Remote Electricity Metering Systems
Nikolay Matanov, PhD Eng.
Faculty of Electrical Engineering
Technical University of Sofia
Sofia, Bulgaria
Email: nsm@tu-sofia.bg
Abstract—This paper looks at the different architectures and
technologies used to build systems for remote control of
electricity consumption. The advantages and disadvantages of
different technologies are presented. Remote energy monitoring
systems will be an integral part of future smart grids. In this
regard, the paper discusses the benefits that remote monitoring
systems can offer to both electricity suppliers and consumers. In
addition, future solutions using remote systems that will save
and use electricity and its energy sources are considered. The
report presents the structure and functionality of an embedded
remote metering system in Bulgaria. Finally, proposals are
made to maximize the benefits of building remote monitoring
systems and smart meters.
Keywords—energy metering, automatic meter reading (AMR),
smart metering, remote electricity meter, SMI
I. INTRODUCTION
The main tasks of the electricity distribution companies
are the preparation of bills, reduction of losses from
unauthorized use of electricity (theft), improvement of the
power quality, saving and efficient use of electricity. Taking
readings from meters is a costly and time-consuming task.
Metering is usually done by a meter reader who travels a long
distance each month to visit the client on site and manually
record the meter readings for the energy consumed. With the
advent of new technologies, power utilities can take advantage
of advanced communication technologies and smart devices
that can reduce metering costs and avoid the classic method of
accounting by replacing them with modern solutions such as
Automatic meter reading (AMR). AMR is a state-of-the-art
server-side remote data capture system that facilitates the
generation of various types of reports, including bills. The
system can provide the following advantages [1,2,3,4]:
• security;
• preparation of load profiles;
• digital data processing which saves time;
• makes no mistakes compared to on-site reporting
(human error);
• accounting for modern buildings with limited access
for security reasons;
• accounting for large-scale buildings and a large
number of meters for apartments that require a lot of
time and staff;
• saving time and transportation for determining
consumption for an area;
• provides voltage loss and recovery notices;
• provides notifications for thefts.
978-1-7281-2697-5/19/$31.00 ©2019 IEEE
Atanas Zahov, MSc. Eng.
Faculty of Electrical Engineering
Technical University of Sofia
Sofia, Bulgaria
Email: atanastz92@gmail.com
The AMR system overcomes many of the problems of the
classic metering method, but it needs to build an infrastructure
for automated data collection and transmission to a central
computer. As energy companies have different geographical
conditions, different network loads and different
communication facilities, the communication infrastructure is
different in each case. The communication link most
commonly uses several different network architectures
composed of data collection devices, hubs, and central data
collection devices located in the data center. The connection
can be made wirelessly or through cables [3,4,5,6].
Wireless communications are:
• ZigBee – for short distances;
• GSM/GPRS – for long distances;
• Radio frequency (RF).
Cable communication can be:
• With separate reading cable (part of SCADA);
• Through the Internet by cable (difficult to realize);
• By using power cables (Power Line Communication–
PLC).
In 2009, a group of providers formed the Power Line
Intelligent Metering Evolution (PRIME) alliance and created
the physical layer of orthogonal frequency-division
multiplexing (OFDM), which is the basis for the development
of PLC communication. In 2011, several companies,
including distribution network operators (ERDF, Enexis),
power meter suppliers (Sagemcom, Landis & Gyr) and chip
suppliers (Maxim Integrated, Texas Instruments,
STMicroelectronics), founded the G3-PLC Alliance to
promote G3-PLC technology. The G3-PLC is a low-layer
protocol that enables large-scale power grid infrastructure.
G3-PLC technology has been recognized as an international
standard known as G.9903.
Each of the above listed communication channels between
the measuring device and the data center of the Utility
Company has its own peculiarities. Here is a comparison of
different communication technologies according to the
following criteria: price, practical applicability, reliability,
distance range, communication protocol. The comparison is
given in Table I.
PLC technology is dominant in measurements in Europe.
In North America, the application of this technology is more
limited. This is due to the small number of customers
connected to one distribution transformer, which limits the
profitability of PLC data transmission technology.
 TABLE I. THE COMPARISION OF COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY The communication module may be different depending
on the AMR system.

Applicability
Expenditure
Technology

Reliability

Covering
There are three main components of AMR (Fig.2):

Protocol
stability
Least Very Very
PLC Low Low
Feasible High Stable
Most
GSM Low High High Stable
Feasible
Not
SCADA High High Low Stable
Feasible
Small Least
ZigBee Medium Low Low
Scale Stable
Small
WiMAX Medium Medium Low Stable
Scale
High if
Feasible
GSM
if GSM is
Mixed Varies Varies is a Varies
a part of
part of
it
it

Fig. 2. Example of AMR structure

In addition to the Table I, there are also satellite
technologies that are used in remote areas. These technologies The penetration of AMR into developed countries is
are still expensive for mass deployment. usually high. For some countries around the world,
penetration data are given in Table II.
II. AMR DEVICES AND SMART METERS (AMR AND
SMI) TABLE II. PENETRATION OF AMR IN SOME COUNTRIES

This section examines the device of AMR meters, the next Technology AMR devices Total devices %
generation of meters - Smart Meters and the respective
infrastructures that use these devices, respectively AMR and USA 70 800 000 151 300 000 46.8
SMI. France 33 250 000 35 000 000 95

A. Automatic Meter Reading - AMR Japan 55 000 000 Not info. Not info.

AMR meters have the following components (Fig.1): Serbia 216 000 Not info. Not info..

• current and voltage sensors; Austria 5 415 000 5 700 000 95

Denmark 3 280 000 3 280 000 100
• amplifiers;
Estonia 709 000 709 000 100
• ADCs for each of the measuring channels;
• energy-frequency multiplier and converter;
• microprocessor controller; B. Smart Metering and Infrastructure – SMI (Advanced
Metering Infrastructure)
• real-time clock; The next generation of measuring devices are Smart
• memory; Meters. A block diagram of the Smart Meter is given in Fig.3.

RTC
Part of the components are like AMR devices but in
P* addition there are the following elements:
Current
A ADC-I
sensor
Comm
Module
• Infrared communication port;
P
Filter
E-to-F
confersion
Micro
controller
• Local area network (LAN) communication port;
0 Voltage LCD
• Home area network (HAN) communication port;
sensor A ADC-U
Power
Supply • Specifying operating system instructions;
EEPROM
• Condenser allowing operation after power failure;
Fig. 1. Example of AMR device. • Internal memory;

• display; • Radio frequency identifier;

• power supply; • Theft sensor;

• communication module. • Local area network antenna.


Fig. 3. Example of Smart Meter [7].
The availability of Smart Meters also allows for the
following additional features beyond those listed at the
beginning [8,9,10,11,12]:
• provides voltage measurements, voltage alarms, and
continuous monitoring of power quality;
• allows remote programming and updating of the
device software;
• allows remote interruption and restoration of power
supply;
• allows for the restriction of loads and the use of the
“Time of use” tariff;
• forecasting of load profile;
• forecasting of photovoltaic electricity production.
SMI is a collection of systems and networks that are used
to measure, collect, store, analyze and use energy
consumption data (Fig.4). In other words, SMI includes smart
metering devices and all other infrastructure components,
hardware, software needed to offer advanced capabilities.
SMI covers infrastructure not only from meters to the
company, but also from devices to customers, allowing each
customer to analyze and use energy metering data. SMI also
makes energy metering data available to entities other than
utilities companies in support of providing solutions that meet
more common needs.
The usual SMI network uses a bidirectional
communication system and smart metering technology.
• The SMI system encompasses many technologies and
applications that are integrated into a single solution.
The four major components of SMI are [13] (Fig.4):
• smart metering devices;
• communication system;
• a system for managing the measured data;
• home area networks (HAN).
Fig. 4. Example of SMI Solution.
In addition, many SMI interfaces are required for other
systems and applications to use the information collected by
SMI, including load and production forecasting, rapid
interruption response, customer support, system operations,
and more [12,14].
Table III summarizes the main differences between the
two AMR and SMI systems considered.
TABLE III. DIFFERENCES BETWEEN AMR AND SMI [13]
AMR SMI
Additional functionalities, such as An infrastructure to collect, store,
remote firmware upgrades, HAN analyze, and utilize remotely
supports interval meter data
One-way communication Two-way communication
Variable data granularity
Monthly collection of data
supporting TOU pricing
Coverage limited to a small area
or a portion of a system
Whole-system coverage
Additional functionalities, such as
No additional function remote firmware upgrades, HAN
supports
One of the big advantages for home consumers is that they
have SMI e Home Area Network (HAN). A home zone
network or HAN is a network contained within a customer's
home or business that connects a qualified customer energy
monitoring device to a smart meter. This connection enables
the customer to monitor energy consumption in real time
through the energy monitoring device.
Using the network, you will be able to connect devices in
your home or business that can provide detailed information
on energy consumption, as well as help manage and monitor
electricity use [15].
Exemplary devices connected to the network are given in
Fig.5 and are:
 analysis (CBA) in Czech Republic had a negative result and
deterred the country from going ahead with a rollout.
Other notable smart meter projects continue in
Luxembourg, Portugal, and Norway
Over the coming decade, countries like Estonia, France,
Poland, Romania, Spain, and the UK are expected to join
Sweden and Italy in reaching near full smart meter penetration
[16,17].

TABLE IV. ELECTRICITY SMART METER SHIPMENTS

Fig. 5. Example of HAN.

1. Batteries;
2. Air conditioning;
3. (4, 12, 13) Smart appliances;
5. Control the thermostat;
6. Smart Meter;
7. Photovoltaic;
8. User interface;
9. Internet connection;
10. Energy Monitor (In-Home Energy Display);
11. Charging an electric vehicle;
14. Pool pump.
Many companies believe that SMI implementation has an
opportunity to build a common communications infrastructure
for all utilities. This requires good planning of its capacity and
security.
Source: Berg Insight, Smart Metering in Europe 2016
III. EUROPEAN SMART METERING SITUATION
According to a report by Berg Insight on Europe: Member States within Europe are at different stages of
Second wave of rollout is under way in Italy and Sweden. Smart Metering deployment and they are moving ahead at
different speeds – Fig.6
UK - project delays, false readings, and ROI concerns
continue to plague the nationwide rollout, though progress
continues.
Spain - the nation’s utilities continue large volume
installations, primarily via Endesa and Iberdrola, as the
country targets full penetration by 2018.
Germany - major deployments are set to commence in
2017 and will continue through 2032. This rollout will see an
estimated 7.5 million smart meters installed across Germany.
E.ON has announced that it is finalizing plans to deploy nearly
one million smart meters.
France - Enedis (formerly ERDF, France) phase II
deployment involves the installation of 4.6 million G3 Linky
smart meters, and is set to be completed in 2018.
In Eastern Europe, large-scale smart meter deployments
are in varying stages of deployment throughout Estonia,
Poland, and Romania among others. Latvia is doing a partial
rollout, and Lithuania has recently launched a pilot project. Source: GEODE-EU

Bulgaria does not plan a mandatory rollout. The cost–benefit Fig. 6. Smart Electricity Meters in the EU Member States.
 Countries that have mandated the smart meter roll-out are wire to the concentrator, after which the concentrator sends
shown on Table V. the data via the GPRS module to the data center.

TABLE V. REGULATORY POLICIES FOR SMART METERS ROLLOUT B. EVNs

The AMR system in EVN is built on GPRS
communication (Fig.6). Each of the meters sends the
information to the data center via its GPRS module.

Fig. 8. AMR architecture of EVN.

According to company data, the penetration of AMR

devices is given in Table VI.

Sourse: Berg Insight, Smart Metering in Europe 2016 TABLE VI. PENITRATION OF AMR IN BULGARIA

Company AMR devices Total devices %

The main benefits of SMI can be realized after processing, CEZ 350 000 2 100 000 17,5
analyzing and using the information collected to manage
power sources and electricity consumers. At present, there is EVN 1 020 000 1 700 000 60
no reliable information on the extent to which this is done in Energo-Pro 110 000 1 100 000 10
countries with developed SMI.

IV. AMR IN REPUBLIC BULGARIA

In the Republic of Bulgaria there are three electricity
distribution companies (CEZ, EVN and Energo-Pro), they are
those who are interested in building AMR systems. Here are
the schematic diagrams of their AMR systems.
A. CEZ
The AMR system in CEZ is built on PLC communication
(Fig.5). The concentrator is for collecting data from meters
and serves a group of 120 to 150 meters.
V. CONCLUCION
As can be seen from the presented data, in Bulgaria the
AMR systems have entered the distribution companies, but to
a different extent. The next generation of smart metering
infrastructure (SMI) systems are being deployed in developed
countries around the world. This infrastructure becomes part
of future smart grids. To deploy the benefits of SMI, it is
necessary to constantly work on algorithms and programs to
process and analyze the information collected. In this way,
decisions will be taken to optimize the generation,
transmission and consumption of electricity.
There is usually some kind of government regulation,
incentives and financial programs to implement SMI. This is
one way to save energy and combat climate problems.

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