The selection of the most suitable communications technology for a smart metering solution is an important step when building a smart metering infrastructure. Communication technology has evolved dramatically since the first installations of ‘smart’ meters, and so did the expectation regarding data availability, and functionality around smart metering. For a long time it was sufficient to read out data once a day for monthly invoicing, but today expectations are often moving in the direction of near real-time availability - for example, to enable DSO to provide load profile and consumption data in a customer portal, have power quality data available for analysis at short intervals, or use the smart meter infrastructure as replacement for ripple control load management.

Increasing amounts of data, interconnected utility infrastructures, regulation and a general awareness of security and privacy issues raise the pressure also on smart metering security. E360 is our response to the most stringent security requirements.

The industry is engaged in discussion on Internet of Things, which is seen as a huge business opportunity by many companies. With smart metering, the very basic idea of IoT is already realized reality: millions of smart meters are connected and communicating, providing near real time data for energy utilities.

In order to understand how to set up a G3 PLC network, and how it differentiates from PLAN PLC installations, one should know how the network set up with the current PLAN technology takes place.