# Analysis of AMI Communication Methods in Various Field Environments
###### Abstract  
In order to construct an efficient on-site communication network for an advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) in Korea, the high-speed power line communication (HS PLC), wireless smart utility network (Wi-SUN), and ZigBee modems are currently being used. In this paper, we first quantitatively analyze the communication performances of HS PLC, Wi-SUN, and ZigBee modems for AMI through both experimental testbeds and practical environment sites. For practical AMI sites, we selected 18 sites with 48 measurement points and classified the sites into five areas, and conducted measurements of signal and noise power spectra on the sites. We then derived linear regression models for received powers according to areas. Through the constructed models, we can efficiently choose an appropriate communication method and plan a methodology for building an AMI network depending on the area type. Furthermore, using the constructed regression models, we provided graphical simulation tools of received powers for both PLC and wireless communication methods based on a distribution information map. a 2020 13  
while the high-speed PLC (HS PLC, ISO/IEC12139-1) and HomePlug Green PHY (HPGP) are used for broadband PLC methods in AMI configurations [25; 26; 27]. The wireless communication method for AMI can be divided into 2.4 GHz band methods such as WiFi or Zigbee [25; 28; 29] and a sub-1 GHz band method such as wireless smart utility network (Wi-SUN) [28; 30; 31]. LoRa [32] can be a candidate for communication techniques to construct AMI networks. However, although LoRa has a wide coverage area, it is hard for LoRa to cope with lots of smart meter nodes in a densely populated area due to its quite low rates in the order of several kbps. Therefore, currently, the LoRa approach is not considered for the AMI networks in Korea. Therefore, in the case of designing an AMI system suitable for a customer site, it is very important for the utility to select an appropriate communication method that can meet the power supply situation and AMI service requirements. Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO), a leading power company in the Republic of Korea, is pursuing a project to supply AMI systems for 22.5 million low-voltage customers from 2010 to 2020. Currently, using HS PLC and HPGP of broadband PLC methods, and Wi-SUN of wireless communication methods, KEPCO has constructed AMI systems for about 10 million low-voltage customers in Korea. It is necessary to select appropriate communication methods according to the house types for low-voltage customers in order to efficiently deploy such a large-scale AMI. KEPCO has three methods of distribution across electric power lines for supplying electric energies to customers as shown in Figure 1. Figure 1a shows a method that supplies electric energies to the customer through overhead power lines from the pole-mounted transformer. This method has a structure that consists of electrical cables suspended by towers or poles. Even though overhead power lines have an economic advantage, they are susceptible to damage from various natural phenomena such as wind. To avoid such damages, we can transmit electrical energies through underground power lines as shown in Figure 1b even though the construction cost is relatively high. Here, the transformers are mounted on concrete pads with steel cabinets. Figure 1c is a mixed method of those from Figure 1a,b, in which from a pole-mounted transformer to poles near the customers' electric energies are supplied through overhead power lines, and then from the poles to the customers' electric energies are supplied through underground power lines. Figure 2 shows a configuration of the AMI system for low-voltage customers at KEPCO. An on-site AMI system is constructed around a pole-mounted or pad-mounted transformer.