Wind River Energy Solutions

Smart meters record usage and automate communication between utilities and consumers, allowing utilities to automatically report on usage via wireless networks. Service personnel no longer need to take physical readings, and utilities have better customer data.

Meters use machine-to-machine (M2M) technology to analyze usage and digest price information, guiding loads to low-use periods when possible. Consumers get real-time data on when and where they're using energy and how much it costs. Smart metering can facilitate flexible demand management to allow two-way communication, both measuring consumption and communicating that information back to the utility.

But the data generated from smart metering has the potential to expose sensitive customer information, and security is imperative. For smart meters to work effectively—sending the usage details to the utility and allowing the utility to limit usage during peak times—connectivity is key. Connectivity is also used to manage the devices, update meters, and troubleshoot potential failures in a device, as well as determine when replacement is necessary. Wind River® provides a comprehensive and effective approach addressing connectivity, manageability, and security.