Pak Elektron Limited (PEL)

Project Name:
Automatic Meter Reading (AMR) / Advance Metering Infrastructure (AMI)

Department: Marketing PD
Submitted To: Engr. Salman
Submitted By: Waqar Ahmad
Hammad Falak
Zain-ul- Abideen
 Contents

Automatic Meter Reading (AMR) .................................................................................................. 4

Introduction: .................................................................................................................................... 4

Energy Meter: ................................................................................................................................. 4

Types of Energy Meter ......................................................................................................................... 5

Types of Energy Meter w.r.t Construction............................................................................................ 5

1. Electromechanical induction type Energy meter: ......................................................................... 5

Working Principle of Energy Meter: .................................................................................................... 6

➢ Rotation of an Aluminum Disk: .................................................................................................... 6

➢ Arrangement of Counting and Displaying the Energy Consumed:............................................... 7

2. Electronic Energy Meter: .............................................................................................................. 8

➢ Digital Electronic Energy Meter: .................................................................................................. 8

3. Smart Energy Meter: ..................................................................................................................... 9

Types of Energy Meter w.r.t Phase ..................................................................................................... 10

1. Single Phase Energy Meter: ........................................................................................................ 10

2. Three Phase Energy Meter: ......................................................................................................... 12

➢ Normal Load: .............................................................................................................................. 12

➢ 3-𝝋 L.T Type Meter:................................................................................................................... 13

➢ 3-𝝋 H.T Type Meter: .................................................................................................................. 13

Issues with conventional Metering System................................................................................... 14

What is AMR? .............................................................................................................................. 14

How AMR works .......................................................................................................................... 15

What is AMI? ................................................................................................................................ 15

Avantages:..................................................................................................................................... 15
Disadvantages: .............................................................................................................................. 16

Technologies ................................................................................................................................. 17

➢ GSM Based Automatic Wireless Energy Meter Reading System: ............................................. 17

➢ RF (Radio Frequency) Communication Energy Meter Reading System: ................................... 18

Difference Between AMR & AMI ............................................................................................... 20

Components of AMI ..................................................................................................................... 21

➢ Head-end System: ....................................................................................................................... 21

➢ Collector:..................................................................................................................................... 22

➢ Meter: .......................................................................................................................................... 22

➢ Communication: .......................................................................................................................... 23

Function of Relay in Smart Energy Meter .................................................................................... 24

 Automatic Meter Reading (AMR)
Introduction:
Automatic meter reading, or AMR, is the technology of automatically collecting consumption,
diagnostic, and status data from energy metering devices (electric) and transferring that data to a
central database for billing, troubleshooting, and analyzing. This technology mainly saves utility
providers the expense of periodic trips to each physical location to read a meter. Another advantage
is that billing can be based on near real-time consumption rather than on estimates based on past
or predicted consumption. This timely information coupled with analysis can help both utility
providers and customers better control the use and production of electric energy, gas usage, or
water consumption.

AMR technologies include handheld, mobile and network technologies based on telephony
platforms (wired and wireless), radio frequency (RF), or powerline transmission.

Energy Meter:
Energy meter is an instrument which measures amount of electrical energy used by the consumers.
Utilities install these instruments at every place like homes, industries, organizations to charge the
electricity consumption by loads such as lights, fans and other appliances. Most interesting type
are used as prepaid electricity meters

Energy Meter
Basic unit of power is watts. One thousand watts is one kilowatt. If we use one kilowatt in one
hour, it is considered as one unit of energy consumed. These meters measure the instantaneous
voltage and currents, calculate its product and gives instantaneous power. This power is integrated
over a period which gives the energy utilized over that time period.

Types of Energy Meter

Energy meter are classified in three basic types accordance with various factors such as:

1. Type of display
2. Technical like single phase, LT, three phases, HT and many more.
3. Type of Usage like domestic, commercial and industrial
4. Type of metering point

Types of Energy Meter w.r.t Construction

According to construction energy meter classified into three types which are given below.

1. Electromechanical induction type Energy meter:

It is the popularly known and most common type of age old watt hour meter. It consists of rotating
aluminum disc mounted on a spindle between two electro magnets. Speed of rotation of disc is
proportional to the power and this power is integrated by the use of counter mechanism and gear
trains. It comprises of two silicon steel laminated electromagnets i.e., series and shunt magnets.

Series magnet carries a coil which is of few turns of thick wire connected in series with line
whereas shunt magnet carries coil with many turns of thin wire connected across the supply.

Breaking magnet is a permanent magnet which applies the force opposite to normal disc rotation
to move that disc at balanced position and to stop the disc while power is off.
 Electromechanical Induction Type Meter

Working Principle of Energy Meter:

The working of single phase induction type energy meters are based on two main fundamentals:

i. Rotation of aluminum disk.

ii. Arrangement of counting and displaying the amount of energy consumed.

➢ Rotation of an Aluminum Disk:

The rotation of metallic disk is operated by two coils. Both the coils are arranged in such way that
one coil produces a magnetic field in proportion to voltage and the other coil creates a magnetic
field proportion to current. The field produced by voltage coil is delayed by 90o so that eddy current
is induced in the disk. The force exerted on the disk by the two fields is proportional to the product
of the immediate current and voltage in the coils.

As a result of it, a lite weight aluminum disk rotates in an air gap. But there is a need to stop a disk
when there is no power supply. A permanent magnet works as a brake which opposes the rotation
of the disk and balances the speed of rotation with respect to power consumption.
 Rotation of an Aluminum Disk

➢ Arrangement of Counting and Displaying the Energy Consumed:

In this system, the rotation of the floating disk has been counted and then displayed on the meter
window. The aluminum disk is connected to a spindle which has a gear. This gear drives the
register and the revolution of the disk has been counted and displayed on the register which has
series of dials and each dial represent a single digit. There is a small display window in the front
of the meter which displays the reading of energy consumed with the help of dials. There is a
copper shading ring at the central limb of the shunt magnet. To make the phase angle between flux
produced by shunt magnet and supply voltage about 900, small adjustments in the place of the ring
is required.

Arrangement of Counting and Displaying the Energy Consumed

2. Electronic Energy Meter:

Electronic meters display the energy used on an LCD or LED display, and some can also transmit
readings to remote places. In addition to measuring energy used, electronic meters can also record
other parameters of the load and supply such as instantaneous and maximum rate of usage
demands, voltages, power factor and reactive power used etc. They can also support time-of-day
billing, for example, recording the amount of energy used during on-peak and off-peak hours.

These are of accurate, high procession and reliable types of measuring instruments as compared to
conventional mechanical meters. It consumes less power and starts measuring instantaneously
when connected to load. These meters might be analog or digital. In analog meters, power is
converted to proportional frequency or pulse rate and it is integrated by counters placed inside it.
In digital electric meter power is directly measured by high end processor. The power is integrated
by logic circuits to get the energy and also for testing and calibration purpose. It is then converted
to frequency or pulse rate.

➢ Digital Electronic Energy Meter:

Digital signal processor or high performance microprocessors are used in digital electric meters. Similar to
the analog meters, voltage and current transducers are connected to a high resolution ADC. Once it converts
analog signals to digital samples, voltage and current samples are multiplied and integrated by digital
circuits to measure the energy consumed.

Digital Electronic Energy Meter

Microprocessor also calculates phase angle between voltage and current, so that it also measures
and indicates reactive power. It is programmed in such a way that it calculates energy according
to the tariff and other parameters like power factor, maximum demand, etc and stores all these
values in a non volatile memory EEPROM.

It contains real time clock (RTC) for calculating time for power integration, maximum demand
calculations and also date and time stamps for particular parameters. Furthermore it interacts
with liquid crystal display (LCD), communication devices and other meter outputs. Battery is
provided for RTC and other significant peripherals for backup power.

3. Smart Energy Meter:

It is an advanced metering technology involving placing intelligent meters to read, process and
feedback the data to customers. It measures energy consumption, remotely switches the supply to
customers and remotely controls the maximum electricity consumption. Smart metering system
uses the advanced metering infrastructure system technology for better performance.

These are capable of communicating in both directions. They can transmit the data to the utilities
like energy consumption, parameter values, alarms, etc and also can receive information from
utilities such as automatic meter reading system, reconnect/disconnect instructions, upgrading of
meter software’s and other important messages. These meters reduce the need to visit while taking
or reading monthly bill. Modems are used in these smart meters to facilitate communication
sustems such as telephone, wireless, fiber cable, power line communications. Another advantage
 Advance Metering Infrastructure

of smart metering is complete avoidance of tampering of energy meter where there is scope of
using power in an illegal way.

Types of Energy Meter w.r.t Phase

According to phase energy meter classified into three types which are given below.

• Single Phase Energy Meter

• Three Phase Energy Meter

1. Single Phase Energy Meter:

In single phase Digital Energy Meter, the phase voltage and current are stepped down to the
acceptable levels of energy meter chip. It process the acquired signal and performs the signal
processing such as digitizing, filtering and averaging to extract active power, RMS values of
current and voltages required computes the consumption of the energy. The measured values are
stored as bit streams in the registers. These registers are accessed by serial interface using the
microcontroller. Micro Controller accesses the data from the chip and displays the various
electrical parameters and energy consumption for the EB Source with on hours on the LCD screen.
The block diagram for a digital meter. Here, two basic sensors are employed. These are voltage
and current sensors. The voltage sensor built around a step down element and potential divider
network senses both the phase voltage and load voltage. The second sensor is a current sensor; this
senses the current drawn by the load at any point in time. It is built around a current transformer
and other active devices (such as voltage comparator) which convert the sensed current to voltage
for processing. The output from both sensors is then fed into a signal (or voltage) conditioner
which ensures matched voltage or signal level to the control circuit, it also contain a signal
multiplexer which enable sequential switching of both signal to the analogue input of the
peripheral interface controller (PIC). The control circuit centered on a PIC integrated circuit.
The PIC is selected because it contain ten bit analogue to digital converter (ADC), very flexible to
program and good for peripheral interfacing.

Block Diagram of Digital Energy Meter

The ADC converts the analogue signals to its digital equivalent; both signals from the voltage and
current sensors are then multiplied by the means of embedded software in the PIC. Here the error
correction is taken as the offset correction by determining the value of the input quality with short-
circuited input and storing this value in the memory for use as the correction value device
calibration. The PIC is programmed in C language. Such that apart from the multiplier circuit it
simulates, it is able to use the received data to calculate power consumption per hour, as well as
the expected charges. These are displayed on the liquid crystal display attached to the circuit.

2. Three Phase Energy Meter:

Three phase electricity is connected at 400 or 415 volts, by three active wires or phases and one
neutral. This is mostly used in industrial and large commercial settings where powerful appliances
are powered.

There are further three types of 3-𝜑 energy meter.

• Normal Load
• 3-𝜑 L.T Type Meter
• 3-𝜑 H.T Type Meter

➢ Normal Load:

Normal load 3-phase energy meter used in small commercial areas where low power 3- phase loads are
powered. They operate on not more than 440 volts.

3−𝜑 Digital Meter

➢ 3-𝝋 L.T Type Meter:

LT (Low Tension) Meters are those which can handle large load currents through externally
present CT (current transformers). They are called as LT meters because they operate on not more
than 440 volts. These meters are exactly same as WC meters but the only difference is their CT is
not present inside the meter. A bulky high capacity CT installed in the series of this meter. This
CT first step down the high current to the feasible level then the other CT present inside the meter
step down the current even more, so that it can be measured easily.

L.T Type Meter

➢ 3-𝝋 H.T Type Meter:

HT meters are those meters in CT (Current Transformer) as well as PT (Potential Transformer)

present outside the energy meter. The reason behind calling them HT (High Tension) Meters
because they normally installed on the feeder (11 kV) line. They are same Energy Meters as other
meters but they have a combination of bulky CT and PT present outside the meters. PT is present
there to step down the voltage from 11kV to 110 volts and then this voltage is given inside the
meter to the PT or voltage divider depending upon the type of Energy meter.

H.T Type Meter

 Issues with conventional Metering System

Following issues are faced in conventional system

• The existing conventional metering system does not have a bi-directional communication
mechanism to send the meter readings to electric power companies for real time billing
purposes
• Unable to control the non-technical losses occurring at consumer premises.

What is AMR?

The advent of automatic meter reading (AMR) came about in the mid-’80s, and more prominently
in the early 1990s as an automated way to collect basic meter-reading data. The term and
technology behind advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) began showing itself around 2005,
evolving from the foundations of AMR. As not uncommon in this industry, we often hold on to
the label that came first or use two terms interchangeably, even if the actual meaning or definition
is slightly different. All AMI systems contain AMR functionality (although it’s not the core of its
purpose), but all AMR systems are not AMI systems.

Definitions:
According to the Demand Response and Advanced Metering Coalition, AMR is defined as a
“system where aggregated kWh usage, and in some cases demand, is retrieved via an automatic
means such as a drive-by vehicle or walk-by handheld system.” A more expanded definition likely
includes all one-way systems, drive-by and walk-by systems, phone-based dial-up systems,
handheld reading entry devices and touch-based systems. These systems tend to be collection only,
without means for broadcasting command or control messages. In addition, data from AMR
systems is typically gathered only monthly or, at most, daily.

Automated Meter Reading equipment lets us read your meter remotely so we can send you
accurate, timely bills without the need for regular on-site meter readings.
 How AMR works

What is AMI?

AMI is typically more automated and allows real-time, on-demand interrogations with metering
endpoints. The Federal Energy Regulatory Committee (FERC) defines AMI as “a metering system
that records customer consumption hourly or more frequently and that provides for daily or more
frequent transmittal of measurements over a communication network to a central collection point.”
AMI requires requisite bandwidth to supply more than merely metering and power-quality
information. AMI systems need to have appropriate bandwidth and broadcast capabilities to allow
for demand response/load management as well as distribution automation.

Avantages:

Automated meter reading offers substantial benefits to utilities

• Big savings and efficiencies in terms of the cost of reading meters

 • Ability to detect outages or disconnects quickly and remotely
• More flexible and more accurate billing cycles
• Better management of energy consumption
• A substantial reduction in billing errors
• Reduces billing errors and disputes
• Eliminating the use of vehicles leads to a more eco-friendly approach to meter reading
• Commercial customers benefit from faster and more accurate billing and better utility
management
• Ability to remotely monitor meters for theft, damage or tampering

Disadvantages:

• The installation of these meters are very costly and some utility people may find it difficult
to convenience the general public to use these meters.
• The worst part is, customers should have some minimum knowledge about what they’re
going to use.
• The ugly part about these smart meters is microwave radio frequency emission. It is mainly
used for the communication purpose between smart meters and other electronic gadgets
but this could lead to health problems like cancer, DNA damage, heart problems etc. This
is the most serious disadvantage about smart meters and lot of agitation is going on in most
of the places.
• There are some significant cyber-security implications with smart meters. There is a risk
that these devices could be hacked. If electricity supply is controlled by devices connected
to communications infrastructure, then there is a the possibility that hackers could disrupt
the electricity system.
 Technologies

Following technologies are used in Smart metering system

➢ GSM Based Automatic Wireless Energy Meter Reading System:

This system consists of GSM digital power meter installed in every consumer unit. A GSM modem is
connected to the energy meter. Each modem will be having its own sim.The sim card used is implemented
in energy meter and it sends a message to the user about the due bill. A LCD is used in the hardware module
for the user interface. The LCD displays the current usage and units consumed. Here the system operates
in two modes. First mode is depends up on the time and the second mode is depends up on the usage of
power. For every 30 days the information is sends to the electricity board office regarding the units by using
GSM. The user can pay the amount just by knowing the given code which is fed in the meter. If that
consumer does not payed the bill then from the EB(ELECTRICITY BOARD) office the power is switched
off. `After paying the bill only the power is connected to that consumer by sending a command from the
EB(ELECTRICITY BOARD) office. If in case the required units usages have achieved within 30 days then
the power will be shut down and immediately and the SMS is sent to the EB(ELECTRICITY BOARD)
office.

Block Diagram Of GSM Based Smart Metering System

• GSM Modem:
A GSM modem is a wireless modem that works with a GSM wireless network. A wireless modem
behaves like a dial-up modem. The main difference between them is that a dial-up modem sends
and receives data through a fixed telephone line while a wireless modem sends and receives data
through radio waves. The working of GSM modem is based on commands, the commands always
start with AT (which means ATtention) and finish with a <CR> character.The AT commands are
given to the GSM modem with the help of PC or controller. The GSM modem is serially interfaced
with the controller with the help of MAX 232. Here max 232 acts as driver which converts TTL
levels to the RS 232 levels. For serial interface GSM modem requires the signal based on RS 232
levels. The T1_OUT and R1_IN pin of MAX 232 is connected to the TX and RX pin of GSM
modem.

➢ RF (Radio Frequency) Communication Energy Meter Reading System:

RF is the most commonly used method of communication between a remote device and data
collection system. A gas meter is mounted with a small module, usually under the index, where it
converts the movement of wriggler into pulse counts and stores them, taking into account the count
rate and other factors. These modules are essentially encoders and RF transmitters, put together as
a single unit.

These RF devices are activated by a “wake up” signal from the data collection system and the
device sends back the latest meter read and other information, like tamper status, to the data
collection system. As these devices are battery powered, using this wake technique helps conserve
battery life.

In some cases, RF devices are regularly transmitting the readings and the data collection system
does not “wake up” the device. RF-based remote meter reading devices are easily deployable and
offer a very reliable means of data collection. These devices are used mostly for residential and
some commercial remote meter reading.

• Data collection system for RF devices:

A meter reader carrying a rugged handheld computer equipped with a radio receiver walks by
homes, without actually entering the premises. The devices radio their reads to the handheld
computer, the meter reader accepts the read and keeps moving on its route.
 RF (Radio Frequency) Communication Energy Meter Reading System

The meter reader thus does not enter the readings manually, hence eliminating any manual entry
errors. This system is normally used to read those accounts within the utility service territory that
have high-cost or hazardous-to-read meters. These meters may be situated in a basement, in a back
yard with a dangerous dog or locked gate, or with an angry customer who doesn’t want the meter
reader on the property. The meter readers can collect anywhere from 600 to 1000 meter reads on
a typical day using a Radio equipped handheld computer.
 Difference Between AMR & AMI

Advance Meter Reading Advance Metering Infrastructure

(AMR) (AMI)

AMR systems can typically provide the kWh AMI typically provides a substantial payload
reading and possibly peak kW demand for the of information. The list of detailed information
month. Other limited data may also available, that can be supplied via AMI systems includes:
depending on the system deployed. cumulative kWh usage, daily kWh usage, peak
kW demand, last interval demand, load profile,
voltage etc. AMI systems, nearly all of this
information is available in real time and on
demand, allowing for improved operations and
customer management.

The beneficiary list from AMR is short, with AMI can benefit groups ranging from
only the metering and billing departments engineering and operations to asset-
benefiting. management and planning departments. In
addition, AMI has the built-in tools to enhance
customer service and satisfaction.

These systems tend to be collection only, AMI is typically more automated and allows
without means for broadcasting command or real-time, on-demand interrogations with
control messages. In addition, data from AMR metering endpoints, that records customer
systems is typically gathered only monthly or, consumption hourly or more frequently and
at most, daily. that provides for daily or more frequent
transmittal of measurements over a
communication network to a central collection
point.
 Components of AMI

The advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) is typically structured into a bunch of networks and
composed of a few major components. Figure below provides an overview of all components and
most networks. It is made up of the Meter, the Collector and of the server systems at the distribution
system operator (DSO) or metering company side.

The subsequent sections will briefly introduce the major components of the AMI.

Components of AMI

➢ Head-end System:
The head-end system (HES), also known as meter control system, is located within a metering
company network. In most cases the metering company is the responsible DSO. The HES is
directly communicating with the meters. Therefore, the HES is located in some demilitarized zone
(DMZ) since services and functionality will be provided to the outside.

There is much more infrastructure at the DSO or metering company side. The collected data will
be managed within a metering data management system (MDM) which also maps data to the
relevant consumer. Depending on the automation level, the metering data will have influence on
the DSO actions in order to balance the grid.

Exposing the HES to consumers enables some significant threats to the DSO. For example, an
adversary getting hold of the HES could read all consumer data. Moreover, one could control
meters or could manipulate usage data or generate alerts in order to disturb the DSO operations or
at least trigger the computer incident response team (CIRT) and maybe force the DSO to backup
to some business continuity plan (BCP) while analyzing and recovering the HES.

➢ Collector:
The collector, also known as concentrator or gateway serves as communication node for the HES.
Depending on the infrastructure the collector could be a meter itself. Its primary function is to
interface between the HES and the meters and/or other collectors within its neighborhood – the
neighborhood area network (NAN).

Not only the head-end but also the collector exposes threats. The collector is physically exposed
to adversaries. Moreover, it has a trust binding to the HES and the NAN side and is thus privileged
to communicate with either end. Adversaries might exploit the fact in order to attack the HES.
Additionally, on the NAN side, adversaries might impersonate the collector to setup a man-in-the-
middle scenario or to invoke arbitrary commands at the meters.

➢ Meter:
The meter is installed at consumer premises. When integrated with a collector, it directly
communicates to the HES. As a meter, it either communicates with the collector or may serve as
a relay in order to route packets between nearby meters and the collector. Some meters provide an
interface for appliances. With retail consumer that network is known as the home area network
(HAN). Meters do also provide local diagnostic ports for manual readout, installation and
maintenance tasks as shown in figure.

From an attacker perspective the meter is the entry point to building automation, DER and usage
data. But the meter is also a relevant part of the smart grid and under no circumstances should its
manipulation allow critical influence or affect the availability of the grid or parts of it.
➢ Communication:

The infrastructure consists of several networks of which all could rely on absolutely different
media and a multitude of protocols. In total, three networks are commonly described when
referring to the AMI. The WAN, NAN and HAN.

• Wide Area Network:

The WAN does connect a meter or collector to the HES. The WAN is sometimes also referred to
as the backhaul network. Communication on the WAN link is mostly Internet protocol (IP) based
and does commonly rely on standard information technology (IT) media and technology stacks
such as fibre optic cables (FOC), digital subscriber line (DSL), general packet radio service
(GPRS), multi-protocol label switching (MPLS), power line carrier (PLC) or some sort of private
network. A brief overview on PLC for WAN side communication is provided in
The CEN/CENELEC/ ETSI Smart Meter Co-ordination Group (SMCG) does not identify a
specific protocol but proposes to rely on “secure and non-proprietary protocols and communication
platforms for bulk transmission from collectors that bundle a large number of meters.

• Neighborhood Area Network:

The NAN connects meters and collectors. Typical NAN devices are electricity, gas, water or heat
meters. organizations sometimes refer to the NAN as local metrological network (LMS) , field
area network (FAN) or the metering LAN.

Although standards such as the IEEE 802.15.4 based ZigBee profiles are gaining momentum, the
industry and regulators seam to struggle on a common standard. Utilities among the European
union nations seem to prefer the meter bus standard for NAN communication although the ENISA
does not list the meter bus as a NAN protocol.
• Home Area Network:
Depending on the consumer type the HAN could also be named as building area network (BAN)
or industrial area network (IAN). Whatever its name is, the purpose of the HAN is to integrate
additional gas, water or heat meters. The HAN could allow for intelligent building automation and
does also allow the integration of DERs with the smart grid.

Function of Relay in Smart Energy Meter

A relay is an electrically controllable switch widely used in industrial controls, automobiles and
appliances. The relay allows the isolation of two separate sections of a system with two different
voltage sources i.e., a small amount of voltage/current on one side can handle a large amount of
voltage/current on the other side but there is no chance that these two voltages mix up.

• Over currents introduced by accident or deliberately are quite common. Faulty equipment,
shorts in the wiring and connection of additional loads may result in switching currents
higher than the permissible rated current of the relay. In such cases, the relay must withstand
these currents until the breaker or fuse responds.
• The smart relays enable you to switch your equipment on or off remotely.
• They also feature a power metering functionality, granting the user access to monitoring the
power - giving an increased overview of what unit groups consume most power, and when.