Reading monitoring, all data that can be retrieved thanks to smart metering

In Italy, for example, ARERA Law 269/2015 defines specific obligations for DSOs: to collect and make available the readings of as many meters as possible within set timeframes, with financial penalties (compensation) in the event of non-compliance. In this context, having reliable and advanced tools for monitoring smart meter communications is not just a technical issue, but a strategic lever for minimising risks and costs.

The added value of smart metering

Faced with these challenges, the tools needed to ensure regulatory compliance and, at the same time, efficient processes for a profitable business are not easy to design and develop. These are precisely the needs that smart metering is called upon to meet. Remote reading is not just a revolution linked to logistical issues, such as the simple retrieval of measurements with digital tools instead of meter readers. Smart metering is an extremely powerful weapon that allows distributors to meet regulatory obligations and retrieve significantly higher quality and quantity of data than was possible in the era of traditional metering.

Advanced monitoring tools

In addition to the robustness of the HES, which retrieves all data, Terranova's Meter Data Management provides DSOs with a complete set of tools to monitor the progress of readings and communications in order to comply with the obligations and challenges already discussed in detail in the previous paragraphs:

• Summary and analytical dashboards: the dashboards provide a multi-level view - from a summary overview of the progress of readings and transmissions in recent months, to detailed drill-downs for individual devices. The graphs highlight communication trends, positive and negative peaks, and allow you to quickly identify critical days when readings were not transmitted.
• Parametric alarm system: alarms can be configured on multiple levels, from defining activation thresholds to selecting the types of events to be monitored. Alarms can relate to both smart meter malfunctions (e.g. sensor anomalies or tampering attempts) and measurement events (such as abnormal or off-peak consumption). The activation logic is limited exclusively to the actual installation, ensuring the total absence of false positives.
• Communications KPI monitoring: a dedicated module calculates and updates meter performance indicators on a weekly basis, classified by communications technology (NB-IoT, RF, GSM, etc.). Particular attention is paid to Radio Frequency meters, for which the performance of concentrators and related local networks is analysed, allowing weak nodes to be identified and targeted interventions to be planned.
• Advanced diagnostics: the system is able to acquire and interpret native diagnostics from meters (e.g. reports of internal faults, electrical anomalies, loss of synchronisation). These diagnostics can generate configurable alarms, enabling proactive monitoring that anticipates faults and reduces intervention times.
• Georeferenced visualisation: all monitoring data can be displayed on a map, allowing for immediate spatial analysis of issues. Georeferencing allows anomalies to be correlated with territorial or infrastructural characteristics, facilitating the organisation of operational teams in the field.
  

Thanks to these features, the Terranova smart metering system is not just data collection software, but a true proactive management tool. It allows Italian distributors to comply precisely with regulations, reduce compensation payments, optimise internal processes and, ultimately, improve the quality of service offered to end customers, creating a more profitable and virtuous business.