Smart Metering

Definition

Definition proposed by the European Smart Metering Alliance (ESMA)

"Smart metering is designed to provide utility customers information on a real time basis about their domestic energy consumption. This information includes data on how much gas and electricity they are consuming, how much it is costing them and what impact their consumption is having on greenhouse gas emissions."

This definition is interesting as it states the goals of Smart Metering without reference to technology.

Definition proposed by Wikipedia

"A smart meter generally refers to a type of advanced meter (usually an electrical meter) that identifies consumption in more detail than a conventional meter; and optionally, but generally, communicates that information via some network back to the local utility for monitoring and billing purposes (telemetering)."

Wikipedia proposes a technical view of a Smart Meter.

 Automated Meter Reading (AMR) and Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI)

AMR refers to technologies to optimise the process of entering meter index values at some time into the database of a utility.

Wether the saving in the manual reading process compensate the cost of the infrastructure required for AMR is questionable. It is agreed that this infrastructure should be used to run more services thant just automated meter reading.

 "AMI = Smart Meter + Smart Customer + Smart Utility" [ref]

 AMI refers to the set of services enabled by smart meters (AMR is one of these services). These services are used either bythe utility or by the customer.

Smart Metering Services

 Services for the utility:

  • Acquisition, storage and "real-time" transfer to the utility database of quantitive and qualitative parameters for energy consumption as function of time. Quantitative parameters are typically the active and reactive power. Real voltage level is an example of qualititive parameters.
  • Immediate annoucement of a power outage.

Services for the customer:

  •  Information 

Summary of telcommunications technologies for AMI

  • Wireless - Public Network: The meter features an interface to a public wireless network (usually GSM/GPRS).
  • Wireless - Dedicated Network: A dedicated wireless network is built for the purpose of meter reading. Zigbee and Wi Fi are candidate technologies for this application. The dedicated network may be used for other purposes.
  • Wireless - Local link: If an internet connection is available close to the location of the meter, wireless communication can be used to connect the meter and the internet access point. Candidate technologies are Wi Fi, Bluetooth and Zigbee.
  • Power Line Communication: As every meter is connected to the power line, power line communication is a natural candidate technology for AMR.
  • Land line: the meter is connected either to a land line (twisted pair). It can be either a line belonging to the utility and connected to its premises or a telephone local loop. In the latter case, the meter features a modem and can be dialed up.

Most popular technologies are Power Line communication for urban (dense) areas and Wireless - GSM/GPRS solutions for rural areas.