2018 3rd International Electrical Engineering Conference (IEEC 2018)

Feb, 2018 at IEP Centre, Karachi, Pakistan

Low Cost GSM based Smart Energy Meter Design: Capable of Demand Side
Management and Data Logging
Rana Asad Ali1*, Mudassir Hussain2* and Tahir Mahmood3*
*
Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Engineering and Technology Taxila,
Taxila, 47050, Pakistan (info@uettaxila.edu.pk)
1
rana_asadali@outlook.com 2 mudassir.mh1@gmail.com 3tahir.mehmood@uettaxila.edu.pk

Abstract: In this paper, design and fabrication of a low-cost multifunction smart energy meter, is proposed for
domestic electricity consumers. The proposed design of smart energy meter has been first implemented in software
environment and then a prototype model has been developed, which communicates the consumed energy data through
GSM network. In addition to this, time of use (TOU) metering, data Logging and the Demand Side Management
(DSM) during peak hours techniques are utilized in proposed design which will help utility companies to make
electricity metering system more efficient. The meter tampering detection feature is also added to handle power theft
challenges.

Keywords: Smart Energy Meter (SEM), GSM Network, Demand Side Management (DSM), Data Logging
ARM microcontroller-based AMR system has been
I. INTRODUCTION designed to send readings to utility company on special
Smart metering is possible because of continuous request [14]. An overview of smart metering; its
efforts and advancements in the electricity metering evolution, advantages and challenges are discussed in
methods [1]. Electronic Energy meters, reduced but did [15]. A ZigBee communication-based AMR system is
not completely eliminate the need to visit the customer proposed for billing and controlling purposes [17-19]. In
for meter reading. Therefore, an automatic meter [20], different electricity theft techniques have been
reading technique was introduced in [2-3]. AMR system specified and a GSM based prepaid meter has been
provides real time energy consumption of the consumers proposed. In [21], an automatic meter reading technique
and quick response service [4]. has been implemented with the help of Radio Frequency
Smart energy meter proposed in [5] may be used (RF) module. In [22] the major drawbacks of traditional
either in pre-paid mode or in post-paid mode. In [6], metering system have been discussed.
new design scheme is proposed keeping in view, the In this paper, a low cost multi-function Smart Energy
energy efficiency and convenience for the user. A smart Meter (SEM) is proposed using components as
metering approach using Arduino with ZigBee as described in section II. The proposed SEM sends all the
communication media to central PC server and GSM for measuring parameters including peak and off-peak
communication between utility and user is proposed in energy consumed through GSM network, implementing
[7]. A low cost smart metering system is proposed using the time of use tariff, DSM to limit the maximum
power line communication for billing and controlling demand and meter tampering alert.
purposes [8]. A smart energy meter is proposed with
GPRS communication technology along with the II. DESIGN OF PROPOSED SMART
development of In-home display using LabVIEW
ENERGY METER
software [9]. An advanced metering and billing system A. Software and Hardware Implementation:
is proposed utilizing an existing digital energy meter The major components of proposed SEM are:
and incorporating GSM modem with Arduino
• Arduino Mega 2560
microcontroller [10]. A smart metering system is
• GSM Module 900A
proposed using an existing electronic or digital energy
• Non-Invasive Split Core Current Transformer
meter with SMS sending capabilities using GSM
• LCD (20×4)
network for remote metering and billing purposes
• Real Time Clock (RTC, DS3231)
[11,12,16]. An automatic billing system is proposed
through GSM energy meter based on MCP3905A The Fig.1 shows the schematic diagram of SEM
metering IC and PIC16F877A microcontroller [13]. An simulated in Proteus 7.0 software.

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 • Check for Meter Tampering, if yes then store the
information in SD card and generate an alert.

III. EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS AND

DISCUSSION

A. Test under RL Load:

Fig. 1. Schematic diagram of proposed Smart Energy Meter The verification of results has been ensured by using
It can be seen in schematic diagram simulation that an analog Power Factor Meter and proposed SEM for
the incoming power supply is connected to a potential different RL load as shown in Table 1. The Fig. 2 show
transformer. A DC offset is applied to the output of the results on SEM LCD when RL load was connected.
potential transformer to make it compatible with the
TABLE 1. THE COMPARISON TABLE FOR RL LAOD
Arduino analog input voltage range. The
Observations
microcontroller performs the analog to digital Sr. Resistive and Smart Energy
Power Factor
conversion and calculates the root mean square voltage. No. Inductive Load Meter’s Power
Meter
Current Factor
Similarly, the analog to digital converter performs the
(i) 1.62A 0.96 0.95
same operation as done in voltage measurement and the (ii) 2.86A 0.86 0.86
root mean square value of current is measured. (iii) 3.66A 0.75 0.76
The relative time difference between the voltage (iv) 4.19A 0.66 0.67
waveform and current waveform is found by taking the
voltage waveform as the reference and the amount of
the angle or time by which the current waveform lags
provides the power factor information by detecting the
zero crossing of the voltage and current waveforms.
The proposed SEM measures peak and off- peak
energy separately with the help of Real Time Clock. The
Smart Energy Meter also saves peak and off-peak
Fig.2.Power Factor value is 0.66 at 4.19A Load Current
energy measurements in EEPROM. If power to the
Arduino gets cut off, the measurements are kept stored B. Time of Use Metering:
in EEPROM. A GSM network has been preferred in The proposed SEM displays ToU as shown in Fig. 3,
proposed SEM for communication purposes [23-24]. and this feature encourages consumer to shift from peak
B. Proposed Algorithm: to off peak-hours.
• Start and get the stored values from EEPROM.
• Measure the values of current and Voltage.
• Check whether the load is switched ON, if yes
then start noting the time.
• Measure the power of load.
• Check whether the time of use lies in Peak hours
or Off- Peak hours.
• Measure the Peak hours or Off- Peak hours energy Fig.3. ToU on SEM LCD

consumption respectively. C. Demand Side Management:

• Store the Energy values in EEPROM. SEM would help utilities to limit the maximum
• Data Logging in SD Card. demand. If load exceeds the predefined threshold value
• Send the SMS to Utility company through GSM during peak hours, it sheds the load as can be seen in
network. Fig.4. SEM waits for consumer to reduce the load and
• Display the results on LCD. switches the load on as shown in Fig.5. If the load
• Check for Maximum Demand limit during Peak remains unchanged then it again sheds, until load is
hours, if exceeds then shed the load. reduced.
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 F. SMS Result:
The Fig. 8 displays the messages that have been sent
by the proposed SEM and are received by the utility
company.

Fig.4. Message on LCD after Switching Off the Load

Fig.8. SMS sent by Smart Energy Meter

Fig.5. Message on LCD before Switching ON the Load

IV. COST DESCRIPTION
Table 2 gives the cost breakdown of proposed SEM
D. Meter Tampering Detection: as of January 2018.
To eliminate the illegal use of electricity, a lever Table 2. COST BREAKDOWN OF PROPOSED SMART ENERGY METER
switch has been placed inside proposed SEM. When
someone opens the SEM casing, the lever switch will Components Price ($)

get disconnected, Arduino will detect the change in the Arduino ATmega 2560 7
GSM Sim 900A 18
state of the lever switch, it will store the time and date RTC DS3231 1
of meter tampering in SD card, also generate an alert Current and Potential Transformer 10
LCD (20×4) 5
message as shown in Fig. 6.
Relay, Lever Switch and SD Card 3
Total Cost 44

V. CONCLUSION
This research paper describes in detail the designing
and development of smart energy meter. It accurately
measures the consumed peak and off-peak hours
Fig.6. Message on LCD after detecting Meter Tampering real-time energy, transmits it to utility company’s
control centre and plays a significant role in saving
E. Data Logging: energy during peak hours. The application of time of
An SD Card has been used to store the real-time use (ToU) metering will allow utility company to
loading and as well as meter tampering information. The implement multiple tariffs. In addition to this, the meter
data is first stored in the digital card before transmitting tamper alert and data logging features provide utility a
it to the utility company through GSM, if the SMS are greater control over energy theft issues.
not received by the utility company, then the utility
company can still access that particular reading through
this digital data storage card as shown in Fig.7. VI. ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The authors acknowledge the grant provided by
University of Engineering and Technology Taxila.

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Fig.7 Data Logging in SD Card
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