A roll-out programme to introduce smart electricity meters into consumers’ homes starts in 2012
The department of energy and climate change is planning to start a roll out programme to introduce smart electricity meters into consumers’ homes in 2012. The programme is expected to run through until 2020 with the aim of helping customers to reduce their energy bills.
The smart meter will give customers information on energy consumed via a visual display and be capable of sending metering information to the energy supplier regarding the electricity consumed by the customer without the need of a meter reader.
This should put an end to estimated bills. It will also give customers information on any energy sold back to the energy supplier where the customer has a microgenerator installed such as a wind turbine or solar panels. (PV)
What is a smart meter?
A smart meter is an electricity energy meter that incorporates a communications unit. The meter will measure the energy consumed and also measure any energy exported to the electricity network (where the consumer has microgeneration, such as a wind turbine or solar photovoltaic panels). The big difference is that the smart meter does not require a meter reader to visit the premises.
It is understood that smart meters will use wireless technology to communicate between the meter and the communications hub within the premises. To transmit the meter reading data to the energy supplier a number of communication options such as radio, power line transmission (PLT), or mobile phone technology could be used. It is expected in most cases, however, that mobile phone technology will be the option used. A smart meter system may also be capable of controlling the consumers load in the future by sending signals to consumers appliances to switch off at peak times etc. It is also expected that the smart meter will be capable of providing flexible tariffs.
To view the full article from the IET's Wiring Matters Summer 2010, click on the attachment below.