Solid state solutions for electricity metrology

Significant changes are taking place in the electric energy industry worldwide. Deregulation of utilities will produce a tougher competitive environment for the suppliers of electricity. Increased demand for electrical energy will require better management of distribution. Suppliers will need to identify ways of supplying a better level of service at a reduced cost. One way to do this is to install a solid-state electricity meter. Apart from tangible benefits like higher accuracy especially in the presence of nonsinusoidal waveforms, the solid-state meter offers more than just the measurement of kWhs. Given the accuracy, flexibility and powerful network management possibilities offered by solid-state metrology, the days of the electromechanical meter are numbered. This paper gives an overview of electricity meter design using solid-state electronics. It discusses various architectures and some of the key technologies that allow reliable and cost effective solid-state meters to be implemented. It also discusses semiconductor reliability issues