Electricity metering

Electricity trading involves billing for energy, and therefore metering. The immaterial nature of the product and the impossibility of storing it are key factors in this metering activity.

A meter always comprises three functional assemblies:

• a device for measuring electrical quantities: it's important to know which electrical quantity will be measured, and with what performance. In all cases, the meter provides access to power or energy quantities, since this is its very purpose;

• a processing unit: the electrical quantity is rarely used in raw form; it is processed to a greater or lesser extent, with reference to its final use, which may be sale on the basis of a price or tariff, or contractual monitoring of a quantity. In addition, the quantity must be memorized and stored securely;

• external interface(s). The meter is designed to provide information. Historically, the only access to information was via the dial(s). Today, particularly in the case of so-called "communicating" or "smart" meters, the meter most often includes an integrated modem.

More generally, the term "metering system" is used to designate all the equipment used for energy metering and associated data collection, the meter being one of the most important pieces of equipment.

From an industrial point of view, the metering field should be segmented as follows:

• industrial and residential meters:

  • the former offer more sophisticated functions in view of the underlying business issues,

  • the latter must first and foremost remain reliable but inexpensive products;

• electromechanical and electronic meters:

  • the first, more numerous, are no longer the subject of specific development,

  • the latter are gradually replacing the former, and are now competitively priced, even without taking advantage of the new functions they offer. They are the driving force behind innovations in the field.