Energy conservation and smartgrids: New challenge for multimetering infrastructures

Operation of future power systems will be shared between central and distributed generators. Control of distributed generators will need to be aggregated to form microgrids or dasiavirtual' power plants to facilitate their integration both in the physical system and in the market. Even customers will be part of the ldquonetwork looprdquo, both producer and consumer of electricity = ldquoprosumerrdquo. New business models are imposing to favour the flexible integration of the different stakeholders and to overcome often conflicting interests. Forthcoming advanced meter management systems (AMM) may support rational management of different energy resources and provide optimized management of smart grids. However there is the need of the adoption of a set of widely accepted open standards capable of guaranteeing the interoperability of systems and devices produced by different manufacturers, supporting metering of electricity, gas, water and heat.