IARJSET ISSN (Online) 2393-8021

ISSN (Print) 2394-1588

International Advanced Research Journal in Science, Engineering and Technology

ISO 3297:2007 Certified
Vol. 3, Issue 7, July 2016

GSM Based Automatic Energy Meter Reading

and Load Control
Thota Akhila1, Ch. Balaram Murthy2, T. Ragini2
M.Tech, PG Student1
Assistant Professor 2

Abstract: This paper reviews the various methods of Automatic meter reading (AMR) System. The AMR system
enables remote access of existing energy meter by the energy provider. AMR system aims to move away from the
traditional method of manual reading of electricity meters in which a meter reader visits every meter location
periodically and read the meter value manually. In this we can monitor the meter readings regularly without visiting at
the consumer site. This AMR system uses different connectivity module like Global System for Mobile (GSM),
General Pocket Radio System (GPRS), Broadband carrier in power line and radio frequency. Different methods
mentioned in this paper are used for transmitting the reading of energy meter from consumer site to the electricity
board.

Keywords: Global System for Mobile (GSM), General Pocket Radio System (GPRS), Automatic meter reading
(AMR) System, Radio Frequency.

1. INTRODUCTION

Today it has totally become a very difficult job to collect For power or energy meter monitoring applications, the
the meter readings as a meter reader has to be on-site adoption of GPRS may be one of the quick and cost
physically to take the readings. Traditional meter reading effective strategies such as revenue meter data collection,
by human operator is inefficient to meet the future fault indicators or power quality monitoring which may
residential development needs. So, the demand for AMR have a lot of raw data as well. GPRS wireless data
system has increased. AMR is a system in which the transmission service, can adapt to the actual environment
reading is taken automatically and the consumer directly of modern electricity sectors.
comes to know how much electricity has been used by AMR system can also be taken using broadband carrier in
him. In traditional meter reading a person has to go from the power line. It consists of four parts: energy meter,
house to house for taking the reading. In this much collector, concentrator and management center.
manpower is needed as our commercial, industrial and
residential area is expanding day by day. Automated utility Meter: recording user information, communicating
meters have many new features that help to reduce the cost with collector.
of utilities to consumers and the cost of delivering utilities
Collector: collecting and storing the data of meters,
to the utility provider. The automated utility meter system
communicating with meters downward, and
provides bill directly to the consumers which is more
communicating with concentrators upward.
suitable in the current scenario.
Concentrators: receiving and storing the data of
One of the proposed methods for AMR system is based on meters, transmit real-time data information to management
GSM. GSM is a second generation cellular system centre, communicating with collector downward, and
standard. A GSM based wireless communication module communicating with management centre upward.
is integrated with an electronic energy meter of each entity
to have remote access over the usage of electricity. A PC Management center: through special software reading
is used with a GSM receiver at the other end, which user information, monitoring power load condition, user
contains the database that acts as the billing point. fee management, print information, chart analysis, etc.
Radio frequency based AMR can take many forms. The
A GSM channel is a very useful means of communication more common ones are handheld, mobile, satellite and
as sending data as Short Messaging Service (SMS) turns fixed network solutions. RF-based meter reading usually
out to be a very handy tool due to its good area coverage eliminates the need for the meter reader to enter the
capability and cost effectiveness. property or home, or to locate and open an underground
GPRS is the world’s most common wireless data service, meter pit. The utility saves money by increased speed of
based on GSM network; GPRS solution based on Internet reading, has lower liability from entering private property,
protocol supports a wide range of enterprise and consumer and has less chance of missing reads because of being
applications. locked out from meter access.

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 IARJSET ISSN (Online) 2393-8021
ISSN (Print) 2394-1588

International Advanced Research Journal in Science, Engineering and Technology

ISO 3297:2007 Certified
Vol. 3, Issue 7, July 2016

A WSN Structure A wireless data collecting system Dr. Mohd Yunus B Nayan1, Aryo Handoko Primicanta2
consists of flexible combinations of sensors, controller, [4] propose hybrid Automated Metering Reading (AMR)
and wireless communication devices. The WSN is formed system which is a combination of ZigBee and GSM
by using "nodes‖. Each such sensor node is typically made technology. In this propose system ZigBee module is
up of several parts: a sensor for sensing the physical attached to the electric meter by using interface board and
environment, a radio transceiver with an antenna for the data collector will be connected to the central
transmitting data wirelessly, a microcontroller for computer by using GSM.
processing the data, an electronic circuit for interfacing Gordan Štruklec1, Vedran Bilas2[5] propose a wireless
with the sensors and an energy source. A WSN is formed automatic water-meter reading system founded on ZigBee
by densely deployed sensor nodes in an application area. technology . The wireless automatic water-meter reading
There can be from a few to several hundreds or even system presented here uses ZigBee networking to avoid
thousands of nodes and each node is connected to one or difficulties and problems inherent to other meter reading
several sensors For sensor network applications, key techniques In all above models either single parameter is
design requirements revolve around long battery life, low used for developing AMR i.e. electricity and water or give
cost, small footprint, and mesh networking to support general idea about designing of AMR. Designed model
communication between large numbers of devices in an gives detailed design of AMR which will measure
interoperable and multi-application environment. The electricity and water and for each house and will forward
development of wireless communication technology in recorded data to central station and will also send sms to
recent years resulted in evolution of for low cost user using gsm communication, regarding due dates ,bills
equipment of wireless networking technology, called etc.
ZigBee. It is a short range, low-complexity, low cost, low
power consumption, low data rate two-way wireless III. METHODS
communication technology with high network capacity,
short time delay, safety . There are numerous applications This system we give a unique Id number for every energy
that are ideal for the redundant, self-configuring and self- meter. This ID number is interlinked to SIM card unique
healing capabilities of ZigBee wireless mesh networks. service number. This system continuously monitors energy
meter, SMS is sent to the company as per our requirement.
Key ones include • Energy Management and Efficiency— We can set the period in the microcontroller for every
To provide greater information and control of energy meter reading daily, weekly, monthly and sends to the
usage, provide customers with better service and more central server of the energy Provider Company. Here the
choice, better manage resources, and help to reduce SMS is sent to 3 specified phone numbers written in the
environmental impact. • Home Automation—it provides microcontroller.
more flexible management of lighting, heating and
cooling, security, and home entertainment systems from The meter reading is stored in database server through
anywhere in the home. • Building Automation—it SMS gateway. Now bill is sent to the customer by
provides centralize management of lighting, heating, calculating the reading, as stored in the database. Bill
cooling and security for whole building. • Industrial issued by energy Provider Company can be sent by SMS.
Automation—to extend existing manufacturing and
process control systems reliability.

II. LITERATURE SURVEY

Babak Aghaei [1] presents a model for processes which

are related to user of water, electricity and gas by using
wireless sensor network in Iran. In this paper the amount
of economy and optimization occurred in offices in
Malekan those by proposed model are given. Li Quan-Xi1,
Li Gang2 [2] propose household metering system design
based on Zigbee and GPRS technologies, using
PIC18LF4620 as the core processor and CC2430 chip as
close communication function, using SIM300 chip as
communication function in distance.

Md. Wasi-ur-Rahman, Mohammad Tanvir Rahman, Tareq

Hasan Khan and S.M. Lutful Kabira[3] proposed
technique for remotely reading electricity meter readings
using Short Message Service (SMS) has been illustrated.
Existing Global System for Mobile communications
(GSM) networks have been used for sending and receiving
SMS. Figure: 1 flowchart to the code for counting the units.

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 IARJSET ISSN (Online) 2393-8021
ISSN (Print) 2394-1588

International Advanced Research Journal in Science, Engineering and Technology

ISO 3297:2007 Certified
Vol. 3, Issue 7, July 2016

Alternatively we can also send through either by web 4. SYSTEM DESIGN

account, by post and by email. This system provides
flexibility to the customer for paying the bill. AMR also This GSM energy meter is constructed using the
sends the information of the power cut, power load, and microcontroller, a display, GSM modem and microchip. In
energy provider can also cut the connection if customer this, meter is designed using embedded GSM modem and
does not require the connection through SMS request. This by using existing GSM network to send wirelessly its
SMS card service number is used to identify and retrieve energy consumption value as SMS to energy provider. At
customers detail for billing and identification purpose the time of sending the message every time, this data is
stored in the non-volatile memory (EEPROM).
3. COMMUNICATION INTERFACE
We use RTC module also with meter to have all recording
To send SMS we need communication interface between of usage details about energy consumption. In the office,
the energy meter and database server. So we have two the GSM unit will receive these collected data and local
technologies for communication. software will process on that data and calculate the total
power consumption of each user. The system design can
1. GSM Network be discussed as two broad categories, Hardware
2. ZIG BEE system implementation and software web portal design
implementation.
Here we go for GSM network interface because it is best
compare the ZIGBEE system because it more sensitive 4.1 HARDWARE IMPLEMENTATION
and can easily get affected to the noise in the
communication network and data corruption can also takes In this system power supply is provided to meter. A GSM
place. So here go for GSM Network which highly flexible unit shows the interfacing with the microcontroller.
and easy for the transmission in the remote areas. It can Transmission of usage details is send to office modem
also transmit the signal to long distance with out any data using user modem. Every consumer has unique number
encryption. provided by corresponding authority. Hardware
implementation includes following points as discussed
GSM (Global System for Mobile Communication): below.
GSM has been the backbone of the phenomenal success of
mobile communication in the previous decade. Now at the
dawn of true broadband services, GSM continues to
evolve to meet new demands. GSM is an open, non
proprietary system with international roaming capability.
GSM is a cellular network which means that compatible
devices connect to it by searching for cells in the
immediate vicinity. There are five different cell sizes in a
GSM network via Marco, Micro, Pico, Fenton and
Umbrella cells. The coverage area of each cell varies
according to the Implementation environment.
Macro cells can be regarded as cells where base station is
installed on a mast or building above roof top level.
Micro cells are those in which base station is installed
below the average roof top level. These are typically used
in the urban areas.
Pico cells are the cells whose coverage area is a small and
mainly used indoors.
Fenton cells are cells designed for use in residential or
small business environment and connect to the service
provider’s network via a broadband internet connection.
Umbrella cells are used to cover shadowed reasons of
smaller cells and fill in the gaps in coverage between those
cells.

The modulation used in GSM is Gaussian Minimum Phase

Shift Keying (GSMK), a kind of continuous phase
frequency shift keying. In GMSK the signal to be Fig.2 Circuit Design of Energy Meter
modulated on the carrier is first smoothed with a Gaussian
low-pass filter prior to being fed into a frequency In The metering IC creates the output in the form of pulses
modulator which greatly reduces the interference to nearby which are counted using the default timer of PIC
channels. microcontroller unit.

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 IARJSET ISSN (Online) 2393-8021
ISSN (Print) 2394-1588

International Advanced Research Journal in Science, Engineering and Technology

ISO 3297:2007 Certified
Vol. 3, Issue 7, July 2016

veracity and low-expenses. The using of embedded system

improves the stability of wireless data transmission. For a
long distance transmission GSM telecommunication has
shown excellent performance at any conditions.

REFERENCES

[1] Abdollahi, A. Dehghani, M. Zamanzadeh,‖ SMS-based

Reconfigurable Automatic Meter Reading System‖ in Control
Applications, 2007.
[2] Amin S. Mehmood, T. Choudhry, M.A. Hanif, A ―Reviewing the
Technical Issues for the Effective Construction of Automatic Meter
Reading System‖ in International Conference on Microelectronics,
2005 IEEE.
[3] Bharath, P.; Ananth, N.; Vijetha, S.; Prakash, K.V.J.; ―Wireless
Automated Digital Energy Meter‖ in Sustainable Energy
Technologies, ICSET 2008.
[4] Chih-Hung Wu; Shun-Chien Chang; Yu-Wei Huang; ―Design of a
5. SOFTWARE ARCHITECTURE wireless ARM-based automatic meter reading and control system‖
in Power Engineering Society General Meeting, 2004. IEEE.
The system software is implemented by C language in the [5] Liting Cao, Jingwen Tian and Dahang Zhang, ―Networked Remote
Keil MCB2130 software along with flash magic. All Meter-Reading System Based on Wireless Communication
Technology‖ in International Conference on Information
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and debugging can be accomplished using the above [6] [6] Liting Cao, Wei Jiang, Zhaoli Zhang ―Automatic Meter .
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monitoring system based on GPRS data communications. Science
Direct. 2012; 840–3.
5.1. Meter Reading Terminal Software Design [8] Detailed Project Report - Intelligent Transport System & Ethanol
According to the hardware circuit design features, meter Diesel - KSRTC, Mysore. p. 62.
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shown in Figure 3. First, the system initializes each monitoring for industrial environment based on LPC2148 and
GSM. Indian Journal of Science and Technology. 2014 7(9): 1333–
module, and then reads the meter readings regularly, and 41.
stores them. When receiving the command, the meter [10] Silviya EM, Vinodhini KM, Salai Thillai Thilagam J.GSM Based
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In case of uncertain events such as reverse voltage,
tampering, etc the WAMRS will generate error signals by
enabling pre-programmed flags. The system is usually in
standby mode. The controller may read the contents of the
status register to monitor data transfer status.

5.2. Server End Terminal Software Design In

accordance to the function of the hardware circuit design,
the software programming idea of server end terminal is as
follows: first, the system completes initialization, and then
sends commands to the meter reading terminal through the
GSM modem. When the host WAMRS receives the signal,
it will select the data and update the database at the same
time, send the consumption to the consumer via SMS.

6. CONCLUSION

The wireless automatic meter reading system (WAMRS)

presented in this paper absorbed many advanced study
results in computer technology and communication
technology. The meter-reading task can be finished at the
management department of residence area by using this
system. Meantime, the energy resources management
departments can monitor the consumption of power in
order to improve the utility of power. It's the basic to
realize automatic deliver of energy resources. The system
has many significant excellences, such as wireless, low-
workload, great quantity of data transmission high-

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