Meter testing of the future

Abstract

The world of electricity metering has changed dramatically in the last few years. The electricity meter is no longer just a black box that registers kWh. It has become an energy evaluation system capable of supplying a wealth of information. Traditional meter testing has centered around the accuracy measurement with many load points being tested. When analysing load points tested in this way, one can clearly see that all definitions are based on the technology of the Ferraris meter. On the other hand, modern electricity meters based on electronic measurement technology generally show flat load curves with no noticeable influence or interdependence between the three phases. As a result the number of load points to be tested can now be reduced. However, this does not mean that meter testing has become obsolete. Modern meters perform many more functions than their predecessors. Here, the authors describe how the focus in meter testing is therefore now shifted from the accuracy measurement to ascertaining the correctness of the various functions the performed by the meter. They also determine what are the requirements of an up-to-date and future oriented meter test system.