Smart meters implementation turns the tables in the electric utilities sector. These IoT devices are gaining widespread adoption across numerous households and businesses by offering real-time insights into energy consumption.
IoT-based Electric utilities in the US already have over 111 million smart meters, making up 69% of all installed electric meters. The same applies to the UK, where the number of advanced meters implemented is about 29.5 million, 52% of all electric meters.
From cost-effectiveness to sustainability — the benefits of smart meters are undeniable. In this post, we’ll get a more in-depth look at what advantages these high-tech devices offer businesses and how to implement them.
As an experienced IoT software and hardware development vendor, WebbyLab has worked extensively with smart metering solutions. We implemented them in 2Smart Standalone and MyBox projects and can tell you more about their prospects for businesses.
An Internet of Things-based smart meter is an electronic device that measures and records electricity, gas, or water consumption data in real-time and sends that information to the utility provider.
Let’s see what makes it different from any other conventional meter.
The main distinction between a utility smart meter solution and a regular meter is their communication capabilities. A smart meter offers two-way communication features and advanced data collection, while a conventional one can only measure energy usage.
One of the core smart meter advantages is using wireless or wired networks to transmit data directly to the utility provider, eliminating the need for manual meter readings. They also offer real-time information about energy use, enabling customers to monitor their usage patterns and adjust their behavior to reduce consumption.
In contrast, traditional meters require manual reading, which can be time-consuming and prone to errors. They also provide limited information on energy consumption, with customers only receiving periodic bills based on estimated usage.
Smart meters significantly outperform traditional ones. The benefits of smart meters for customers are that they provide improved measuring accuracy and energy efficiency, leading to a better customer experience. Let’s consider the smart meters benefits in greater detail.
With smart meters, businesses can gather real-time data on energy usage, which allows them to identify inefficiencies and areas of excess consumption. Using the collected insights, they can implement energy-saving strategies, resulting in tangible cost savings.
Smart meters allow businesses to track their energy usage more accurately, enabling them to optimize their operations and reduce waste. It can lead to increased efficiency and productivity and a more sustainable approach to business.
Smart metering IoT solutions offer continuous and automatic data collection, allowing for a more accurate energy usage measurement. As a result, companies can benefit from more precise billing and improved energy management.
One of our projects, MyBox, a platform for an EV charging station manufacturer, covers processes such as data transfer, accurate measurement of energy usage, and billing.
We have developed a business platform that enables connecting an unlimited number of devices, namely meters, through suitable firmware. This firmware contains parameters for connecting to our MQTT broker and a unique Device ID for each counter instance.
If necessary, the meter telemetry of each end user can be downloaded to their external personal account, where resource usage statistics will be displayed, and payment for services will be made. Thus, our MyBox app enables accurate measurement of energy consumption and a convenient billing process.
A dashboard of a MyBox platform.
With access to detailed energy usage data, businesses can better plan and forecast their energy needs, helping them to avoid unexpected surcharges or shortages. Companies can also negotiate more reasonable energy rates with suppliers.
IoT-based smart meters provide businesses with the data to identify areas of high power consumption and implement sustainability initiatives to reduce their carbon footprint. As a result, smart meter eco benefits also involve improving the company’s reputation and helping businesses gain customers’ loyalty.
One of the advantages of smart meters for electric companies is that it can help businesses deliver a better customer experience by providing more accurate billing information and reducing the likelihood of estimated bills. Thus, companies will receive fewer customer complaints and improve their satisfaction levels.
While benefits of smart metering are apparent, these IoT solutions come with some risks. Here are a few of the concerns:
Since smart meters connect to a network, they are vulnerable to hacking and cyber-attacks. If a smart meter is compromised, it could lead to unauthorized access to personal information or disruption of energy services.
Smart meters collect detailed energy usage data, potentially revealing personal information about a business’s or household’s activities. This data could be misused or exploited if not appropriately protected.
Another potential risk with smart meters is poor signal strength or connectivity issues. It’s especially true for those meters that rely on wireless connections. If the signal is weak or interrupted, it can lead to inaccurate or incomplete data.
Yet, companies can mitigate these risks by properly implementing smart meter technology. For example, strong data privacy protections and cybersecurity measures can help to prevent unauthorized access to personal information.
If you want to implement such an IoT device as a smart meter into your system, you need to follow the next steps:
1. Plan the Implementation
The first step in implementing IoT-enabled smart metering is to develop a plan that outlines the goals of your project. It should include a timeline for implementation, a budget, and a scope of work.
2. Build the Infrastructure
Smart metering requires an advanced communication infrastructure to transmit energy usage data from the meters to the utility company. Thus, you need to upgrade your existing infrastructure or build one from scratch, which can involve installing new communication devices, sensors, routers, etc.
3. Install the Smart Meter
The next step is to install smart meters in homes and businesses. It can involve coordinating with customers to schedule meter installation appointments and implement the meters correctly.
4. Determine the Data Management Means
Smart meters gather and store large amounts of data, so you should cover its management and analysis needs. It may require the implementation of new software and data management systems.
5. Test the Smart Metering System
Once you have installed smart meters and covered the software part, you should test your system to ensure its proper operation and accurate data collection. You should also address any identified issues before full deployment.
6. Provide Ongoing Maintenance and Support
After you have deployed your IoT smart metering system, you should provide continuous maintenance and support. It may involve monitoring the meters for malfunctions, providing technical support to customers, and upgrading the system to keep up with changing technology and customer needs.
WebbyLab’s smart home automation solution 2Smart Standalone allows electricity, gas, water, and heat smart meters to be implemented. Our team can do this through various communication protocols and means, including Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NB-IoT, LPWAN, GPRS, Zigbee, Modbus, Z-Wave, and KNX.
We usually need an additional device to connect smart meters, a gateway supporting the necessary communication protocol. Or our experts can connect the meter with 2Smart Standalone by writing a software bridge to support the protocol.
After connecting IoT-enabled smart meters to 2Smart Standalone, the smart home user can display their readings on a dashboard and develop automation scenarios based on the data received. For example, the customer can receive alerts about suspicious things like a uniform flow of water, which may indicate a leak. The dashboard also allows users to take readings at any time remotely.
A dashboard of a 2Smart Standalone smart home automation platform.
The only obstacle to smart meters implementation is whether the utility service provider will allow the collection of energy consumption data. However, customers can use such devices within their smart homes if their security policy doesn’t restrict this.
As you can see, the benefits of smart meters are undeniable for both electric utilities and companies. By providing real-time data on energy usage, these devices can improve billing accuracy, reduce meter reading costs, and enable more precise management of energy supply and demand.
If, after learning about the main features of smart meters and discovering the core implementation steps, you’re looking for a reliable partner to cover the metering system installation tasks, WebbyLab is here to help.
We’ll thoroughly study your project requirements and suggest viable solutions using our extensive experience with smart metering systems and IoT prototype implementation. Our team will provide top-notch software and hardware development services to reduce your utility bills and increase productivity. Got interested? Feel free to get in touch with our experts.
Written by:
Head of IoT at Webbylab
With a robust academic background in Telecommunication Systems Engineering, I apply my knowledge to lead innovations in the IoT domain. Starting as the first team member in the newly formed IoT department at WebbyLab, I've spearheaded its growth, fostering the expansion into embedded and hardware development alongside our core software projects. My dedication lies in pushing the boundaries of IoT technology, fostering a culture of innovation and excellence that profoundly impacts our clients' operational success.
The cost of creating your smart metering system can vary widely depending on several factors, such as the scale of the project, the type of technology used, and the level of customization required. You’ll face hardware, software, and installation expenses ranging from a few hundred dollars to several thousand.
Smart meters don’t necessarily need Wi-Fi to function. While some use Wi-Fi to transmit energy consumption data, others can employ different communication methods like power line communication (PLC) or cellular networks.
The advantages of smart meters for businesses include cost savings, better decision-making, more accurate billing, sustainability, improved efficiency, and enhanced customer experience.
Smart metering solutions will likely develop in cybersecurity, IoT, distributed energy resources, and advanced analytics. These technologies will also experience increased adoption across households and businesses.
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