Locating and Sizing Smart Meter Deployment in Buildings

Abstract

The use of smart-meters is proliferating, they are now being deployed without asking the obvious question: Do we really need each of them? Beyond the cost of smart-meters, there are overheads related to installation, wiring, etc. To formally tackle this question, we first define the notion of observability that one or more pieces of information (including that from smart-meters) enable. This notion allows us to compare two different deployments of sensors with respect to their information content and their usefulness. We then examine some commonly available information from which one can infer power consumption of devices in a given space. We show how we have applied this approach to systematically decide the optimal number and location of smart-meters to ensure observability of consumption by different parts of a building. General TermsSmart Energy

Identifying Metering Hierarchies with Distance Correlation and Dominance Constraints

“…Modern buildings often incorporate multiple energy sensors which are typically laid out according to a hierarchy [1]. For instance, we might have a main meter at the "edge" of a building, and then meters on individual floors, or associated with risers.…”