Traditional meters present both the users and utilities providers with various challenges in developing countries. For instance utility providers must get access to their users' premises to be able to read these meters or check fraudulent connections. Users on the other hand have to wait for months or more before knowing their utility consumptions or join long queues to purchase credit for the post-payment and prepayment meters respectively. This paper seeks to propose a design that retrofits traditional meters on site into smart meters by adding embedded units for communication and control. The study was conducted using a modified Design Science Methodology referred to as Retrofit Design Science Research Methodology (RDSRM). RDSRM argues that, the artifact in context (Smart Meter) has undergone evaluation and acceptance as critical for solving a defined problem and that there are enough literature to support its relevance. The traditional meters were studied and the proposed system was designed using General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) technology for communication, and Peripheral Interface Controller (PIC). Network based applications were developed to present both the consumers and the utilities with the ability to interact with the meters remotely. An attempt was made to address identified security issues of smart metering by using Message Digest 5 (MD5) Algorithm in the design. The system was evaluated based on smart metering requirements. The GPRS Retrofitted Smart Metering System (GRSMS) will reduce the cost of deploying smart meters.
Smart metering has emerged as the next-generation of energy distribution, consumption, and monitoring systems via the convergence of power engineering and information and communication technology (ICT) integration otherwise known as smart grid systems. While the innovation is advancing the future power generation, distribution, energy consumption information delivery, the success of the platform is positively correlated to the successful integration and stability of technologies upon which the system is built. Nonetheless, the rising trend of cybersecurity attacks on cyber infrastructure and its dependent systems coupled with the systems inherent vulnerabilities present a source of concern not only to the vendors but also the consumers. These security concerns need to be addressed in order to increase consumer confidence so as to ensure greatest adoption and success of smart metering. In this paper, we present a functional communication architecture of the smart metering system. Following that, we demonstrate and discuss the taxonomy of smart metering common vulnerabilities exposure, upon which sophisticated threats can capitalize. We then introduce countermeasure techniques, whose integration is considered pivotal for achieving security protection against existing and future sophisticated attacks on smart metering systems.
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