Definition
Advanced metering infrastructure is a two-way communication system between customers and energy suppliers. It involves data management, smart metering, and communication networks.
Advanced Metering Infrastructure Technologies
- Smart meters are digital devices that record water, gas, or electricity usage at frequent intervals. They also relay information to suppliers for monitoring and billing.
- Wide-area communications infrastructure collects data from smart devices and relays it to utility companies.
- A meter data management system (MDMS) is an extensive database that gathers, analyses, and stores the data collected from smart devices.
- Home (local) area networks (HANs) enable consumers to interact with their smart meters to get real-time information about their energy usage and even control the consumption of some home appliances.
- The operational gateway offers an interface between different protocols or networks in the AMI environment.