Advanced metering infrastructure

Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) integrates smart grid infrastructure with smart metering. AMI refers to systems that measure, collect, analyse and control energy distribution and usage, with the help of advanced energy distribution automation devices such as distribution network monitoring and controlling devices, network switching devices, load/source-shedding devices, electricity meters, gas meters and/or water meters, through various communication media on request or on a pre-defined schedule. This infrastructure includes hardware, software, communications, energy distribution-associated systems, customer-associated systems and meter data management (MDM) software.

The bidirectional communication network between the smart grid and metering devices and business systems allows collection and distribution of information to customers, suppliers, distribution network companies, utility companies and service providers. This enables these businesses to either participate in, or provide, demand response solutions, products and services.

Smart meters are the visible face of a new ICT infrastructure promoted by governments in many regions and countries of the world to improve energy efficiency. Smart metering systems allow electricity consumers to play an active role in the functioning of the electricity markets, and allow distribution networks to play an active role in the functioning of electricity systems, becoming “Smart Grids”.

Smart metering systems provide a gateway for the customer access to the new grid and, together with new, value-added energy services they may have a critical and positive effect on energy and power demand, demand response / load management and integration of distributed energy generation. There are many potential benefits attributed to smart metering systems for various stakeholders:
 ·  for energy end-users: better billing, decreasing energy use and energy costs through better information and increasing energy awareness, facilitation of supplier switch;
 ·  for metering companies or Distribution System Operators (DSOs): decreasing meter operation costs through remote data exchange;
 ·  for grid operators: preparing their grid for the future through better information and control;
 ·  for energy suppliers: introducing new, customer oriented services and reducing customer care and call centre costs;
  ·  for governments: reaching energy saving and efficiency targets and improving the operation of the free market.

Society as a whole may benefit through less and more efficient energy usage and the integration of distributed/renewable energy sources.

Smart metering is a revolutionary development that will radically change the way electricity markets work and generation and distribution are managed. The concept of Automatic Meter Reading (AMR) is rapidly evolving towards Smart multi-energy metering / multi-functional Advanced Multi-Metering Infrastructure (AMI). Smart metering systems will cover at least the following key applications:
  ·  remote data retrieval for billing and other metrological or fiscally relevant purposes concerning energy usage and, where available, energy generation;
  ·  collection of additional data regarding the operation of the meter and the network, including power quality, outage information, technical and non-technical losses;
  ·  sending configuration data to energy end-users, including contractual parameters, tariff schedules, pricing and operational information, time synchronization, firmware updating, etc.;
  ·  supporting advanced tariff and payment options;
 ·  remote enabling/disabling of supply, including flexible load limitation where and when system conditions require;
  ·  communication towards in-home systems, including appliances and local generation units, for the purposes of load management, cost control, etc.;
  ·  interface to home automation systems.

Some of these applications – including bi-directional energy metering, time-of-use metering, tariff- and load control, remote reading, and prepayment – have been provided by metering systems for a long time. They have gradually grown more sophisticated and the development of electronics, information and communication technologies allows all these advanced functions to be integrated in a single, cost-effective, multi-function device. However, in some scenarios a multi-part approach may prove to be useful.

The availability of all these advanced functions will allow energy suppliers and energy service and meter service companies to provide new services to create value for energy end-users and to increase operational efficiency and other benefits for all stakeholders.

In order to realize the full potential benefits of smart metering / AMI, nearly 100 % of industrial, commercial and domestic energy users should be equipped with smart meters. Nationwide large-scale roll-outs, such as the deployment of over 30 million smart electricity meters in Italy, have demonstrated the feasibility and the benefits that can be obtained.

The table below lists the available standards supporting the set (or a subset) of the smart metering use cases listed in IEC TR 63097:2017 Table 44. In addition, the interfaces (as defined in the reference architecture above) covered by the standards are listed. Further, the table shows which “layer” of the SGAM (Information, communication, component) is covered by the standard.

The standards listed below are available on  IEC webstore.