Commencing in 2022, AB Energijos skirstymo operatorius has initiated the deployment of smart meters, marking a significant stride in the digitalization of its energy grids. This innovative implementation is poised to aid in reaching the set objectives for the assimilation of renewable energy sources, fostering a reliable energy distribution, and fostering competitiveness within the energy market. For consumers, smart meters promise enhanced monitoring capabilities, potential cost savings, and increased awareness regarding energy consumption patterns, leading to a more efficient and sustainable energy usage.

SOLUTION

Smart meters offer a comprehensive insight into the energy usage and production of individual grid users. This data is not only remotely gathered for billing processes but is also made directly accessible to customers through the user's P1 port. The P1 port functionality enables the development of novel applications, empowering network users such as consumers, businesses, and organizations to actively monitor and regulate their energy consumption.

STATUS AND PROGRESS

Smart meters introduced by the ESO are equipped with a single-user accessible P1 port. This port offers detailed information on energy consumption, power usage, and power quality data, with readings taken at one-minute intervals. These smart meters are designed to operate using the DSMR 5 P1 protocol with customized data model.

More recently, the market has seen the adoption of P1 port dongles intended to function in tandem with the ESO's smart meter data model. Depending on the location of the smart meter installation, users can opt for either wired or wireless P1 dongles to retrieve a variety of data from the smart meters.

Consequently, these developments have opened up new avenues for ESO users to leverage the data from the smart meter's P1 port for purposes related to energy management, flexible services, monitoring connection points, active load management, particularly in the context of smart electric vehicle (EV) chargers.

In line with these advancements, a pilot project has been initiated to assess the efficacy of wireless P1 dongles with smart meters in diverse environments. These solutions are anticipated to offer the following benefits to the customers:

• Real-time Monitoring: Customers can monitor their energy consumption in real-time, enabling them to make immediate adjustments to their usage patterns to conserve energy and reduce costs.
• Cost Savings: By gaining a better understanding of their energy usage, customers can identify areas where they can reduce consumption, leading to significant cost savings on their energy bills over time.
• Remote Access: Some smart meter P1 port dongles allow customers to access and monitor their energy usage remotely through mobile applications or online portals, providing convenience and flexibility for customers to manage their energy consumption even when they are away from home.
• Integration with Smart Home Devices: Integration with other smart home devices allows customers to create an interconnected and automated system that can optimize energy usage based on specific parameters or conditions, further enhancing energy efficiency and convenience.

Want to know more? Contact our Innovation expert Ernestas Zimkus - [email protected]