Smart Metering
Smart Metering
smart meter
A smart meter is usually an electronic device
that records consumption of electric energy in
intervals of an hour or less and
communicates that information at least daily
back to the utility for monitoring and billing.
Smart meters enable two-way communication
between the meter and the central system.
smart meter
Unlike home energy monitors, smart meters can
gather data for remote reporting. Such an
advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) differs
from traditional automatic meter reading (AMR)
in that it enables two-way communications with
the meter.
smart meter
The term Smart Meter often refers to an
electricity meter, but it also may mean a
device measuring natural gas or water
consumption.
smart meter
Similar meters, usually referred to as interval
or time-of-use meters, have existed for
years, but "Smart Meters" usually involve
real-time or near real-time sensors, power
outage notification, and power quality
monitoring. These additional features are
more than simple automated meter reading
(AMR).
smart meter
They are similar in many respects to
Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI)
meters. Interval and time-of-use meters
historically have been installed to measure
commercial and industrial customers, but
may not have automatic reading.
smart meter
Research by Which?, the UK consumer
group, showed that as many as one in three
confuse smart meters with energy monitors,
also known as in-home display monitors.
The roll-out of smart meters is one strategy
for energy savings.
smart meter
While energy suppliers in the UK could save
around £300 million a year from their
introduction, consumer benefits will depend
on people actively changing their energy
use. For example, time of use tariffs offering
lower rates at off-peak times, and selling
electricity back to the grid with net metering,
may also benefit consumers.
Purpose of Smart Meters
Since the inception of electricity deregulation
and market-driven pricing throughout the
world, utilities have been looking for a
means to match consumption with
generation.
Purpose of Smart Meters
Traditional electrical and gas meters only
measure total consumption, and so provide
no information of when the energy was
consumed at each metered site.
Purpose of Smart Meters
Smart meters provide a way of measuring
this site-specific information, allowing utility
companies to introduce different prices for
consumption based on the time of day and
the season.
Purpose of Smart Meters
Utility companies propose that from a
consumer perspective, smart metering offers
potential benefits to householders.
Purpose of Smart Meters
These include, a) an end to estimated bills,
which are a major source of complaints for
many customers by a tool to help
consumers better manage their energy
purchases
Purpose of Smart Meters
- stating that smart meters with a display
outside their homes could provide up-to-date
information on gas and electricity
consumption and in doing so help people to
manage their energy use and reduce their
energy bills
Purpose of Smart Meters
Electricity pricing usually peaks at certain
predictable times of the day and the season.
In particular, if generation is constrained,
prices can rise if power from other
jurisdictions or more costly generation is
brought online.
Purpose of Smart Meters
Proponents assert that billing customers at a
higher rate for peak times will encourage
consumers to adjust their consumption
habits to be more responsive to market
prices and assert further, that regulatory and
market design agencies hope
Purpose of Smart Meters
these "price signals" could delay the
construction of additional generation or at
least the purchase of energy from higher
priced sources, thereby controlling the
steady and rapid increase of electricity
prices.
Purpose of Smart Meters
There are some concerns, however, that low
income and vulnerable consumers may not
benefit from intraday time-of-use tariffs.
Purpose of Smart Meters
An academic study based on existing trials
showed that homeowners' electricity
consumption on average is reduced by
approximately 3-5%.
Implementation of Smart
Meters
The ability to connect/disconnect service
and read meter consumption remotely are
major labor savings for the utility and can
result in large layoffs of meter readers.
Implementation of Smart
Meters
The American Council for an Energy-
Efficient Economy reviewed more than 36
different residential smart metering and
feedback programmes internationally. This
is the most extensive study of its kind (as of
January 2011
Implementation of Smart
Meters
Their conclusion was: “To realize potential
feedback-induced savings, advanced meters
[smart meters] must be used in conjunction
with in-home (or on-line) displays and well-
designed programmes that successfully
inform, engage, empower and motivate
people
Implementation of Smart
Meters
There are near universal calls from both the
energy industry and consumer groups for a
national social marketing campaign to help
raise awareness of smart metering and give
customers the information and support they
need to become more energy efficient, and
what changes they must make to realize the
potential of proposed smart meters.
