Explanation...

The diagram to the left shows the Internet Energy Systems Automated Meter Reading and Demand Control architecture.

Automated Meter Reading and Demand Control

Internet Energy Systems, Inc. (IES) has developed an automated meter reading (AMR)/load management system specifically for municipal utilities. The IES system is centered on a gateway installed at the customer’s premises. This gateway is the collection point for multiple metering devices and is the control point for load control of central air conditioners and electric water heaters. Advanced features are available on premium gateway versions.

The IES system uses multiple communications mediums in order to reach every customer with two-way, reliable communications. For basic applications such as daily meter reads, narrowband communications over wireless and HFC cable are used. For more advanced applications, IP communications are used.

The IES system consists of a number of gateways collocated with meters and server software located at the utility’s office or data center. Gateways provide the physical interface between meters and the communications system as well as perform some intermediate processing. The server software provides processing and dissemination of meter data to utility billing system, personnel and/or to the utility’s customers.