Implementing an Advanced Meter Reading infrastructure using a Z-Wave compliant Wireless Sensor Network

The implementation of energy smart grids encompasses local area energy distribution to a fine grained network of locations. For many years, at this level of last mile energy consumption, smart grid management is an inexistent concept, because little (or none at all) feedback is given from final consumer installations to utility infrastructure. Traditionally because installed energy meters where purely electromechanical systems, energy metering has been addressed by manual methods with few automated processes. In recent years a number of new electronic interface meter have been installed. These modern meter equipments are able to store, process and communicate using digital data formats. In this context the Automated Meter Reading (AMR) together with Advanced Meter Infrastructure (AMI) concepts have fundamental importance to implement reliable, on-line/real-time evaluated energy grids. Implementing an AMI may be done using the infrastructure of digital interface meters, thus maintaining compliance with existing protocols and digital formats.