Smart Meters Enable Clean Energy Sharing and Economic Gain

A growing trend sees users installing distributed clean energy facilities, such as solar panels and wind turbines. When these systems generate more electricity than a household can use, the excess power can be sent back to the grid. This process not only conserves energy and reduces carbon emissions, fostering a low-carbon lifestyle, but also improves the user’s economic benefits.

This shift is powered by the smart meter. Unlike conventional meters, smart meters facilitate a two-way energy flow and are capable of implementing dynamic pricing for electricity fed back into the grid.

1. How is the electricity price set for a smart meter?

Unlike fixed tariffs, smart meters enable dynamic pricing. Utilities can implement time-of-use rates or real-time prices, which are communicated to the meter via secure data networks, allowing for automated and flexible billing based on actual grid conditions.

A shift in the nature of power consumption can be initiated in two ways: either the user proactively applies for a change, or the power supply company identifies the change and initiates the update. This reclassification ensures billing accurately reflects the new consumption pattern.

2. Standardized Configuration and Quality Assurance for Smart Meters

Prior to deployment, smart meters in any region undergo a rigorous, standardized process. Units are uniformly configured at the factory, must pass initial verification, and are then subject to a final sampling inspection and confirmation before lead seals are applied for release. This ensures consistency and reliability across the grid.

Remote Meter Management Ensures Seamless Tariff Updates

Following the established procedure, updated pricing parameters are delivered remotely to the smart meter via the power supply company's system platform. Should this remote delivery fail, field staff are dispatched for on-site configuration. Once the new electricity price is successfully set, it is immediately implemented, with no impact on previous billing cycles or recorded electricity consumption.

Secondly, the the Distinction Between Smart Meters and Conventional Meters

1. Compared with ordinary electricity meters, smart electricity meters are equipped with new functional modules including electricity consumption information management, metering information management and electricity consumption monitoring.

This functional upgrade enables users to access timely and accurate electricity calculation capabilities, marking a key advancement in utility measurement technology.

2. Boasting a two-way metering function, smart meters enable the deployment of distributed energy resources.

Beyond recording the electricity supplied to users, the devices also capture data on the electricity customers feed back to the grid — a capability that underpins the integration of decentralized energy systems into existing power networks.