Abstract:
The energy meter had been invented in the 19th century, where the meter measured the amount of time electricity was supplied to a load. From time to time, the energy meter has been improved from the early energy meter, induction meters, electro-mechanical meters, digital meters, multifunctional meters, and now smart energy meters are being developed based on the purpose. Despite the development of Energy meters to digital, there are still challenges with the current Meters used by many utilities in Africa, specifically here in Rwanda, where Customers struggle with entering the token by the meter keypad, sometimes requiring addition equipment as ladder mechanism to reach the keypad installed in reasonable distance from the ground. This leads to ineffective and inefficient time management in energy use, which results in dissatisfaction for customers. Now the Smart Energy Meter with auto recharge is an answer for those challenges. This research presents the design and implementation of a smart energy metering system with automated recharge functionality, addressing the limitations of conventional energy meters for optimizing efficiency and preventing unexpected power outages in residential environments. By using IoT and ICT tools, an Energy smart meter with automatic recharge was designed and developed, and the energy is loaded in the energy meter without keypad. Both hardware and software parts were designed and developed as a prototype for this research. The key electrical parameters measured include voltage, current, power, and frequency. These measurements are processed in real-time and stored in a MySQL database, allowing users to monitor their energy consumption via an LCD display. Additionally, the system incorporates SMS notifications to alert users when their energy balance is low, facilitating timely recharges and preventing service interruptions. The methodology involves IoT-based energy monitoring, where real-time data acquisition, processing, and visualization are implemented through a microcontroller-based architecture. The system’s performance is evaluated in a real-world setting to assess its effectiveness in enhancing energy reliability and reducing unexpected power disruptions. Experimental results indicate that the system significantly improves energy management by providing real-time consumption data, automated recharge alerts, and enhanced billing accuracy, thereby minimizing energy wastage. The findings demonstrate the feasibility of deploying smart metering solutions to improve energy efficiency and consumer satisfaction.
