The present invention relates to a system for distributing electrical energy, comprising an electricity grid configured to supply electrical energy to end users, characterized in that the grid is operated on a direct voltage.

A device for detecting energy theft from a utility network configured to access energy data for utilities, generate energy results, identify an outlying utility in the energy results, access behavioral data, determine whether there is a likelihood of energy theft associated with the outlying utility, generate descriptive results from the behavioral data indicating the likelihood of energy theft, receive a response of whether the energy theft occurred, and refine operation of the detecting of energy theft of the device.

An electric power distribution system is used with an electric power source. The electric power distribution system includes a first device exchanging first electric power with the electric power source. The first device exchanges the first electric power with a plurality of second devices and meters first electric energy corresponding to the first electric power. The second devices exchange the first electric power with the first device. Each of the second devices exchanges second electric power as at least part of the first electric power with a number of corresponding electric loads and meter second electric energy corresponding to the second electric power. A processor includes a routine that compares the metered first electric energy from the first device with a sum of the metered second electric energy from each of the second devices, and responsively determines proper or improper operation of the electric power distribution system.

A utility meter includes a meter housing that supports at least one current coil, a temperature sensor, and a processing circuit coupled to both. The current coil can be coupled to receive heat energy from a meter socket. The temperature sensor disposed generates a sensor signal based on a temperature within the meter housing. The processing circuit obtains the sensor signal and generates meter temperature information based at least in part thereon. The processing circuit also obtains a first predetermined threshold based on at least one of time of day information and date information. The processing circuit also determines whether an abnormal condition exists by comparing the meter temperature information to a value based on the first predetermined threshold, and generates an output signal to a memory, display or communication circuit responsive to determining that the abnormal condition exists.

A gas meter control system is adapted for use in gas meters having a plurality of different sizes (e.g., ability to measure different flowrates and/or different gas volumes per billing cycle) and different functional capabilities. In an example, the gas meter control system is configured to recognize and identify a metrology unit, sensor(s), switch(es), valve(s), valve motor(s), and/or other device(s) within a gas meter. Having identified devices present within a gas-environment and an air-environment of the meter, the control system selects and executes appropriate software to operate the identified devices. Addition of an additional component to the meter (e.g., an earthquake sensor or a tamper sensor) results in identification of the added component and execution of appropriate control software. Accordingly, the gas meter control system replaces a number of control systems configured to operate a single specific meter and/or configuration.

A comprehensive water protection device, which is arranged on a water pipeline between a water pipeline inlet and downstream water equipment, includes a control unit, a water circuit valve installed on the water pipeline, a flow meter, a pressure gauge, and at least one of: a water quality detection probe; and a water leakage probe, which is used to monitor the water leakage point in the water pipeline and the downstream water equipment. The water circuit valve, the flow meter, the pressure gauge, the water quality detection probe, and the water leakage probe are connected to the control unit; and the flow meter, the pressure gauge, the water quality detection probe, and the water leakage probe are set in the water pipeline.

A communication module uses information received from a metrology module within the same network device and information about the properties of the specific metrology module, such as supply capacity and pulse volume, to determine when an error condition exits. The communication module accumulates pulses during an accumulation interval and compares the number of pulses accumulated during the accumulation interval to a threshold number of pulses to determine whether an error condition exists. If there is an error condition, then the communication module generates an alert and may transmit the alert without waiting for a scheduled communication.

A computer implemented method for selecting an appropriately sized meter for use in a selected application implemented by a computer processor implementing instructions stored in a non-transient memory is described. The instructions include receiving utility meter data transmitted from a plurality of utility meters, each utility meter being installed at a unique utility monitoring location, identifying incorrectly sized utility meters based on utility meter data for particular utility meters that displays quantization effects, and selecting an appropriate meter based on the identification of the utility meters displaying quantization effects.

A utility meter includes a meter housing that supports at least one current coil, a temperature sensor, and a processing circuit coupled to both. The current coil can be coupled to receive heat energy from a meter socket. The temperature sensor disposed generates a sensor signal based on a temperature within the meter housing. The processing circuit obtains the sensor signal and generates meter temperature information based at least in part thereon. The processing circuit also obtains a first predetermined threshold based on at least one of time of day information and date information. The processing circuit also determines whether an abnormal condition exists by comparing the meter temperature information to a value based on the first predetermined threshold, and generates an output signal to a memory, display or communication circuit responsive to determining that the abnormal condition exists.

A method for linkage between an alarm based on gas and a gas meter is provided. The method is executed by the gas meter. The method includes: obtaining a detection signal through electrical connection with the alarm; determining a target alarm event corresponding to the detection signal in response to the detection signal meeting a preset alarm condition; in response to the detection signal meeting the preset alarm condition, receiving a reset instruction issued by a management platform; performing reset operation on the alarm based on the reset instruction; obtaining a reset detection signal and determining a reset alarm event corresponding to the reset detection signal; determining a credibility of the target alarm event; sending a control closing instruction to the gas meter based on the credibility larger than a preset credibility threshold, and closing a gas valve of the gas meter based on the control closing instruction.