A novel, cost-effective approach is being studied to allow today's telephone networks to monitor the flow of electricity, gas, and water through their respective distribution systems over time intervals as short as a few minutes. The planned system, which uses ordinary existing utility meters and provides a smooth transition to optical fiber, will permit highly effective load management and more efficient, lower-cost utility operation, and will also support other services as their markets develop. This Phase I project will show the ability of the key monitoring element of the system by demonstrating acceptable performance in laboratory WWs with no interference with, or from, ordinary telephone traffic. Anticipated Results/Potential Commercial Applications as described by the awardee: Phase I is expected to show the feasibility of the key monitoring element of the p system. In the Phase II project, a prototype of the system will be constructed that is suitable for field demonstration with a cooperating utility company and a telephone operating company. The system to be commercialized in Phase III will permit economic real-time monitoring of flow in electricity, gas, and water distribution systems using existing utility meters. Other potential applications include load management, alarm monitoring and enhanced telecommunications services such as those planned for the Smart House through the Synchronous Optical Network standard.
