In more than 50 years of existence, energy meters have proved to be a boon for the power sector. From being the simple electric meters to advanced smart metering systems, the role of the energy meter has been instrumental in energy conservation. IoT and AI-based smart meters have taken energy conservation even further, with real time energy monitoring and automatic device scheduling.
Let us discuss the evolution of smart meters and their role in helping reduce energy consumption. After knowing the benefits of smart metering systems, you will be surprised by the slow rate of adoption.
With analog meters, it was difficult for power utilities to get the correct reading. It was problematic to send the data from the electricity meters back to the utilities. This was time-consuming for the utilities and resulted in over-consumption of resources. Moreover, the readings were unreliable and often resulted in excess bills for the consumer.
With the advancements in technology, Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) based smart metering systems came into the market. These smart devices can detect and send readings from energy meters to the utilities via cloud. Smart metering systems comprise of smart meters and a user interface that reflects the data captured by the meters.
A smart meter digitally records meter readings and automatically sends the readings to the energy supplier, using a secure Wi-Fi data network, so that you receive accurate, not estimated energy bills. Smart meters also come with an intuitive user interface that shows you exactly how much energy you consume, in real time. An internet connection relays the data from the smart meters to a dashboard on your smartphone, where you can analyze the data and take steps to become energy efficient.
Smart metering enables businesses to keep track of how much energy they are using so they can adjust their consumption for cost savings and energy conservation. In addition to monitoring usage, smart meters record a variety of data points on consumption, including when a resource is being used, how much is being used at a time, and where it is being directed. The “smart” feature of the meter lets you control the flow of the resource being used, such as gas, water, or electricity, even remotely.
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