Smart Meter Data Analytics for Distribution Network Connectivity Verification

Many utilities have the data quality problem with the geographical information system (GIS) records at distribution level. This affects many business functions of a utility, including asset management, outage response, and workforce safety. For correcting connectivity errors in the GIS representation of the distribution network topology, BC Hydro has developed an in-house algorithm. The algorithm leverages smart meter interval measurements and identifies the neighboring meters by voltage profile correlation analysis. It also predicts customers' upstream and downstream location relationship by voltage magnitude comparisons. The output of the algorithm is then compared with the existing GIS records to correct any errors in it. This paper presents in detail the algorithm and the promising testing results within the practical BC Hydro system. Challenges for underground services are demonstrated. The algorithm's potential use for phase detection by collectively leveraging smart meter and feeder meter data is explored. It shows encouraging results when applied in a downstream section of a large feeder.