Self-Diagnostic Advanced Metering Infrastructure Based on Power-Line Communication: A Study Case in Spanish Low-Voltage Distribution Networks

Matías Ariel Kippke Salomón, José Manuel Carou Álvarez, Lucía Suárez Ramón and Pablo Arboleya ()
Additional contact information
Matías Ariel Kippke Salomón: LEMUR Research Group, Universidad de Oviedo, 33204 Gijón, Asturias, Spain
José Manuel Carou Álvarez: LEMUR Research Group, Universidad de Oviedo, 33204 Gijón, Asturias, Spain
Lucía Suárez Ramón: LEMUR Research Group, Universidad de Oviedo, 33204 Gijón, Asturias, Spain
Pablo Arboleya: LEMUR Research Group, Universidad de Oviedo, 33204 Gijón, Asturias, Spain

Energies, 2025, vol. 18, issue 7, 1-34

Abstract: The transformation of low-voltage distribution grids toward decentralized, user-centric models has increased the need for advanced metering infrastructures capable of ensuring both visibility and control. This paper presents a self-diagnostic advanced metering solution based on power-line communication deployed in a segment of the Spanish distribution network. The proposed infrastructure leverages the existing power network as a shared-media communication channel, reducing capital expenditures while enhancing system observability. A methodology is introduced for integrating smart metering data with topological and operational analytics to improve network monitoring and energy management. This study details the proposed metering infrastructure, highlighting its role in enhancing distribution network resilience through asynchronous energy measurements, event-driven analytics, and dynamic grid management strategies. The self-diagnostic module enables the detection of non-technical losses, identification of congested areas, and monitoring of network assets. Furthermore, this paper discusses the regulatory and technological challenges associated with scaling metering solutions, particularly in the context of increasing distributed energy resource penetration and evolving European Union regulatory frameworks. The findings demonstrate that a well-integrated advanced metering infrastructure system significantly improves distribution network efficiency, enabling proactive congestion detection and advanced load management techniques. However, this study also emphasizes the limitations of PLC in high-noise environments and proposes enhancements such as hybrid communication approaches to improve reliability and real-time performance. The insights provided contribute to the ongoing evolution of metering infrastructure technologies, offering a path toward more efficient and resource-optimized smart grids.

Keywords: advanced metering infrastructure (AMI); power-line communication (PLC); active network management (ANM) (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/7/1746/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/7/1746/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jeners:v:18:y:2025:i:7:p:1746-:d:1625024

Access Statistics for this article

Energies is currently edited by Ms. Agatha Cao

More articles in Energies from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().