The new paradigm of metering in Portugal

Abstract

The electrical power sector has been in permanent development during the past decade starting from the wholesale market towards the retail segment. Following that trend, the metering activities have accompanied that progress, and reached their boom with the embracement of smart metering.In the recent past, the electricity grid was characterized by its verticality and unidirectional flow from generation to consumption. The interactivity with clients was nonexistent and there was no major need for providing information, apart from the strictly needed billing data. This paradigm suffered a remarkable adjustment, with the introduction of renewable energy connected not only to the transmission grids but also in to distribution grids. Indeed, renewable generation offered not only variable production to the grids, but also bidirectional energy flows. Furthermore, the emergence of smaller generators extended the challenge to the low voltage level (230 V) and the promotion of electricity efficiency, locally and internationally, through the European directives, namely the 20/20/20 target, has given a more active role to consumers in the electricity sector.The referred factors, together with the expansion in the grid, largely supported by the growth of renewable energy, resulted in more information to deal with and, subsequently, more systems to manage such data. Therefore, under this paradigm, the Inovgrid project was highlighted -EDP Distribuição designed an approach for its implementation, bearing in mind that clear value creation for customer must be both achieved and perceived. Moreover, as customer's reaction is of primary concern, frequent surveys are conducted near the target population, providing a deep understanding of the evolving perception. This method results in a more efficient and open relationship with the consumers. Furthermore, the Inovgrid project brought several benefits for the energy sector's value chain as a whole. Amongst them, the following can be emphasized: rigorous measurement of the monthly consumptions from low voltage costumers, putting an end the consumption's estimates; increasing the effectiveness of responses to various requests; contracted power optimization; allowing historical consumption analysis and online tracking of corrective measures to commercial and industrial customers; improving control over commercial losses. These are all relevant gains to social equity and to the economic and financial sustainability of the electricity system.All in all, we have travelled from a concept in which the customer was a user of services defined unilaterally and unidirectionally, to a client centric one, focusing not only economical on aspects but also on social and behavioural features. This vanguardist model allows a new approach on many aspects, namely, energy efficiency, CO2 reduction and smart consumption patterns which represent, above all, an active customer's need for information.