Smart Grid, Smart Controllers and Home Energy Automation—Creating the Infrastructure for Future

doi:10.4236/sgre.2012.33024

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Smart Grid and Renewable Energy, 2012, 3, 165-174

http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/sgre.2012.33024 Published Online August 2012 (http://www.SciRP.org/journal/sgre) 165

Smart Grid, Smart Controllers and Home Energy

Automation—Creating the Infrastructure for Future

Abhishek Khanna

Power Networks, ATKINS Plc, Leeds, UK.

Email: [email protected]

Received January 5th, 2012; revised April 5th, 2012; accepted April 12th, 2012

ABSTRACT

Integration of unpredictable renewable power sources into the Grid is leading to the development of wide area control

algorithms and smart grid. Smart meters are the first step in the build ing a smart consumer interface. Much more, how-

ever, would be required in building a smart grid than just smart meters. This paper explores the conceptual architecture

of smart grid. It highlights the need for additional infrastructure to realize full potential of smart grid. The information

presented in this pap er is an attempt to uncover what the futu re in smart grid could be and what infrastructure would be

required to tap its potential. As smart g rid evolves, more function ality would be built in the co nstituents. The pape r also

proposes mathematical basis for some of the controller algorith ms.

Keywords: Smart Grid; Home Energy Automation; Smart controller; Smart Grid Control Centre

1. Introduction

A grid essentially consists of Generation System, Trans-

mission (and Subtransmission) system, Distribution Sys-

tem and the Consumers. The domain of each of these

constituents cannot be strictly defined in terms of gen eric

definitions. In a smart grid all the four subsystems of the

grid are smart or intelligent. In a conventional grid all

these entities are linked together through components

like cables, transmission lines and transformers which

allow flow of electrical energy. In smart grid there are

links for bidirectional flow of information (i.e. commu-

nication systems) in addition to the links for flow of en-

ergy. The control action of local controllers is based on

the information available from the diverse locations.

This is reflected in Figure 1.

The information exchanged on the communication

links is used by sophisticated control algorithms for gen-

erating a control action which satisfies several opera-

tional and economical constraints. Thus in a smart grid,

the human interference is reduced by use of software

algorithms which can process the data faster, non-stop

and perform control actions on behalf of the humans. The

degree of smartness of a grid increases with the follow-

ing:

1) Amount of information exchanged between the va-

rious constituents.

2) The level of constraints the algorithms can take into

consideration.

3) The geographical area of the grid controlled.

Figure 1. Smart grid interfaces. In addition to power and

energy flow, the smart grid has bi-directional information

flow. Each constituents has its own set of controllers which

exchange information with other controllers and act ac-

cordingly.

4) The diversity of the generation classified based on

the source like solar, wind, tidal etc.

The decisions taken by the controller could bring a

minor change in the system topology like, switching in

reactive compensation equipment or a major change

would be affected like islanding of two interconnected

systems. In addition to this the importance of a decision

is also dependent upon where it is made. For example

switching in a solar panel of 500 Watts (peak) could be a

major change for a home energy system but has no effect

on the whole of the grid. Critical control actions, thus,

would need information from electrically and geographi-

Smart Grid, Smart Controllers and Home Energy Automation—Creating the Infrastructure for Future

166

cally diverse locations. There is no grid which would be

100% smart as there would be always human interven-

tion.

Conversely, there is no grid which has no level of

automation. The protection systems have always been

operating without operator intervention. All grids have at

least protection systems which make decisions on their

own without any human intervention. Thus, the concept

of smart grid is not new but off late the possibilities

(cheap numerical controllers) and necessities (renewable

energy sources) are forcing manufactures to have a new

look.

The major benefits of smart grid are:

1) Flexibility

It is the measure of the ability of the v arious grid con-

stituents to adapt to the changing or dynamic environ-

ment.

2) Efficiency

A smart grid and its constituents are efficient in the

sense that they all do more with less in a given set of

constraints imposed by the system.

3) Reliability

A smart grid is more reliable because its response to

the changing scenarios or dynamism is more predictable.

This gives people ample confidence in the planning.

4) Security

A smart grid enhances the security of the supply be-

cause it is flexible and can adapt better to the system

contingencies.

5) Economics

A smart grid is more economical. Economics should

not be taken in absolute. A smart grid is not necessarily

cheap but is the cheapest solution for the given degree of

reliability security and other constraints. This is because

it has higher efficiency and flexibility allowing better

utilization of assets.

In a typical smart grid, all the constituents contribute

to the benefits and in turn get benefited by them thus

making it a symbiotic relationship. This is shown in the

Figure 2.

Each action in smart grid, no matter how small, would

be initiated with a motive to increase the above factors.

To elaborate on this, let say the voltage at a bus came to

a level warranting an automatic compensation switching

(ACS). The cause for this could be increase in the reac-

tive load or because a line was taken out of service for

maintenance. The switching in of Reactive support action

qualified for all the benefits of the smart grid in the fol-

lowing ways:

1) The ACS increased the flexibility as it allowed the

reactive loading to be increased. The grid could adapt to

the changing environment.

2) Since the VARS are locally supplied, the line cur-

rent magnitude decreases and so does the ohmic losses

Figure 2. In a smart grid interfaces each constituents con-

tributes to the smart grid benefit pool and gets benefited by

it in turn.

associated with the lines. This enhances the efficiency.

3) The automatic switching over increases the reliabil-

ity as is dependent upon tested and demonstrated algo-

rithms and free from the operator’s temporary incompe-

tencies, short comings and biases.

4) The loss in the voltage is partially or fully compen-

sated by the ACS and so the security is increased as now

the bus can supply additional reactive loading under con-

tingency.

5) The control system is one time investment and

would be cheaper than having an operator to do the job.

Further, the fall in the quality of supply has been arrested

by minimizing the duration for which all the voltage was

low or below acceptable level.

Generation systems which are as of now primarily

thermal based (coal, gas or nuclear) are the most inflexi-

ble. The start-up cost of these plants is so high that the

operators tend not to vary the output from these by more

+5% and –15%. These are the base loads plants. Plants

based on renewable energy sources like wind and solar

photovoltaic are now being integrated in the grid and

have much shorter start-up time, but are affected by the

vagaries of nature. It is expected that once the energy

storage systems are in place, the generation aspect of the

grid can be made more “smarter”.

Automated control of the transmission system using

devices like FACTS, HVDC has made the transmission

system more intelligent [1]. The control action of the

commercially deployed FACTS and HVDC systems is

based on the locally available/measured power system

variables. Work is going on to make these devices re-

sponsive to system vide disturbances. This has been fa-

cilitated by advances in the numerical protection and

Smart Grid, Smart Controllers and Home Energy Automation—Creating the Infrastructure for Future 167

communication technology. An entity which is com-

monly being proposed for systems vide control is syn-

chrophasor [2]. Synchrophasors would measure the volt-

age phasor at the bus to which they are connected, time

stamp it and exchange it periodically with other syn-

chrophasors or wide area controllers. The control action

of the FACTS or other such devices would then be re-

sponsive to the system vid e conditions. Such architecture

is shown in the Figure 3.

Advantages of a smart grid were discussed in [3] and

broad architecture and Smart Grid concepts were dis-

cussed in [4]. An useful overview of smart grid was pre-

sented in [5]. This paper gave lot of information on

Smart Grid architecture, challenges, smart distribution

network etc. The concept of smart homes was also dis-

cussed. This paper substantiates the Smart Grid concepts

with some concrete proposals. The focus of the paper is

on one of the specific applications of the smart grid

namely the consumers. Some ideas to smartise the con-

sumer houses are discussed in this paper. The ideas/

concepts are not definitive. It is seen from the concepts

proposed that it would not be difficult to have smart

homes. The aim is to develop the generic concepts into

more concrete proposals and solutions which would be

step closer to the implementation of the technologies.

2. Smarter Homes—Components Overview

A smart meter is a gas or electricity meter that has me-

tering as well as communication capab ilities. It measures

energy consumption and allows data to be read remotely

and displayed on a device within the home, or transmitted

securely externally. The meter can also receive informa-

Figure 3. Use of facts devices in conjunction with synchro-

phasors for automated control of transmission system.

tion remotely, e.g. to update tariff information or switch

from credit to prepayment mode [6]. Realizing the bene-

fits of smart grid would, however, need much more than

smart meters. Building smarter homes would need

smarter energy controllers which also have smart meter-

ing capabilities. Smarter homes, in the parlance of the

smart grid, have their appliances and sources controlled

in such manner that the five objectives of the smart grid

are optimally met. It is important to note the use of the

term optimal otherwise the home would not be smart but

expensive. The architecture of a typical smart home

could be as shown in the Figure 4.

2.1. Main Controller or the Smart Controller

The Main controller consists of hardware and software

and is an intelligent, programmable device capable of

performing metering, computations, numerical process-

ing, running optimization subroutines, establishing bi-

directional communication with the Smart Grid Control

centre (SGCC) and making decisions based on the speci-

fied real time constraints. It would also have direct con-

trol capability of the electrical app liances.

2.2. Smart Grid Control Centre (SGCC)

In short, SGCC would be the smart controllers gateway

to the energy world. The SGCC would be owned and

operated by a regulatory body on behalf of energy sup-

pliers and is a powerful computer that performs the func-

tion of energy exchange and energy database. The scope

of the information in the energy database of SGCC could

vary depending upon the features offered to the end user.

Typically the information contained in the exchange

would consist of the following, though not all the infor-

mation contained in the database would be accessible to

Figure 4. Architecture for smarter homes. Functions may

be integrated in one device or split as required.

Smart Grid, Smart Controllers and Home Energy Automation—Creating the Infrastructure for Future

168

all of the users:

1) Past, spot and the future energy prices from various

suppliers and other associated costs, like lock in period,

offers, discounts etc.

2) If more than one rate is applicable, than the ti me of

day at which the each rate is applicable would be dis-

played.

3) Information regarding the traded volumes.

4) Information regarding various users/connected mem-

bers of the SGCC and their profiles.

It would, typically, be owned and operated by a regu-

latory body on beh a lf of energy suppliers.

2.3. Sources of Energy

The sources of energy could be one, more or all of the

following a) electric supply from the grid b) gas supply

and/or c) other locally available supplies like building

integrated photovoltaic (BIPV), a small local wind tur-

bine with output of few kilowatt and energy storage.

2.4. Controlled Appliances

The controlled appliances would be the various energy

consuming devices in the home. No special intelligence

is required in these devices although it may be helpful to

have some degree of intelligence. To make the subse-

quent discussion easier, the controlled appliances/loads

can be classified as Type-A, Type-B and Type-C. This

classification of loads is not exhaustive nor a standard

classification and is relevan t to this paper only.

 Type-A loads are those types which do not allow

much flexibility in terms of the switching their

switching cannot be timed i.e. switching cannot be

much delayed or advanced and are either continuous

or intermittent following a definite pattern. The ex-

amples are Refrigerator, lighting loads, domestic en-

tertainment appliances, and appliances required dur-

ing the cooking etc.

 Type-B loads are those which offer flexibility in

terms of the switching i.e. there switching can be

timed. The examples are washing machine, dryers,

dish washers, etc. These operate and switch off auto-

matically after the process is complete.

 Type-C loads are those types which do offer flexibil-

ity in terms of switching but need human intervention.

Examples of this type of load are electric iron, vac-

uum cleaners etc.

2.5. Network Interfaces

The main controller interacts with the SGCC through

network interfaces. The network interface could be elec-

trical or an optical interface or combination of these. Ad-

ditionally the interface could be built in the controller.

2.6. MMI Console or the User Interface

The MMI console allows the house owner to interact

with the controller, access the information on the SGCC,

change the settings, update the software, configure the

controller etc.

2.7. The Controller to Appliances Interface

This interface consists of switching devices, typically

relays. Based on the commands from the controller, the

relays would switch in or switch out the power to the

individual appliances. This interface could be integrated

with the main controller or could be a separate module.

Modern day multifunction relays used in the protection

and control application s allow seamless integration of the

controller and switc hing interface.

3. The Main Controller

The main controller is a computer which also houses the

software required to build the energy related intelligence

in the houses. It can, however, be programmed to do

much more [7]. The functionalities that can built in the

controller are enormous and would depend upon the local

energy architecture like the sources of the energy avail-

able to the controlled area, variety and the diversity of

the loads etc.

3.1. Features of Controller in a Simple Residential

or Similar Kind of Controlled Area

In typical residential system the controller would do fol-

lowing tasks:

1) It would receive synchronizing pulses from the

Smart Grid Control centre (SGCC) so that the clock in

the main controller reads the same time as the SGCC

clock.

2) The main controller would contact the SGCC peri-

odically and download the energy updates.

3) It will download the latest energy prices from the

SGCC and use that information to work out the energy

usage charges with the present supplier.

4) Based on the spot and the future prices of the en-

ergy, switching costs, mandatory lock in period of the

present energy supplier and the anticipated/future energy

consumption it would decide whether there is any sup-

plier which is cheaper than the present supplier and in

case it is so, it would initiate a switch over process. Al-

ternatively, the supplier changeover process could also

be initiated by user. The future energy consumption can

be forecasted by the controller based on the previous

energy trends or could keyed in by the user.

5) Type-B loads like washing machines, dryers, water

pumps etc. which are not contin uous and offer flexibility

in terms of switching should be switched when the rate

Smart Grid, Smart Controllers and Home Energy Automation—Creating the Infrastructure for Future 169

of the energy is lowest. The controller can be pro-

grammed to extend su pplies to these load s only when the

energy rate is the lowest.

6) It would record the daily, weekly, monthly energy

consumption and would provide the details to the house

owner of the same on request.

7) It would also record the data related to quality of

supply for contractual and legal purpose.

8) The controller may switch on or switch off the reac-

tive power equipment in the controlled area depending

upon the prev ailing power factor and availability o f such

devices.

9) Controller could also be programmed to switch off

the lights in some parts of controlled area based on the

solar radiations so that lighting loads are switched on

only when required.

10) The controller could also be programmed to cut of

supplies automatically to the Typ e-C loads after a certain

time is elapsed. Loads like electric iron etc. are rarely

used for an hour. If the controller senses that the load is

on for more than an hour, it would assume that the load

has been left on inadvertently and would switch off the

supplies. This would prevent energy wastage and more

importantly a chance of fire.

3.2. Features of Controller with BIPV (Building

Integrated Photovoltaic) in the Controlled

Area

BIPV is fast catching up as an alternative source of en-

ergy in regions receiving high density and periodicity of

sunshine and is the most common energy producing

source in the homes. The cost of the BIPV is cheapest

than all other photo voltaic systems because there is no

land cost involved. In addition to that BIPV convert part

of the incident radiations into electrical energy thus re-

ducing the cooling load. The cost of the energy from the

BIPV systems is cheaper than the energy from the fossil

fuel based sources provided the capital costs of the same

are not included. When the BIPV energy systems are also

integrated as one of the sources, the controller algorithm

needs to be modified to optimize/red uce the energy bills.

In such a case the controller, in addition to tasks in Sec-

tion 3.1, would also do the fol l owi n g:

1) Solar cells have a maximum power. The controllers

of the solar array keep the array biased at the maximum

power point so that maximum energy can be extracted

from the array for a particular value of incident solar

radiation. The main controller would keep a track of the

maximum energy that can extracted from the BIPV and

keep the energy extraction at this value. This would be

done even if it requires the switching of Type-B appli-

ances as the energy from the array is almost free. The

algorithm also requires that the user specifies the rating

of each of Type-B appliance allowing the controller to

decide which appliances should be switched on.

2) If the power corresponding to the maximum power

point is higher than the total connected load of the sys-

tem, than the additional en ergy fro m the BIPV is diverted

for the storage.

3) BIPV uses power conditioning equipment like in-

verters. These equipment create harmonics and power

factor related problems. The controller can have an algo-

rithm to switch on the required filters and the compensa-

tion equipment so that the power quality is not deterio-

rated.

3.3. Features of Controller with Energy Storage

Energy storage is an option used by some micro grids to

overcome the peak load demand. When the demand is

low, the excess energy is pumped into the storage system

and retrieved during the peaking time. The energy rates

charged to the consumers during the peaking times are

higher than the normal or the off peak rates. When the

storage system is part domestic energy system (as in the

case of BIPV) than controller algorithms should be de-

signed to pr ofit fro m spre ad between th e peak and the off

peak rates. The controller does the fo llowing functions in

addition to those listed in Sections 3.1 and 3.2:

1) It trea ts the storage sys tem as another Type-B load-

ing, activating its power conditioning equipment and

allows storage of energy when the energy tariff is low.

The power is retrieved from the storage when the higher

rates of energy apply.

2) It also keeps record of the full cycle efficiency of

the storage system. The full cycle losses in the storage

system and its associated auxiliary system should be

lower than the spread between the peak and the off peak

tariffs. If this is not so then energy cost would increase.

To demonstrate this let us assume a hypothetical case:

Let X be cost of unit of electricity per unit during peak

hours;

Let Y be cost of one unit of electricity during off peak

hours;

Let η be cyclic efficiency of the storage system i.e. if

A units are extracted from the grid for storage, the net

units available from the storage would be η × A. The

storage would be cost effective only when





 (1)

It is important to understand that energy storage sys-

tems may have a cost benefit but may not necessarily be

energy efficient.

3.4. Features of Controller with Heating Systems

in Controlled Area

In some countries the cost of the electricity and gas in

terms of KWH are comparable and during the off-peak

hours the price of electricity may come cheaper than the

Smart Grid, Smart Controllers and Home Energy Automation—Creating the Infrastructure for Future

170

price of the gas. This is in countries with high proportion

of the renewable generation (mainly Hydro) in the total

electricity generation. To maximize the revenue, the

off-peak rate of electricity sometimes is much lower than

the gas usage rate. In such countries the controller can

reduce the energy bills by switching the heating system

sources between gas and electricity. The switching over

is decided based on the spot prices of the gas and the

electricity and the efficiency of the gas and the electricity

based heating system. Not all loads can be designed to

have dual energy sources. Only the heating loads can be

switched over to the gas and the electricity. The control-

ler would have the intelligence to decide as which loads

allow switchover of the source. The algorithm for

switchover should consider the efficiencies of the gas

based and electricity based heating system.

Let Pe and Pg be the spot prices of electricity and gas

respectively. Let the efficiency of the heating system

based on the electricity and gas be ηe and ηg respectively.

Switchover of the heating system from gas to electricity

would be made if

eg g



 (2)

3.5. Remote Access Features

One of the major advantages of the smart controller

would be its capability to allow the owner with remote

access. Any user, through the SGCC, can access the con-

troller on internet from a remote location through a secure

password based system. The user can than turn on and

turn off the appliances, turn off the main energy inputs.

This feature can reduce the accidents caused by the ap-

pliances left on by the users during the vacations. Alter-

natively, the main controller can be programmed to turn

off certain appliances i.e. Type-C and Type-B loads

when it detects inactivity in the house for a certain p eriod.

Typical functions in a smart controller are shown in

Figure 5.

Figure 5. Typical functions in a smart home c ontroller .

4. Smart Grid Control Centre

The main controller is interfaced with the SGCC an d the

optimization algorithms running in the controller require

lot of inputs from the SGCC. Without the information

from the SGCC, the controller has to rely on the stored

information. The optimization routines would, than, not

be able to take the actions according to the latest energy

information. The Smart Grid Control Centre is like an

energy exchange. In a smart grid the functions that would

be performed by the SGCC are:

1) Each geographical region would have an SGCC and

all the suppliers and consumers in that region would be

connected to the SGCC.

2) Each consumer w ould have an accoun t in the SG CC.

The consumer can access this account to see the informa-

tion related to them. The consumers can also forecast

their energy consumption and inform the energy supplier

about the forecasts through the SGCC. Based on the ac-

curacy of the forecasts the supplier may chose to reward

the consumer.

3) It would act as an energy database storing informa-

tion about the energy system.

4) An important aspect of the SGCC is that would act

as a backup information storage system. The main con-

troller would access the SGCC periodically and log in the

user data like energy consumed, the applicable rates, the

energy supplier details, the information related to power

quality etc. Thus any information which has financial

and/or contractual implications would be stored at the

SGCC and the local controller da tabase.

5) The suppliers would access the SGCC to put in their

latest offers, update the spot and the future prices, know

the total consumers availing their services and at the

same time know about the consumption patterns of their

consumers. This information is not available to the con-

sumers.

6) The SGCC can also keep credit reports of the con-

sumers. This would be accessible only to the suppliers.

7) The consumers access the SGCC, through their PC,

connected to the controller or through the World Wide

Web, to check the spot and the future energy prices, ini-

tiate the changeover to a different supplier and know

about their consumption patterns.

8) The SGCC would also contain information about

the service levels of each supplier (Figure 6).

9) It can also act as a gateway for the consumer com-

plaints. The information regarding the complaints for

each supplier would be stored in the complaint database

and would be published periodically to allow consumers

to decide the supplier they would like to choose.

10) It would also be an information centre for the con-

sumers to inform them about the energy related outages,

blackouts, restoration activities, present and future short-

ages. This would allow the consumers to plan accordingly.

Smart Grid, Smart Controllers and Home Energy Automation—Creating the Infrastructure for Future 171

Figure 6. Typical Information in SGCC

11) The SGCC would also house information for each

supplier according to the source of energy i.e. from the

renewable, non ren ewable, nuclear etc.

12) The energy policy changes, either initiated by the

government or by the suppliers, would be published on

the SGCC and would be accessed by the consumers.

5. Automated Processes

The smart grid opens the possibility of setting up auto-

matic processes beneficial to all the users of the smart

grid. In particular are the processes which would allow

the consumers an improved level of the services and re-

duce the amount spent on the energy either by reducing

the energy consumption or by choosing cheaper source.

Three such processes are discussed below.

5.1. The Supplier Changeover Process

Supplier changeover process would consist of following

steps:

1) The supplier changeover process could be initiated

either manually by the consumer or by the main control-

ler based on the underlying spot and future prices of en-

ergy, the changeover costs and the forecasted future en-

ergy consumption.

2) In an automatic changeover process, the controller

periodically evaluates the information about the energy

prices in the SGCC and works out the economics. In the

manual change over process, the controller would be

asked to start the changeover process when instructed by

the user.

3) Once the economics or the other factors decide in

favor of the changeover, or the controller is manually

instructed by the user, the controller sends a message to

the SGCC requesting it formally to make the changeover.

4) The new (prospective) supplier is forwarded with

the details of the consumer and if the credentials of the

consumer are accepted by the new supplier, a confirma-

tion is issued to the consumer for the formal taking over.

At the same time the supplier also issues the terms and

conditions or the contract. The terms and conditions

would also be displayed on the SGCC, under the user

profile, as these would influence the changeover decision.

However as an additional security, the contract is sent to

the user in digital format.

5) The consumer would accept the contract or it would

be deemed to be accepted if not rejected within a certain

time.

6) Once the contract is accepted or deemed to have

been accepted, an acceptance is sent back to the supplier

and also one copy of the accepted contract is stored in the

SGCC.

7) The contract is given a unique number and this

number is conveyed to the consumer and the supplier.

The consumer and the supplier can also allocate their

own contract numbers internally. However, in the energy

market, the contract would identified by the number

given by S GCC.

8) The SGCC sends the information to the existing

supplier for the changeover receives the confirmation

from the supplier and forwards the confirmation to the

user or the controller.

9) The SGCC also debits the account of the user based

on the total energy consumed till the chang eover is com-

plete and also debits the user account with the change-

over costs.

10) The debits made from the account of the user are

than credited to the respective supplier (generally the

outgoing supplier) accounts.

11) The meter reading may be reset. The new tariff is

stored in the controller which would work out the energy

consumption of the user. The changeover process is than

formally complete. The changeover flow is depicted in

Flow Chart in Appendix I.

5.2. Complaint Addressal Mechanism

Smart Grid has the potential to substantially reduce the

billing related complaints. This is because the consumers

can not only monitor their energy consumption but also

the rates at which the energy is billed. As these details

would be available online as well as locally, the chances

of the error would reduce and so would the complaints.

Advantages of the smart grid go beyond these issues. The

smart grid can aid impartial and fair investigation against

the complaints. This is because not only more data is

available but also the data is sto red at two different loca-

tions. These details would act as a proof when the con-

sumer wants to lodge a complaint against the existing

supplier. The complaint mechanism would be:

Smart Grid, Smart Controllers and Home Energy Automation—Creating the Infrastructure for Future

172

1) The consumer lodges a complaint in the SGCC de-

scribing the complaint. The complaint could either be

billing related or quality of power supply related.

2) The details of the complaint are investigated with

the data from the SGCC. In case of doubts, the data from

main controller is requested. The data stored in the

SGCC in the consumers account has a back up in the

controll e r hard disk.

3) The reports of the investigation are forwarded to the

consumer and necessary action is taken by the supplier.

4) If the investigations prove that the supplier is at

fault, than the consumer can be adequately compensated.

5) A complaint database is also maintained and if the

complaints are proved to be genuine than it is moved to

public view database and helps the other consumers’

proper selection of sup pli e r.

6) Complaints which remain unsolved for a particular

time are moved to another public view database. The

complaint database would record the name of the suppli-

ers and it would help the consumers is determining the

quality of the services offered by the supplier.

5.3. Automated Billing and Collection

Mechanism

The automated billing mechanism would benefit the

customer by reducing the work involved in making the

periodic payments and at the same time reduces the work

put in by the energy suppliers by reducing the collection

efforts. The steps involved in an automated billing and

collection mechanism are:

1) The suppliers set up the payment options like pay-

ment every month based on the actual energy consumed

or payment when the energy amount exceeds a particular

amount.

2) The customer chooses a particular payment method

depending upon the available options.

3) The Customer provides the bank account details and

authorizes the supplier to deduct the payments from the

account either after a fixed date or fixed amount based on

the energy consumption exceeding the fixed amount. The

payment terms are agreed mutually and form a part of the

contract stored in the SGCC and the controller.

4) The details of the payments are also stored in the

main controller.

5) The energy consumption details are sent everyday

by the controller to the SGCC which than forwards these

details to the relevant supplier.

6) Based on the payment options chosen by the con-

sumer, the supplier raises the bill and sends it to the

SGCC for onward forwarding to the consumer. The bill

not only includes the amount but also the date when

amount would be dedu cted from the account.

7) The consumer can verify the details like energy

consumption et c. from the data availa bl e in the cont r oll e r.

8) The supplier sends a confirmation to the customer

once the payment has been credited. The records are

stored in the SGCC for certain duration. The payment

records are also stored in the main controller.

6. Summary

The paper discusses some concepts and capabilities that

could be built in smarter homes. Smart home ideas are

still evolving and so many of the ideas would still be

infantile stages and could take a different course than

mentioned in the paper. It is, however, now established

that renewable energy sources would play an important

role in the smart grid.

The paper not only discusses the architecture that

could be used but also proposes some automated proc-

esses to realize the smart grid. These processes may not

be complete in all the functionality of smart homes but

do let readers know as what degree of fun ctiona lity could

be expected from smart homes. Smart grid architecture

can offer tremendous advantages to the consumers in

terms of monetary savings and the improvement in the

level of services. The main advantages that would accrue

to a consumer are:

1) Better energy prices because of more competition.

2) Improved services because of the increased service

monitoring.

3) More easy for the consumers to legally switch over

the suppliers and th e pr ocess is also faster.

4) Consumers can be compensated for th e poor quality

of supply.

5) Integration of the home based renewable energy

systems with the home energy system can be made easier.

6) Automated load con trolling algorithm located in the

main controller can help in distribution of the load over

time which is beneficial to the grid.

However, it’s not only the consumers which would

benefit by this. Details of consumers who have been con-

sistently fleecing the suppliers would be recorded in the

SGCC server and the suppliers can access this to deter-

mine whether the new consumer applicant has a worthy

credit rating. This means that the SGCC would store the

energy related credit rating of the local consumers. This

database would be confidential and only accessible to the

suppliers. Thus smart homes can benefit the suppliers

and the consumers.

REFERENCES

[1] Y. H. Songs and A. T. Johns, “Flexible AC Transmission

Systems (FACTS),” Institution of Engineering and Tech-

nology (IET), London, 1999.

[2] A. G. Phadge and J. S. Thorp, “Synchronized Phasor

Measurement and Their Applications,” Springer, New

York, 2008.

Smart Grid, Smart Controllers and Home Energy Automation—Creating the Infrastructure for Future

173

[3] B. R. Flynn, “Key Smart Grid Applications,” Protection

and Control Journal, No. 8, 2009, pp. 29-34.

http://www.gedigitalenergy.com/multilin/journals/

[4] L. Sollecito, “Smart Grid: The Road Ahead,” Protection

and Control Journal, No. 8, 2009, pp. 15-19.

http://www.gedigitalenergy.com/multilin/journals/

[5] T. Vijayapriya and D. P. Kothari, “Smart Grid: An Over-

view,” Smart Grid and Renewable Energy Journal, Vol. 2,

No. 4, 2011, pp. 305-311. doi:10.4236/sgre.2011.24035

[6] OFFGEM, “Smart Metering—What It Means for Brit-

ain’s Homes,” Fact Sheet 101, March 2011.

http://www.smartmeters.com/the-news/whitepapers.html

[7] DSP Group, “DECT Home Networking—The Next Step

in Home Automation,” DSP White Paper, July 2011.

http://www.smartmeters.com/the-news/whitepapers.html

Appendix I

The Supplier Changeover Process

Supplier Change over request initiated

manually by the end user. Data fro m SGCC

Pro cess works out the

cheapest supplier

Is t he pr es ent

supplier che a pe s t?

Inform the user and wait for the

confirmation or if allowed by the

user, auto matically go to next stage

Start the Changeover by sending the

req ue st to the SGCC

SGCC for wards the request with the

details of the customer to the new /

prospective

supplier

To the next page

Is the new supplier

ready to take over?

SGCC informs the main

controller. The main controller

ends the process and avoids

changeover with this supplier

for a predetermined time.

YES

Smart Grid, Smart Controllers and Home Energy Automation—Creating the Infrastructure for Future

174

The new supplier sends the details of the contract to the customer through the SGCC. SGCC provides an

uni que number to the cont ract an d forwards i t to th e customer and s tores a cop y of the sa me for fut ure

ref erence. Th e cont ract is deemed to be accep ted if not rej ected by t he custom er in the p redefi ned time

frame.

Is the contract rejected?

SGCC in forms t he new suppli er of the

acceptance and at this stage the SGCC also

informs th e old supplier of th e changeover.

SGCC work s out th e dues wit h the existing su pplier s and inform s

th e customer of the s ame.

The customer pays the dues or if agreed previously dues are

ded uct e d from th e acc oun t of the cu stom er. In eith er ca se, th e dues

are cr edited to the account of old supplier.

The proc ess E N DS

SG CC Terminates proce ss

and info r ms th e cus tomer and

supplier.

From Previous Page

YES