastewater, rather these costs are recovered as part of the monthly rent. In properties where utilities are billed in rent, lower occupancy units effectively subsidize the water consumption of the units with more occupants.

Individual metering

The installation of meters for each individual dwelling unit as well as separate common are metering with the local water utility providing customer read, bill and collect services.

IP-68

The International Protection Rating (IP) classifies the degrees of protection provided against the intrusion of solid objects, dust, accidental contact, and water in electrical enclosures. The numeral 6 in IP-68 stands for protection against water from powerful jets from any direction; the numeral 8 stands for protection against immersion in over 1 meter (3 feet) of water. AMR transmitters used in manufactured housing, marinas, and RV parks must be IP-68 compliant.

Kgal

Kilo-gallons or thousands of gallons. Typical unit of measure for water used by utilities. Equal to 748 cubic feet.

LAN

Acronym for Local Area Network. The data network that connects a specific site to the wider Internet. In the AMR context, a Gateway might use a LAN cable connection to access the Internet and send its data onto the Control Center.

Licensed frequency

In AMR, a radio frequency licensed by the FCC for a specific site. Having a licensed frequency for an AMR site means that there will be less disruptions to the transmission of data.

Low flow detector

A part of a meter register that indicates any flow through the meter. Also called a leak detector.

Master metered

When a single meter measures utility usage for an entire property, or an entire building, which usually includes the common areas.

Meter

A device that measures utility usage.

Meter register

Mechanical device that uses a system of gear reductions to integrate the rotation of the moving element of a meter’s metering chamber into numerical units

MIU

Meter Interface Unit. A device that translates meter data prior to transmission to a receiver. Also known as a Telemetry Interface Unit.

NIST

National Institute of Standards and Technology.

Non-advancing meter

An alarm alerting the AMR site’s manager that a meter has shown no consumption for an extended period of time. This might be due to tampering, malfunction, or extended occupant absences. See also Unusual consumption alerts.

Partial-capture submetering

A type of submetering where only a portion of the total water consumption in each unit is measured.

Pass through percentage

The amount of the master metered utility bill allocated to residents. Also see Common Area Deduction.

Point-of-use (POU) meter

A meter that measures water flow at the actual usage point, such as a faucet or a toilet.

Pressure testing

Subjecting a full water system to maximum normal pressure (or normal pressure plus a safety factor) against a closed downstream shut-off.

PUC

Public Utilities Commission.

Pulse meter

A water, gas, or electricity meter whose output is a series of electrical pulses, each one representing a specific quantity consumed (e.g. 10 or 100 gallons of water). Pulse meters are less accurate but more affordable than Encoded meters.

RBC

An acronym that stands for Read, Bill, and Collect. Usually a company that contracts with property owners to manage their utility consumption and payment collection.

Receiver

In a Radio Frequency (RF) based AMR system, the device that receives the meter data transmissions. These transmissions can then be forwarded to either a WAN Gateway or a central data collection device

Repeater

In a Radio Frequency (RF) based AMR system, the device that receives and amplifies the meter RF signals in order to transmit them to the Receiver.

Research

National Multi-Family Submetering and Allocation Study – A rigorous study, commissioned by a consortium of federal, state, and municipal authorities to research the effects that submetering and other types of allocation methods had on water usage. The study found that only submetering led to a significant reduction in usage, 15 percent in fact! All other systems methods simply did not work.

Maye et al - National Multiple Family Submetering Study (6.3 MB).pdf

RF

An acronym that stands for Radio Frequency.

RUBS

An acronym that stands for Ratio Utility Billing System, which is a calculation method that uses a compensation factor to allocate costs among users. It also stands for Residential Utility Billing System. In using RUBS, residents are not actually charged for what the amount of water they used, rather, a fairly crude formula is used to apportion a fragment of the total bill to them.

Service provider

Generally used to describe either a submetering/billing service provider or a provider of utilities.

Slow-leak

An alarm alerting the AMR site’s manager that a specific property’s usage appears to indicate the presence of a slowly leaking appliance, usually but not always a toilet. See also Unusual consumption alerts.

Submetering

The practice of using meters to measure mater-metered utility consumption by individual users. Also see, partial-capture submetering and total-capture submetering.

Telemetry interface unit

A device that translates meter data prior to transmission to a receiver. Also known as a Meter Interface Unit (see MIU).

Total-capture submetering

A type of submetering where all of the actual water consumption in each unit is measured.

Transmitter

A Radio Frequency (RF) system component that sends usage data from a Meter to a Receiver.

Utility

Used alternately to describe a provided natural resource, such as water, gas, or electricity as well as for the provider of the resource (also see Service Provider)

Utility allocation

Determining resident charges for utilities by means of a formula rather than measured usage.

Walk-by AMR

Legacy AMR technology where measuring personnel would have to walk by a meter in order for their radio receivers to pick up the metering data. See also: Drive-by AMR.

WAN

Acronym for Wide Area Network. A data network used over a large area, frequently used interchangeably with ‘Internet’.

Water meter size

Normally corresponds to the pipe bore, for example 1”. For some models a second designation refers to the matching pipe end connections. For example, a 5/8” x 3/4” meter has a nominal 5/8” and 3/4" straight pipe threads.

WiFi

A wireless version of the LAN. In the AMR context, a Gateway might use a WiFi connection to access the Internet and send its data onto the Control Center.

WW

Wastewater