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.

Techniques determine if a gas service (e.g., piping and/or meter) is undersized for the customer's needs. In one example, flowrate information corresponding to gas usage at a service site over a first period of time is obtained. The flowrate information is disaggregated to determine an expected flowrate associated with each of two or more appliances having generally fixed-rates of gas consumption. Flowrate information is again obtained, corresponding to a second period of time. The second flowrate information is compared to one or more combinations (i.e., summations) of the expected flowrates associated with each of the two or more appliances. Based on the comparison, it may be determined that the service site is not appropriately sized. In an example, failure to detect two fixed-rate of gas-consumption appliances operating at their respective fixed-rates at the same time may indicate that the service cannot provide gas at a sufficient flowrate.

Techniques determine if an appliance having a fixed-rate of gas-consumption is degrading over time. In one example, a flowrate of gas at a service site is obtained. The flowrate of gas is disaggregated to obtain a flowrate of gas corresponding to an appliance having a generally fixed-rate of gas-consumption. The flowrate of gas of the appliance is compared to historical gas consumption by the appliance. Based at least in part on the comparing, it may be determined that performance of the appliance has changed over time. For example, the gas consumption of a hot water tank may increase due to mineral build-up in the bottom of the tank. Responsive to the determined degradation of the appliance, warnings may be sent, repairs may be made, and/or appliance(s) may be replaced.

A utility meter includes a consumption measurement unit for generating consumption data, a meter processor, and a RTC for time stamping the consumption data to provide interval meter data during interval meter operation. A memory stores the interval meter data. The meter processor implements/initiates responsive to a power loss that suspends RTC operation, switching from interval to relative time operation where consumption data is stored as relative consumption data together with a relative time as relative meter data. Responsive power restoration and receiving a current time, the meter switches from relative time to interval meter operation. The restoration time is calculated using the current and an elapsed time since the restoration. The time of restoration and current time is used to generate calculated times. The consumption data from relative time operation is time stamped with the calculated times to provide time-corrected relative meter data that is stored to the memory.

Techniques determine if a gas service (e.g., piping and/or meter) is undersized for the customer's needs. In one example, flowrate information corresponding to gas usage at a service site over a first period of time is obtained. The flowrate information is disaggregated to determine an expected flowrate associated with each of two or more appliances having generally fixed-rates of gas consumption. Flowrate information is again obtained, corresponding to a second period of time. The second flowrate information is compared to one or more combinations (i.e., summations) of the expected flowrates associated with each of the two or more appliances. Based on the comparison, it may be determined that the service site is not appropriately sized. In an example, failure to detect two fixed-rate of gas-consumption appliances operating at their respective fixed-rates at the same time may indicate that the service cannot provide gas at a sufficient flowrate.

The system can include installing a gas meter in a gas supply net. The system may also include determining, by the gas meter, a level of pressure within the gas meter. The system may also include determining, by the gas meter, a flow rate level within the gas meter. The gas meter determines where a leak exists based on the flow rate level and the level of pressure. The system may also include determining, by the gas meter, a location of the leak, and whether the leak is upstream or downstream from the gas meter. The location of the leak is determined by the level of the pressure and the flow rate level. The system can also include a head end configured at a set position. The gas meter can inform the head end of the location of the leak.

The system a gas meter configured to determine a meter health factor based on a power management criteria, ageing criteria, wear out criteria, accuracy impacting criteria, and an alarm state. The gas meter can determine if the meter health factor indicates if functioning is intact, if functioning is intact or assistance and repair is needed immediately or at a future time interval based on the power management criteria, ageing criteria, wear out criteria, accuracy impacting criteria, and an alarm state. The gas meter informs a head end system that the assistance and repair is required. The head end system receives information that the assistance and repair is required, and obtains the required assistance and repair from one or more external sources.

Methods, systems, and apparatus for monitoring consumable gas usage are disclosed. A method includes obtaining, from one or more sensors installed at a property, sensor data that indicates one or more attributes of the property; based on the sensor data, determining an expected amount of gas consumption at the property; obtaining, from a gas meter installed at the property, gas meter data that indicates a gas consumption at the property; determining, based on the gas meter data and the expected amount of gas consumption, that the gas consumption at the property meets criteria for abnormal gas consumption; and based on determining that the gas consumption at the property meets criteria for abnormal gas consumption, performing one or more monitoring system actions. Determining an expected amount of gas consumption at the property comprises determining an operating status of each of a plurality of gas consuming appliances at the property.

Apparatuses, systems, and methods for collecting utility meter data are described. An example system may include a flow controller and a server. The flow controller is configured to communicate with a water meter for a property and connected to at least one water outlet of a plurality of water outlets. The server is coupled to one or more infrastructure databases and the flow controller. The server includes a non-transitory computer readable media and is configured to execute instructions stored on the non-transitory computer readable media. The instructions include receiving water usage data from the flow controller and transmitting the water usage data from the water meter for the property to a water utility company.

Techniques described herein detect a meter orientation based on a temperature gradient measured for a utility meter. A method for detecting a meter orientation includes determining a set of temperature measurements including a respective temperature measurement at two or more temperature sensors of a utility meter. The method further includes comparing the set of temperature measurements to a thermal fingerprint of the utility meter. The thermal fingerprint represents a baseline set of one or more temperature gradients based on the two or more temperature sensors over time. The method further includes detecting a meter orientation based on comparing the set of temperature measurements to the thermal fingerprint of the utility meter.