The adoption of smart metering for energy and gas helps to automatically track “how much energy you are using” to enable you to “adjust the usage if necessary”. Aside from taking accurate measurements, “smart meters record a variety of data points on consumption”. This to a large extent, includes moments “when a resource is being used, how much is being used at a time, and where it’s being directed.” (Neil Cumins, 2023).
Discover what IOT OIL AND GAS SAFETY
At this moment, one of the most trending global headlines is the energy and gas industry, especially on smart metering.
Smart home energy management through metering has proven to be reliable in closely monitoring energy and gas usage in smart homes. Smart metering also saves money and optimising the management of energy and gas.
Understanding Smart Metering in Buildings
What is a Smart Meter?
Smart meters are devices that you can install in a house or a facility to enable the measurement and consumption of energy, gas, and water.
The designs of Smart meters are to measure such consumption using volumes of energy. For example, to measure energy or electricity consumption, they use kilowatt hours of electricity. To measure water, they use gallons of water. And for measuring gas, they use cubic feet of gas.
One unique feature of smart meters is that they have the capacity to display consumption details in real time. Also, they communicate all units over a network in real time.
What is Smart Metering?
To make it clear. Smart meters and smart metering are two different things. Smart meters are simply devices for taking measurements in real time.
On the other hand, smart metering refers to the overall infrastructure for monitoring, managing and controlling consumption. Smart metering, therefore, includes smart meters, networks, communication, infrastructure, consumers, etc.
Smart metering can be integrated in into buildings with the Building Management System (BMS) technology to power automation. BMS enables a great level of efficiency by automating functions. The system monitors and sends warning notifications when at peak use which is critical for high consumption.
Smart metering systems receive data sent from smart meters in real-time and near real time. These data are utilised to identify anomalies in energy consumption patterns. It also monitors energy-wasting equipment and usage in buildings.
Smart metering is helpful for two things; it helps in the identification of potential issues and offer remedy or solutions. It also helps the utility in knowing when energy demand is high. This also helps in managing waste.
IOT ASSET MANAGEMENT IN OIL AND GAS: A CRITICAL PERSPECTIVE
Who Can Benefit from Smart Metering?
As there are many people in a community, a village, a town, a city, a state and a country, so are there many stakeholders of smart metering. All users of smart metering are beneficiaries of the system.
In their research on Smart Metering for Intelligent Buildings, Natasa Zivic, Obaid Ur-Rehman, and Christoph Ruland identify the following beneficiaries;
Utilities
For real-time energy monitoring for smart Homes on the usage and consumption of electricity. They are also used for accurate billing and load profiles.
Electricity usage advisory companies
For the creation of customer awareness and for the promotion of energy conservation.
Insurance companies
They use smart metering for health care premiums, using users’ unusual behaviors.
Marketing Companies
They can use smart metering systems to get relevant customer data for designing effective marketing strategies.
Law enforcement agencies
Utilities and law enforcement agencies can fetch data from the system to investigate and identify illegal activities.
Civil litigators
For monitoring activities on-premises and identifying premises boundaries
Landlords
Landlords use smart metering systems to identify lease compliance and any unwanted activities on property by tenants
Financial Institutions, and Formal Organisations
Financial institutions use smart metering to verify and validate their customer’s address. Since the billing statement on their smart meters includes their home addresses.
Government and Private Investigators
They use smart metering systems to carry out investigations or monitor energy consumers on certain activities.
Creditors
Creditors may use smart metering systems to determine the creditworthiness of customers.
Smart Metering Technologies for Energy Management in Smart Homes
As the energy industry expands, there is an increasing need for robust customer services and customer satisfaction. The industry also needs to demonstrate reliability, help in saving costs and drive energy efficiency.
Over the years, stakeholders in the energy sector have adopted strategic ways of responding to and addressing customer needs. One of the most effective strategies is the implementation of Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI).
Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) for Smart Homes
For a solid foundation, AMI is playing a critical role in making improvements in the utility/metering system for offering efficient consumer services. Recently, the tool has evolved to become a top favourite for energy engineers and system planners.
In 2021, Advances in Computers defined Advanced Metering Infrastructure as; an “integrated system of smart meters, data management systems and communication networks that enable two-way communication between the utilities and the customers.” The technology is critical for remote monitoring and collection of customer data in real time.
How Advanced Metering Infrastructure Work for Energy Management in Smart Homes?
AMI is one of the smart energy metering solutions that allow smart homes to automatically monitor energy usage in real-time.
The system allows smart homeowners to be proactive by responding quickly to any change in demand. AMI is also very strategic in identifying any potential issue in the power grid to improve efficiency.
In smart buildings, the AMI system allows the owners managers, and consumers enough information on energy consumption. This information aids in improving decision-making and energy management.
AMI works with the meters; you can always measure the flow to customer connections where the MIU receives a hardwired signal and converts it to value. The value is stored before being transmitted to the information system.
Advanced Metering Infrastructure for Efficient Natural Gas Billing in Smart Homes
AMI for gas is an advanced technology that offers advanced methods for accurate readings, with precise measurement of the usage of gas.
The infrastructure uses smart meters, data management, and communication network software to gather and analyze data in real-time on gas consumption.
It is very different from the traditional metering system because it is powered by automation. It also eliminates the need for manual readings on gas consumption. Energyyourways opine that: “AMI enables utility providers and consumers to monitor consumption patterns, reduce waste, and improve overall operational efficiency”
Benefits of Advanced Metering Infrastructure and Smart Metering in Natural Gas Metering
There are several important benefits of advanced metering infrastructure in the natural gas sector. Let us take a quick look at some of them.
Improved Customer Service
AMI for gas offers consumers important information on their gas consumption. This enables consumers to make informed decisions on how they use their energy as well as how they can conserve it.
Detecting Leaks at an Early Stage
Gas Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) uses smart home energy management through metering and sensors for early detection of leakages.
This improves safety due to adequate monitoring of gas pipelines. When any potential issues are detected, the system sends a message for proactive repairs and maintenance.
Efficient Network Management
With AMI, there are better ways of managing the natural gas distribution network. This is possible with accurate data collection to enable utilities to identify all areas of high demand and high consumption.
The technology can also use data to pinpoint where there are network issues to efficiently allocate resources. These are best practices for ensuring proactive maintenance and reducing possible downtimes.
Cost Reduction and Revenue Protection
Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) for Smart Homes eliminates in-person meter readings because it uses an automated process.
The technology offers automatic gas and energy consumption monitoring with smart meters. This is cost-saving for utility providers. Also, when there is a system that provides accurate billing, there will be prevention of losses.
Importance of Energy Data Analytics in Smart Metering
As the world witnesses the widespread popularity of smart metering systems, so is energy data analytics gaining more and more popularity.
According to Naveen Kumar Thokala and Spoorthy Paresh, “Global utilities are likely to increase investments in smart meter analytics by three times between 2021 and 2030 to optimize the management of Distributed Energy Resources.”
These days, smart meter data analytics help in the forecasting of energy consumption, energy demands, predictive analysis, reduced cost and security awareness.
Here are some benefits of energy data analytics in smart metering systems.
Advanced-Data Analytics and Insights
Smart meters are capable of collecting granular energy consumption data on different levels of consumption. They use the data, having been analysed, to offer valuable insights into different usage patterns, demands and trends. However, this is not enough for efficient data utilisation as energy data analytics in smart metering offers better benefits. It offers proper data analysis and improved data interpretation.
Energy data analytics in smart metering is simply the use or deployment of advanced data analytics techniques or strategies (these include using advanced tools like machine learning algorithms and AI-powered predictive modelling) in a way that the decisions of utilities and consumers are positively impacted.
Preventive Solutions
Utilising energy data analytics in smart metering opens up opportunities for the identification of potential issues, inefficiencies, and abnormalities in consumer patterns. The technology also enhances proactive cultures or measures that will adequately address the issues.
In other words, it offers predictive maintenance services that allow early detection and early repairs of energy facilities. This benefit also helps in eliminating or reducing equipment or system downtime.
Helps to Improve Services
The wonders of applying energy data analytics in smart metering do not end there. It is an excellent tool and a game changer in helping utilities and energy distribution companies improve their services so as to meet customer demands.
For example, energy data analytics in smart metering offers real-time data that shows users’ demands, their consumption, and consumption patterns.
With such data in sight, businesses can design and implement programs or policies on energy management, subscription plans, monitoring services, and so on.
Also, such information can be utilized by smart metering systems in smart homes to efficiently manage energy consumption.
For example, sensors and other IoT tools can help automate the optimization of energy usage during peak hours. Also, the tool is very instrumental in helping consumers in balancing consumption during off-peak hours.
Better still, they can implement load management strategies.
Bonus Benefits – Sustainability Goals
An added benefit to all the aforementioned benefits, energy data analytics in smart metering is an essential tool and plays an important role in achieving sustainability goals.
Since it helps in all the areas mentioned above, both customers and utilities will work towards the best utilization of resources. easily adopt targeted conservation efforts and promote a more sustainable use of resources.
So, from all that we have revealed and discussed in this section, you will agree with us that energy data analytics in smart metering for smart homes offers several values in the energy industry.
Most importantly, the insights derived from large amounts of data are just perfect for your energy management goals.
So, if you thinking of energy tools for usage tracking and analysis for smart homes, reach out to us and we will offer you the best.
Discover the IOT AND AI FOR SMART MANUFACTURING
The Future of Smart Metering Technologies for Energy Management
Thanks to evolving connectivity innovations, particularly IoT, smart metering is improving. We can delegate some of our decision-making to automation supported by machine learning if meters are connected to the systems that manage the resources they are measuring.
For instance, a smart meter connected to a thermostat could enable the thermostat to decide when to adjust the heat based on changing energy prices.
Smart meters can also be used on a variety of machines and devices, giving businesses the ability to control their power usage by machine.
Devices that need to be refilled with consumable resources are another potential application. An IoT device can automatically order a refill when smart meters notice that a resource is about to run out.
Going forward, the more the number of smart meters connected to utility companies’ infrastructure, the more there will be quality data on user consumption.
This will, of course, help in the management of power grids in more effective and efficient ways.
Real-time data on performance and potential issues will prompt managers to take quick actions and informed decisions that will serve as preventive repairs.
Energy and Gas Management with Smart Metering for Smart Homes: Our Conclusion
All indications show that we are heading to a future that will be brightened by smart metering systems. and as we look into that future, we may also remember that IoT and automation with smart meters promise even greater efficiency and control.
Smart meters connected to various devices and systems allow users to enjoy several benefits. But smart metering systems offer better and even higher benefits.
These include smarter decision-making, responsive adjustments based on changing energy prices, and the potential for automated resource management. And how can we forget the exceptional role of energy data analytics in smart metering systems?
Therefore, our last words in this blog will be that, since we are now in a world where data is king, we can never underemphasise the importance of smart metering technology in the energy and gas industry.
Technology is surely poised to play important and leading roles in transforming the energy and gas industry. Apparently, it is evolving to drive innovation, cost reduction, and sustainability.
So, if you’re considering energy tools for usage tracking and analysis in your smart home, the choice is clear: embrace smart metering and unlock the full potential of efficient energy and gas management.
Have any questions or consultations? You are only just a click away.
FAQs on Smart Metering for Energy and Gas for Smart Homes
Do Smart Meters Monitor Gas and Electricity?
Yes, they do, in fact, they have smart display features that allow consumers to monitor they are energy and gas consumption in real-time.
This includes the quantity they are using and the cost. With smart meters also comes an automatic reading function which even makes the whole monitoring process easier for you.
What are Smart Meters for Smart Homes?
Smart meters for smart homes are meters that are different from traditional meters. These meters are powered by automation and allow for remote communication to take place in real-time.
What is a smart meter?
As we describe in the blog, Smart meters are devices you can install in a house or a facility to enable measurement and consumption of energy, gas, and water.
Smart meters measure such consumption using volumes or energy. For example, for measuring energy or electricity consumption, they use kilowatt hours of electricity. For measuring water, they use gallons of water. For measuring gas, they use cubic feet of gas.
One unique feature of smart meters is that they have the capacity to display consumption details in real-time. Also, they communicate all units over a network in real-time.
How is what is smart metering different from smart meters?
Also, in the blog post, we said that;
Smart meters and smart metering are two different things. Smart meters are simply devices for taking measurements in real-time.
On the other hand, smart metering refers to the overall infrastructure for monitoring, managing, and controlling consumption. Smart metering, therefore, includes smart meters, networks, communication, infrastructure, consumers, etc. Read the blog post to get more details on the differences.
