Smart meter for electricity
| Published by Gulf Times: Monday, 15 January, 2007, |
Staff Reporter Khalim and his colleague showing the Smart meter at their booth
AN electricity meter that can regulate energy consumption according to pre-set parameters has just been unveiled in Doha. 
A Malaysian company has displayed the Smart meter at the ongoing Asian Showcase exhibition at Doha Sheraton.
According to Abdul Hafiz bin Abdul Khalim, of Malaysian Intelligence Meters, Smart is an electronic, intelligent single phase two-wire solid state kWh meter which provides an advanced electricity measurement methodology, record load data and incorporating highly secured system to prevent tampering.
The meters are equipped with output emitting circuit where the emitting pulses are proportional to consumed energy.
The devise has been designed to meet the existing metering billing system, he said.
They are programmable and can be configured to build any requirement and can provide detailed consumption and demand measurement for both small and large scale metering application.
The equipment can be programmed for such features as time of day, tariff and standing charge calculation. The programmable data can be uploaded or downloaded via the Smart card to a special hand-held sales terminal. This will eventually eliminate any human error during meter reading, Khalim added.
The product is particularly useful in apartments and hostels where the use of electricity can be controlled or regulated by the owners.
More than 100 companies from Malaysia and other south-east Asian countries are taking part in the Asian Showcase exhibition, which runs at the Doha Sheraton until January 19.
The exhibition is organised by the al-Attiyah Group of Marketing and Services jointly with Think Plus Consulting, of Malaysia. The initiative by the private sector is supported by the Malaysian embassy in Doha.
Exhibitors have come from a range of fields and backgrounds. They include construction, building materials, steel, fittings, electricals, furniture, IT, media and communications, aviation, power, energy, security, tourism, education, fabric, and cosmetics.
Also taking part are professional service providers such as planners, architects, designers, engineering and mechanical consultants, landscaping and building maintenance.
The effort is also supported by Malaysian agencies like the Malaysia Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE), National Electricity Board, Media Prime, Tourism Malaysia and the Open University.