The history of mankind has witnessed that every revolutionary change in the social, economic, and business world is due to some kind of crisis.
COVID 19 showed us that we can rely much more on modern technology and our presence in a certain place does not have to be physical. It is in the last two years that we have turned much more to the digitalization of every aspect of our lives, but also of our businesses. We started with the most basic processes – communication and internal processes, but over time we began to feel a much greater need to deepen digitalization in organizations.
Today, record high electricity prices around the world show us why we need to pay serious attention to the way we consume and plan electricity consumption and how important monitoring and control systems are. They contribute not only to optimizing costs but also to creating an energy efficiency strategy.
The idea of energy efficiency aims to minimize the amount of energy consumed without compromising the quality of life and without hindering the economic development and social well-being of society. More broadly, energy efficiency aims to avoid energy losses; recycling of various wastes and/or their reuse; reducing energy demand by using more modern technologies without reducing production; use of renewable energy sources.
Digitalization and energy efficiency can happen with various solutions. Below we are going to present to you some of the technologies most widely implemented in companies and with proven success rates. Because we believe that not only discussions, strategies, and policies are necessary (although they certainly facilitate the process), but rather use cases, which are more helpful for companies to decide which way to go, which technology to use, and who to trust for providing it.
Navigation links:
- Smart Metering System – Better Control and Monitoring of The Entire Metering Infrastructure
- Smart Metering System by ADD Bulgaria – Benefits and Advantages
- Electrical Infrastructure Monitoring by ADD Bulgaria – Benefits and Advantages
- Smart Metering System – How It Helps the Business and the Public Sector
- Smart Electricity Metering System and Monitoring System – Who Is It For
- Applications
Smart Metering System – Better Control and Monitoring of The Entire Metering Infrastructure
A smart metering system is an electronic and communication system that can measure energy consumption, providing more information than a conventional meter. It can transmit and receive data for information, monitoring, and control purposes, using the power line as a means of communication.
Smart meters objectively track the energy usage of utilities, generated by connected systems or outlets. For example, a smart meter connected to a natural gas pipeline tracks the number of hot springs used in the system. The “intelligent” function of the meter allows you to control the flow of resources used, such as natural gas, water, and electricity. The smart side also allows you to control the meter remotely.
Smart metering is a way to track the amount of energy your company is using and allows you to adjust your consumption as needed. In addition to measuring consumption, smart meters record several data points about consumption. For example, when a resource is being used, how much is being used at the same time, and where the resource is directed. The data is transferred to the central software platform over the internet, the power line, or via RF signal, where it is visualized. where you can see the breakdown of the data.
Many electric utilities have adopted smart meters as an efficient way to track usage across their customer base to better determine cost and infrastructure needs. Smart meters provide both utilities and their customers with better ideas on how their use affects costs and help develop new strategies for saving money.
In the area of the Internet of Things (IoT), smart metering is being used to extend networks of interconnected devices that generate large amounts of data. The smart meter is an efficient way to track energy usage. It is an optional but highly recommended installation for utilities and different industries. The additional costs can be offset as usage can be customized to save energy costs.
Smart Metering System by ADD Bulgaria – Benefits and Advantages
For many years ADD Bulgaria is integrating and supporting the ADDAX system – a solution for advanced metering infrastructure. ADDAX allows a two-way automated data flow between the meter and the Distribution System Operator (DSO). It provides the DSOs with real-time data on power consumption, including time, amount, and price of consumed energy. With Addax AMI both utilities and consumers may take advantage of all this accurate data and make their informed decisions.
Some of the proven benefits of Smart metering include:
- End of forecast accounts, which are a major source of complaints by many customers;
- End of the delayed reporting of the spent consumption;
- A tool to help consumers better manage their energy purchases;
- Monitoring of the entire system through intelligent software provides real-time data about electrical parameters, allows more quickly detection of system disturbances, and immediate corrective action to minimize customer impact, such as interruptions;
- Smart meters also help utilities understand the needs of the power grid in more detail than older appliances. This greater understanding facilitates systematic planning to meet consumer energy needs while reducing the likelihood of unnecessary infrastructure investments, the so-called ‘demand management;
- Data analysis facilitates highly effective management decisions. The huge amount of information supplied by smart meters in the database represents an insight into the unknown side of the grid. As a result of the analysis managers at different management, levels have the opportunity to organize their work better and more efficiently. For example, they plan the elimination of various control defects in the electricity network, the detection, and removal of technical and non-technical losses, the allocation of functions, and the prioritization of emergency groups. All this helps them optimize costs and plan investments for future periods;
- Secured data transfer. The system ensures secure access, transfer, and storage of information from electricity meters based on the data encryption and key management system;
- The ability for integration with third-party systems which reduces the risk of dependency on one supplier;
- Reducing maintenance costs;
- Reducing time for localization and identification of infrastructure problems and faults;
- Facilitating invoicing;
- Consumption monitoring and historical data;
- Possibility for optimal analysis of consumption;
- Increasing the speed of service.
Electrical Infrastructure Monitoring by ADD Bulgaria – Benefits and Advantages
ARISTA EIM (Electrical Infrastructure Monitoring) is a technology that retrofits equipment, installations, and switchboards so that they quickly become digital and ready for remote real-time control and monitoring.
ARISTA EIM provides comprehensive real-time information about monitored locations and the operation of the equipment they contain. The system measures electrical parameters (voltage, current, power, consumption), reads signals from various digital sensors (smoke, humidity, temperature, door position buttons, etc.), and monitors the presence of voltage at control points. To do. It is a circuit and considers the state, taking into account the infrastructure elements.
The ARISTA EIM system quickly identifies emergencies, recognizes parameter deviations, and attempts for unregulated access to the infrastructure. It assists informed decision-making, which in turn works towards optimizing process and maintenance costs.
Based on the listed functionalities of the system, several advantages can be defined for both Electricity distribution companies and industrial enterprises:
- Increasing the efficiency of the processes for maintenance of facilities and installations
- Damage prevention by providing real-time information;
- Improving the quality, reliability, and uptime of equipment and installations;
- Reduction of maintenance costs;
- Reducing the time for analysis and problem solving;
- Prevention of losses from unauthorized manipulations;
- Upgrade with new system functions;
- Fast return on investment;
- Notification only in the presence of critical information.
Smart Metering System – How It Helps the Business and the Public Sector
The most obvious advantage of smart metering is precise knowledge of your company’s energy and other utility usages. Most smart meters connect directly to an interface that provides an exact readout of your usage, broken down by the time of day, day of the week, and month. Having this information at your fingertips can help you make better usage decisions and keep up-to-date records of your resource usage.
Having a better understanding of how much you’re consuming at any given time can inspire you to launch consumption-reduction initiatives. Some interfaces correlate usage with a monetary measurement, such as a watts per hour rating, allowing you to see how much electricity costs you by the minute.
When it comes to the public sector – the high cost of consuming any kind of resources in public buildings and public spaces (schools, office buildings, squares, etc.) is always particularly sensitive. This is because taxpayers’ money is being spent. That is why smart electricity metering systems and electrical Infrastructure monitoring are especially suitable for municipalities. Thanks to them, it will be possible to make a much more detailed analysis of consumption and optimization of costs.
Smart Electricity Metering System and Monitoring – Who Is It For
Small and medium enterprises play a major role in the economy of any nation. They are considered the engines of economic growth. They are often the main pillars of an economy. Their contribution to the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP) and the amount of employment it generates are significant.
When a small or medium-sized enterprise (SME) needs to monitor its electricity consumption, a preliminary energy audit or inspection is performed, which results in measures, one of which is the installation of an energy monitoring system in the enterprise. The goal of such a system is to carry out ongoing control and monitoring, as well as the collection of up-to-date data on electricity consumption (and other resources can also be monitored) to ensure the production process. The data serve for decision-making and taking measures to achieve optimal energy consumption in the operation of individual facilities. Based on the data collected, the company will be able to conduct inquiries about the consumed electricity, as well as perform analyses and make decisions that will result in a reduction in energy consumption.
Industrial enterprises require an energy consumption monitoring system to quickly locate faults and damages and eliminate them without disrupting the production process. The key is to collect accurate statistics, avoid losses due to technical failures, and reduce energy consumption.
Some enterprises are located in large areas, in various buildings, and even in different cities. Because energy consumption is massive, the electricity distribution infrastructure must be kept in good working order and efficiently monitored on a daily basis. Climate conditions frequently have an impact on the set goals and increase the consumption of electricity.
Hotels and rental properties – rational use of resources. Hotels rank in the top five in terms of energy consumption in the building sector. It is estimated that more than 100 TWh of energy was used in hotels worldwide. At the same time, the tourism business is most affected by the COVID crisis and this requires owners to consider optimizing their costs and more efficient use of resources.
We offer an efficient solution for hotels and rental properties, allowing them to set a room charge that does not include the costs of electricity and water used in the guest rooms. Our service allows guests to prepay for water and electricity online using a smartphone app and a prepaid Bluetooth meter.
Municipalities and the efficient spending of public money on energy resources. Effective use of street lighting, heating, and cooling of public buildings such as schools, public hospitals, community centers, libraries, office buildings, etc. can lead to significantly lower costs for these resources. This may favor other sectors that need additional funding.
Applications
Learn more about the application of our electricity monitoring systems from our success stories:
