What are second generation (2G) electricity meters and how do they work?

2G smart meters represent a significant step forward in electricity management, offering benefits to both users and suppliers. The ability to provide more detailed and, in some cases, real-time data, allows distributors and end users to know their energy consumption in detail and in real time. A real revolution in a world that demands ever greater sensitivity to energy use in any context.

The 1G meters

Let us, however, take a step back and place the magnifying glass on the first generation meters in order to better understand the differences with 2G smart meters.

In Italy, after the first regulation dated 1998, the spontaneous rollout phase was initiated in 2001 by Enel (which completed it in 2006), ACEA and ASM. Then, in 2007, when smart metering got mandatory throughout Italy, distributors who had not yet started installing electronic meters worked to comply with the new regulatory obligations. In 2011, therefore, consumers across the boot could count on the support of first-generation electricity smart meters.

The main and immediate positive effects of 1G smart metering were:

• availability of actual monthly readings (remote reading);
• activation and deactivation without field intervention (remote management);
• cost reduction (prevention of abusive connections and fraud, reading costs, ...);
• other potentials: reduction of power in case of arrears (15% available power), modification of supply conditions remotely (power increases and decreases).

The significant impact on business was already evident more than ten years ago. First-generation smart metering had already shown its enormous potential and had delivered an all-round better service to distributors, vendors and end-users, thanks to more efficient process management and the amount of data retrieved from smart meters. However, 1G smart meters were not without their limitations. First of all, the depth of data, although revolutionary compared to the recent past, had not yet reached its full potential. The monthly detail was a big step forward, but there was already recognised room for improvement to increase consumption awareness for end users. Furthermore, first-generation smart meters pivoted on a single communication technology, Power Line Communication, with its pros and cons.

The second generation of smart meters

The directions that came from Europe in 2014 further changed the way metering processes were conceived and managed. Indeed, the EU Directive 2014/32/EU on energy efficiency called for more efficient smart meters, as well as the possibility for end customers to access consumption data at any time. With the technological scenario at the time, however, it was not yet possible to access such an upgrade and the national authorities, as well as the distribution companies themselves, prepared the field for the entry of a new technology, the second-generation smart meters.

Edyna, a case of success

Italy was one of the first countries in the world to undertake the transition to second-generation (2G) electricity smart metering. After the specifications were defined by the National Authority, distributors started the rollout plan for the 2G platform and second generation meters and, after Enel, the first Italian distributor to replace 1G meters with 2G ones was Edyna. 

The first phase of the 2G smart meter rollout project by Edyna required the remote management system, already active for 1G meters, to be enabled for the second generation of meters. Subsequently, the distribution company extended the use of the platform to 2G meters, enabling the simultaneous management of first and second generation meters within a new infrastructure.

An ambitious project, therefore, although necessary, which Edyna was able to carry out successfully thanks to the support of our software.