A large residential building needed a precise, automated solution for monitoring and billing electricity consumption per flat. Previous manual meter reading methods were time-consuming, error-prone and not scalable. A solution was sought that avoids complex additional systems, uses the existing metering technology and integrates seamlessly into the property management’s IT systems.
Perinet is an expert in end-to-end infrastructure from the field level to IT. The solutions connect sensors and actuators directly and securely with the cloud, the internet and enterprise IT. In cooperation with Zentinel MDS, a practical architecture for automated energy consumption measurement in residential buildings was developed.
Note: Zentinel markets the solution as a white label product based on Perinet components. This allows partners to offer the architecture under their own brand.
The challenge: Overcoming manual meter readings and automating energy consumption measurement
- Accurately record electricity consumption per apartment and provide it centrally
- Automate billing and eliminate manual readings
- Continue using existing meters and keep integration efforts low
- Scale the solution to reliably support many flats
- Ensure data security and control access
The solution: IoT architecture for automated energy consumption measurement in residential buildings
Implementation is based on a modular architecture of adapter, edge server, MQTT and SQL database. Energy consumption is measured automatically, the data is stored and made available to the property management via a dashboard. If required, power circuits of individual apartments can be remotely switched.
Architecture and components
ZentNodeMT adapter
ZentNodeMT counts the pulses of existing electricity meters, for example one pulse equals one hundred watt hours. The adapters convert the pulses into standardized consumption data in kilowatt hours and make them digitally available.
ZentEdge server
ZentEdge receives the measurement data from the adapters and acts as the central MQTT broker and SQL database. The data is structured and available for dashboards and further IT applications.
Dashboard for property management
Property management sees current and cumulative consumption per flat. Filters by period and unit make evaluation and billing easier. Events are documented with a timestamp.
Remote switching via MQTT
With defined MQTT control commands, power circuits of individual apartments can be remotely switched on or off if necessary. This simplifies service operations and increases operational reliability.
Security and operation
Communication is encrypted with TLS. The solution works without additional SCADA systems. Commissioning is plug and play and can be scaled to a large number of flats.
Benefits for operators and managers
- Automation: continuous data collection and billing without manual intervention
- Scalability: virtually unlimited number of flats
- Cost efficiency: use of existing meters without expensive additional systems
- Transparency: real time and historical consumption per flat at a glance
- Security: TLS encrypted communication and role based access
- Flexibility: remote switching of power circuits for service and operation
Additional application options
- Office buildings: Monitoring the electricity consumption of individual rental units or departments
- Industrial plants: Monitoring the energy consumption of specific machines or production lines
- Smart cities: Integration into urban energy monitoring systems, e.g. for public buildings or street lighting
- Public utilities: Monitoring of pulse-controlled water or gas meters
The result: Transparent billing and reduced operating costs through energy consumption measurement
The solution from Perinet and Zentinel MDS provides a stable and secure data basis for billing and energy consumption measurement in residential buildings. Manual meter readings are no longer necessary. Consumption becomes transparent, service operations can be planned more efficiently and operating costs decrease. The architecture is expandable and can be transferred to additional properties.
Summary of results
- Automatically and precisely record consumption data per flat
- Central visualization in a dashboard
- Simplify billing and reduce errors
- Remote switching via MQTT if required
- Secure communication with TLS
- Fast commissioning without SCADA
