Energy smart meters integration in favor of the end user

Digital meters (electricity, gas, water, heating and cooling energy) play a crucial role within the Smart Grid environment. The paper will address the issue of their employment in two ways: i) the different type of counters, each at different stages in their digital implementation, should be able to exploit their computing and communication capabilities to achieve a complete integration of measurements and information, in order to provide a comprehensive energy assessment and added value compared to individual devices, ii) their use and their deployment should be evaluated not only in relation to the possible advantages for distributors and utilities, but also with special attention to the end user and the community, given the key role of the final consumer in achieving energy efficiency. To this aim, the paper will present the latest technological developments of the meter types and will propose a design methodology (architecture and protocols) that makes their integration possible and profitable.