Power quality issues relating to power line carrier automated meter reading technology

Many utilities today are utilizing automated meter reading (AMR) technologies to increase efficiency and to improve customer service. One type of AMR, power line carrier based (PLC), is a very useful technology due to its use of the wires already in place for the purpose of serving power to the customer. Additionally, power quality (PQ) issues are ever more increasing in today's electrical industry. Several different PQ issues exist which can play havoc on PLC AMR systems. It is the intent of this paper to provide the following: a brief overview of AMR technologies, most specifically PLC AMR, a brief overview of PQ issues and their causes, and a somewhat detailed discussion of the major PQ issues that United Cooperative Services (UCS) has dealt with relating to its PLC AMR system.