Smart Meters and Advanced Metering Infrastructure: Panacea to Nigeria’s Energy Billing and Monitoring Problem

Authors

  • Aniedu A. N Electronic and Computer Engineering, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka
  • Inyiama H. C Electronic and Computer Engineering, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka
  • Azubogu A.C.O Electronic and Computer Engineering, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka

Keywords:

Smart meters, GSM module, Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI)

Abstract

Smart metering is a major development in utility industries today especially the electricity industries. However, many benefits of smart metering have not been fully explored due to the limited functions of many installed prepaid meters in most developing countries including Nigeria. There is therefore the increasing focus on how prepaid meters can be aided to stay online through a network of Mobile Communication Infrastructure available in most developing countries. This paper discusses the basic benefits of the application of smart meters and Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) towards solving electric energy billing and monitoring problems in Nigeria. Also described is a preliminary design of Smart Energy Meter which was achieved using the following off-the-shelf components: Atmel microcontroller as the main controller for evaluating consumed electric power and Power Factor (PF), an ADE7756 metering IC for voltage and current transforming, a GSM module used for communicating to Management and Monitoring Module, and an LCD for displaying the root mean square (rms) values of voltage and current, consumed electric power, and PF.

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Published

2017-10-31

Issue

Vol. 11 No. 1 (2015): Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences

Section

Articles