Monitoring and Protecting Smart Meter Circuitry and Communications
The smart grid is the next evolution of the utility framework that converges utility providers, telecommunications infrastructure and information technology. The ultimate goal is to allow seamless communication between utility companies and their end users for a true “end-to-end” smart grid. One of the key application elements of the smart grid is the smart meter located at the end-user’s location that is designed to allow two-way, real-time communication between the utility substation or headquarters and the user. Smart meters are hybrid devices combining measurement, processing, and recording with communication functions. Smart meters are available with numerous communication protocols to transmit resource consumption information via a network back to the local utility company for monitoring and billing purposes also known as telemetering.