Utilities

In Europe alone (EU23+2) there are some 253 million electricity meters, 109 million gas meters and 3 million district heating meters. ( Berg Insight (2009)) Consequently, meter reading and management of remote meters is one of the core fundamentals of the utility and energy sector.

As a basis for creating effective usage of energy and a sustainable energy distribution system, much focus is now placed on building “smart grids” – intelligent energy networks. One core component of the smart grids is to enable connectivity towards the meters in the grid, thereby enhancing the possibility to monitor and manage energy consumption in real-time.

The movement towards smart metering is partly driven by regulation and a recent EU initiative indicates that 80 percent of all electricity meters will be so called smart meters by 2020. Whilst the overall aim from an EU perspective is energy savings and movement towards a more environmental energy value chain, this new technology also provides a platform for fewer and less severe outages, reduction in energy network losses and a more efficient energy market.

The new generation of smart metering solutions not only makes remote meter reading possible but also provides a platform for various value adding services such as improved customer relations management and demand side management, important factors for an increasingly competitive energy market environment.

Smart metering systems usually include three main components: a connected meter, a communication network and data collection/management systems. Telenor Connexion is working closely towards both meter manufacturers as well towards providers of central data management systems to integrate GSM/GPRS connectivity solutions in the best possible way for large-scale deployments.