Metering Management

Smart Energy Meters

AMI meters or smart meters provide effecting utilisation and
management of metering data, automatic management of meters, two-
way communication with meters, demand response capabilities ...

S
mart energy meter is an electronic device that prepayment meters expected to grow more than the
measures the most accurate amount of electricity overall growth rate, at a CAGR of 15.1%, and smart
consumed by a residence, business or any meters expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.3%. However,
electrically-powered device. A smart meter is reliable the market for meters is expected to witness explosive
source for most accurate information of consumed growth subsequent to 2022, when the proposed civil
energy that reduces the chance of error in the existing works for smart cities and smart grids will near
billing system to minimal. completion, paving way for a robust
Smart meter comprise first- demand for smart meters.
generation smart meters or AMR Particularly, smart meters are
meters and second-generation expected to see a double digit growth
meters or AMI meters. AMR meters once bottlenecks surrounding the
provide for self-health check of smart grid projects are cleared.
the meter, data communication Demand for electronic meters
using secure and open standard dominates the market for meters and
protocols, periodic upgrade of will continue due to replacement
meter software remotely over the market for electrochemical and old
transmission network, multi-utility meters and orders from power
metering capabilities, consumption utilities. Of this, power utilities
data acquisition and demand account for nearly 90% of the revenue
management and control. generated from sale of tariff meters.
Comparatively, AMI meters or Additionally, due to various initiatives
smart meters provide effecting of the Government for efficient
utilisation and management of utilization of present generation
metering data, automatic capacity, such as the ‘perform,
management of meters, two-way communication with achieve and trade scheme’ for high energy consuming
meters, demand response capabilities and further industries, panel meters are expected to witness
provides data to implement energy efficiency practices. nearly a 12% growth, coupled with energy efficient
solution systems. Renewable integration and energy
Smart Meter Includes
management practices will also fuel the growth of
a, Meter, which is used to measure the flow of
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panel meters during 2016-2020.

electric power from input to the output terminal.
b. LCD Display, which is used for displaying readings HPL Electric & Power Ltd Pioneering
of the parameters that are being metered and Metering Space
c. Communication, which is present in modern HPL Electric and Power Ltd an established electric
electricity meters, which is used for one-way or equipment manufacturing company in India,
two-way communication of information with the manufacturing a diverse portfolio of electric
billing utility equipment, including, metering solutions, switchgears,
During 2016-2020, the overall market for electricity LED lighting and wire & cables, catering to consumer
meters is expected to grow at a CAGR of 11.5%, with and institutional customers in the electrical equipment

160 Electrical India | February 2018

 Metering Management
Table 1: Meters manufacture & categorized based on their end-use
Domestic application Industrial Application
Single phase / three phase, whole current counter / LCD type meters Digital Panel meters
Dual source projection metering solutions Digital energy meters
Special long range metering solutions LT Tri-vector meter
Smart metering solutions Single module meter
Prepayment metering solutions Multi-function meter
DLMS metering solutions Load manager and demand controller
RF / Optical port / LPR meters Power factor control and regulators
Prepayment metering solutions
DLMS metering solutions
Long range integrated metering solutions
Net metering solutions
Smart metering solutions

industry. HPL manufacturing capabilities are to be supplied to a particular consumer), net metering
supported by a large sales and distribution network solutions and transformer metering solutions remote
with a pan-India presence. The company currently communication facilities. All our tariff meters are
manufacture and sell its products under the umbrella certified by the BIS as conforming to the Indian
brand ‘HPL’, which has been registered in India Standards Index.
since 1975. Set forth in Table 1 are certain meters that we
The company has one of the widest portfolios of manufacture, categorized based on their end-use, as
meters in India. It has a whole range of metering domestic and industrial.
solutions with advance communication interfaces like The market for meters in India was estimated to be
LPRF (low power radio frequency), GSM/GPRS, IrDA, ` 3,000 crore in fiscal 2015, with organised participants,
Modbus, Ethernet. In addition, HPL supply their contributing to over 80% of the total market. There
products to power utilities, which primarily includes has been a continued and visible shift from demand
supply of meters under direct contractual for traditional meters to demand for metering
arrangements to electricity boards and power solutions, which helps in energy management as
distribution companies, as well as through project compared to mere monitoring and billing
contractors. functionalities. During 2016-2020, the overall market
HPL strong research & development capabilities for electricity meters is expected to grow at a CAGR of
have enabled it to keep it abreast of technological 11.5%, with prepayment meters expected to grow
developments in the electric equipment industry. The more than the overall growth rate, at a CAGR of
company’s research and development efforts include 15.1%, and smart meters expected to grow at a CAGR
design and development of all types of energy of 5.3%. However, the market for meters is expected
metering solutions, including interactive to witness explosive growth subsequent to 2022,
communication between metering devices and when the proposed civil works for smart cities and
metering infrastructure that includes AMR and AMI, smart grids will near completion, paving way for a
prepayment metering solutions, solar net metering robust demand for smart meters. Particularly, smart
solutions, smart meters with two way communication meters are expected to see a double digit growth
and a complete range DLMS compliant meters, once bottlenecks surrounding the smart grid projects
amongst others, and technologies and solutions that are cleared.
allow for active monitoring of energy consumption for The market for electricity meters is growing in
electric equipment. India and initiatives of the Government such the Deen
The company’s portfolio of meters includes single Dayal Upadhaya Gram Jyoti Yojna and Integrated
phase, three phase and LTCT/HT energy meters, Power Development Scheme are expected to give
smart meters, panel meters, prepayment meters impetus to the meter market.
(whereby a monetary limit can be set on the electricity Credits: HPL Electric & Power

Electrical India | February 2018 161