Evolution of electricity meters

Abstract

This chapter describes the evolution of electricity meters from electromechanical meters to modern smart meters. The operation principle of a typical electromechanical meter is well described with illustrations and calculations. The drawbacks of electromechanical meters are also highlighted. The operations of reactive energy meter and maximum demand meter are also discussed. The technological evolution from solid state electronic meters to smart meters is discussed. The importance of smart meters in modern energy measurement is highlighted. The basic hardware structure of a modern smart meter is illustrated. A broader discussion is done about the hardware components inside a smart meter including voltage and current sensors, power supplies, energy measurement, microcontroller, real time clock and communications. Importance of standardization of smart meters is described.