ZigBee-GSM based Automatic Meter Reading system

Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) as the power utility company have to deliver good services to their customers. Metering method is one of the problems that TNB have to overcome. Automatic Meter Reading (AMR) technology has proved effective in reading meter readings with TNB's large customers (LPC, Large Power Customers). Global System for Mobile communication-based (GSM) AMR technology is used. Here GSM module is attached to each LPC's meter, and data reading can be done automatically without visiting the customer's sites. The same way can be done with their domestic customers (OPC, Ordinary Power Customers), but the cost would be quite high since the numbers of OPC quite big. In this paper we described the AMR technology with least cost. The system is a combination of ZigBee and GSM technology. In this propose system, ZigBee module will be attached to the meter by using interface board and the data collector will be connected to the central computer by using GSM. The system is suitable with Malaysian environment which was already implemented GSM-based AMR in LPC. With this system TNB can save cost in doing meter reading and provide better services to their customers.