GSM enabled smart energy meter and automation of home appliances

Electrical utilities are suffering from huge losses due to power theft, inadequate usage of energy, unpaid bills, distorted power quality. Many viable solutions are proposed out of which smart energy metering, energy management system and smart home automation are some that seems to be potent enough. These technologies are presently used by developed countries. Under meter data acquisition system of Restructured Accelerated Power Development and Reform program (R-APDRP) scheme in the year 2009-10, India plans to develop Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI). But no effort has been made to develop an economic model for the customers which would play a key role in better acceptance of the scheme. In this paper, a smart energy system for the residential customers is developed and a smart switch board which can curtail the need to upgrade to smart appliances to make the system more economic. Further, a Virtual Instrumentation has been developed which can be operate in any computer to function as In Home Display (IHD) for Energy Management System (EMS).