Determining meter phase using interval voltage measurements

1. A method for determining a phase of an electric meter, the method comprising:

selecting a population of electric meters;

selecting a historical time range based at least in part on the selected population of electric meters;

selecting an interval period;

creating profiles for each electric meter in the selected population of electric meters based on voltage measurements over one or more interval periods;

calculating a correlation coefficient matrix based on the profiles;

clustering the selected population of electric meters into a plurality of clusters; and

determining a phase of each cluster of the plurality of clusters based on the calculating of the correlation coefficient matrix.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the population of electric meters is selected as a plurality of electric meters connected to a common voltage source.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the common voltage source is a specified distribution transformer.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the common voltage source is a specified feeder circuit.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the profiles created for each electric meter are voltage profiles.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the profiles created for each electric meter are voltage change profiles.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the clustering comprises associating each electric meter with more than one cluster.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:

calculating confidence factors for each electric meter in the selected population of electric meters,

wherein the confidence factors indicate a level of confidence that an electric meter belongs in each cluster with which it is associated.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising determining one cluster of the plurality of clusters for which each electric meter has a highest confidence factor, and

allocating each electric meter to the cluster for which the electric meter has the highest confidence factor.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

determining a phase code of an electric meter having a highest confidence factor in the cluster; and

assigning the phase code to each electric meter allocated to the cluster.

11. A system for determining a phase of an electric meter, the system comprising:

an electric meter;

a storage device; and

a head-end controller configured to communicate with the storage device and the electric meter, wherein the head-end controller is configured to:

select a population of electric meters;

select a historical time range based at least in part on the selected population of electric meters;

select an interval period;

measure voltage during a plurality of interval periods for each electric meter in the selected population of electric meters;

create profiles for each electric meter in the selected population of electric meters based on the voltage measurements over one or more interval periods;

calculate a correlation coefficient matrix based on the profiles;

cluster the selected population of electric meters into a plurality of clusters; and

determine a phase of each cluster of the plurality of clusters based on calculating the correlation coefficient matrix.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the head-end controller is configured to select the population of electric meters as a plurality of electric meters connected to a common voltage source.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the head-end controller is configured to select the population of electric meters as a plurality of electric meters connected to a specified distribution transformer as a common voltage source.

14. The system of claim 12 , wherein the head-end controller is configured to select the population of electric meters as a plurality of electric meters connected to a specified feeder circuit as a common voltage source.

15. The system of claim 11 , wherein the profiles created for each electric meter are voltage profiles.

16. The system of claim 11 , wherein the profiles created for each electric meter are voltage change profiles.

17. The system of claim 11 , wherein the head-end controller is configured to associate each electric meter with more than one cluster.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the head-end controller is configured to calculate confidence factors for each electric meter in the selected population of electric meters,

wherein the confidence factors indicate a level of confidence that an electric meter belongs in each cluster with which it is associated.

19. The system of claim 18 , wherein the head-end controller is configured to:

determine one cluster of the plurality of clusters for which each electric meter has a highest confidence factor, and

allocate each electric meter to the cluster for which the electric meter has the highest confidence factor.

20. The system of claim 19 , wherein the head-end controller is configured to:

determine a phase code of an electric meter having the highest confidence factor in the cluster; and

assign the phase code to each electric meter allocated to the cluster.