Dr K M Soni, Chief Engineer, WZ-I, CPWD, Mumbai

Er K V Singh, Chief Engineer, WZ-III, CPWD, Mumbai

SMART METERING FOR UTILITY SERVICES

Smart meter A smart meter is defined as an

electronic device that records consumption of electric energy, water or gas in fixed intervals such as of an hour or less and communicates that information back to the utility for monitoring and billing. The meters may be of gas type, thermal type of ultrasonic type.

Smart meters are expected to be part of smart cities.

(www.optimalprediction.com)

DigitalEconomy

DigitalCountry

e-industry

HumanResource

e-government

Infrastructure

e-society

Best Practice GlobalLink

Smart cities concept

Will be based on smart solutions

http://pt.slideshare.net/bhawnakandari/

(adittest.com)

Smart meters are likely to be the part of all smart cities being developed in India also.

Smart meters and smart cities

(in.nec.com)

http://www.mwpr.ca/

Smart meters The smart meters enable two-way communication

between the meter and the central system. Smart meters can gather data for remote reporting

and can provide information on actual time of use. Smart meter sends the information back to the

utility by wireless signal such as radiofrequency or microwave radiation signal instead of having a utility meter reader come to the place and manually record it.

Such an advanced metering infrastructure differs from traditional automatic meter reading in as it enables two-way communications with the meter.

Smart meters may be of gas type, thermal type or ultrasonic type.

SMART METERS AND ENERGY SAVING CONCEPT

Smart meters do not save energy themselves but consumers do.

The purpose of smart meters is to change the behaviour of the consumers. It is hoped that the consumers would save energy through awareness and the estimated bills.

(www.switchon.vic.gov.au)

Smart gridSmart grid is the digital and Wi-fi enabled power meters that enable communication between the appliances in the home or office with the power provider.

(smartgridtech.wordpress.com)

Global smart network(www.ibm.com)

Smart meters and appliances The energy consumption of each appliance can be recorded and communicated by the smart meters.

Smart meters can be equipped with the chips that would allow the appliances to communicate between the appliances and the smart meters.

(www.appliancedesign.com)

PEAK PRICING Systems of pricing

Uniform pricing Tier pricing Dynamic Pricing Peak pricing

Peak pricing is costly and electric companies would like to reduce this cost by raising bill during peak pricing

http://www.slideshare.net/UttamSatapathy/business-economics-09-market-structures-pricing-strategy

(www.alabamapower.com)

ADVANTAGES OF SMART METERING

No Human Interface Monitoring as per requirements and

paying capacity Pricing transparency Improvement of billing process CO2 reduction Energy efficiency Customer protection Prevention of theft of electricity

ISSUES OF SMART METERING

SAFETY PRIVACY HEALTH

(www.emfsafetynetwork.org)(www.activistpost.com)

(www.blogs.splunk.com)

safety In case of data are stolen, it may be

feasible that unlawful elements may use the information for the theft or other type of misuse.

Cloning may raise the bill and by the time you would be aware of the hackers, a hefty bill will be in your hands.

Companies and societies may stop electricity at any time if dues are not paid.

Security issue All electronic equipments might be susceptible

of security threat easily. Smart meters would require electronic chips in

the appliances and if some companies engaged in the spying just present free of cost such appliances to VIPs or to those to whom such companies want to keep on surveillance, it might be relatively easy and even may be that they themselves purchase such equipment without their knowledge and install without doubting on them.

These spying gadgets then may be available right in their offices, living rooms, bedrooms and even washrooms.

health issue Smart meters are also said to radiate

electro-magnetic waves in the house and around it. Some doctors describe such radiation as “dirty electricity” or “electric pollution”.

Dr Sam Milham, author of “Dirty Electricity” has made his study on the subject and it is claimed that dirty electricity can lead to dangerous diseases.

privacy Some electric companies might reconstruct even

most of consumers daily requirements and their lifestyles like what appliances they use and for what duration, when they wake up, when they go to sleep, when they go to office or for the business or on vacation, and may pass data or information to other companies or sister companies or to any third parties for marketing or even sell it.

Suppose you and your wife are not using same room, electric company may be able to reconstruct the data from the use of two separate air conditioners installed in two different rooms.

Marketing Companies and societies may stop

electricity at any time if dues are not paid. One may have to purchase all new

appliances compatible to smart meters in future.

(www.nuritelecom.com)

(www.patriotsandpaulies.wordpress.com)

(stopsmartmeters.org.uk)

Do you choice?

(www.stopsmartmeters.org.uk

conclusions Smart meters may come sooner or later with or without

knowledge of the consumers. There is a need of deliberations of the advantages and

dark sides of the smart metering system before they are installed.

Once the consumers are well aware and convinced about the necessity of smart meters, they should have option to select the meters with the commitment that they would not be charged on “peak pricing” basis in future.

Also privacy, safety and security of the consumers will require to be ensured by the companies and the government by enacting suitable laws/Acts.

Advantage of getting electricity on 24 x 7 basis if connected in smart grid.

No human interface.