A Method for Noninvasive Remote Monitoring of Energy Meter Error Using Power Consumption Profile

A Contemplation on Electricity Meters In-Service Surveillance Assisted by Remote Error Monitoring

“…An adjustment (multiplicative) coefficient (meter constant) can be then determined for every meter minimizing the difference between the sum energy of all observed meters and energy measured by sum (reference) meter. Other methods [3][4][5] also rely on a reference meter (installed in the sum meter of the subgrid location), but individually selected meter's readings are synchronously compared with energy consumption at the sum meter. In [3], an injected 10 W load is suggested while the method described in [4,5] utilize natural power usage changes due to consumer activities.…”

“…Other methods [3][4][5] also rely on a reference meter (installed in the sum meter of the subgrid location), but individually selected meter's readings are synchronously compared with energy consumption at the sum meter. In [3], an injected 10 W load is suggested while the method described in [4,5] utilize natural power usage changes due to consumer activities. The common feature of these already introduced techniques is that meter error estimation uncertainty is significant.…”

“…During exploitation (in-service) the meter can be inspected in a certified lab or on-site only in response to consumer complaints or suspicion by the energy provider. Recently, various remote [3][4][5], built-in [6], based on automatic meter reading data [7] meter error monitoring techniques have emerged and are gaining more interest for implementation in smart energy meters. These new technologies introduce an opportunity to monitor meter error nearly constantly.…”

“…However, remote error monitoring systems are not yet traceable to any power or energy units. For example, the approaches introduced in [3][4][5] include a traceable reference meter, but it also includes fluctuating media (distribution grid with all consumers' loads), whose unpredictable and random nature prevents achievement of error estimation (error measurement) traceability. Moreover, the uncertainty of remote monitoring is way larger than achievable in certified laboratories.…”

“…For example, in the use case presented in [8] the uncertainty of remotely assessed meter multiplicative correction factor (adjustment gain) was found 9.4% assuming the nominal value of correction factor is equal to 1. A 0.63% power measurement error uncertainty of a Class 1 meter is reported for the noninvasive error monitoring technique described in [5]. Therefore, a methodology for how to include experimental measurement uncertainty in the conformity assessment decision rule is demanded as opposite to in-laboratory verification where reference instrument uncertainty is neglected due to its small size compared to the permissible error limits of a meter under test (MUT).…”