ITPEC FE Subject A April 2025 Question 56
A smart meter is a highly functional electricity meter with a function for communications and a function for the management of other devices. Which of the following is not an appropriate purpose for installing a smart meter?
Explanation
Acting as an auxiliary power source in a power failure — a smart meter measures and communicates; it stores no energy.
A smart meter measures consumption at short intervals, sends the readings to the power company, and can exchange data with devices in the home. That supports:
- •automatic, remote meter reading
- •showing consumption to the user to encourage saving power
- •demand response, adjusting demand to cut peak load
Supplying power during an outage needs a battery or generator, such as a UPS or a home storage battery, which is outside a meter's role.
Answer (a)
Why not others:
- •(b) — automatic meter reading is a core purpose: readings reach the utility over the network
- •(c) — visualizing consumption to raise awareness of saving power is a stated purpose of smart meters
- •(d) — demand response to restrain peak power uses the meter's communication and device-management functions
Key rule: A smart meter is a measuring and communication device; backup power comes from storage or generation equipment.
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