Automatic Meter Reading and Recognition System without Replacing the Existing Meter

Currently, meters can be read manually, touch-read (hand-held device with a probe), Bus, Power Line, Radio, Modem, or GSM/Satellite. Existing infrastructure, cost and local regulations are the driving force behind the above mentioned choices. In the current AMR technology, the existing meter has to be replaced with new Smart/AMR meters, which is not feasible, if it is done at macro level. In this research, we consider meter reading without replacing the existing meters, standards and procedures. A system of automatic interrogating metering without the need for changing the existing system has many advantages, both to the supplier and to the consumer. It will be more economically efficient if we incorporate AMRRS for consumers to pay differing prices, based on their usage of electricity, instead of the current system  in which an average or pre-rated price is used. Hence it is good to send real-time and the actual pricing to consumers along with the infrastructure feasibility and economically acceptable solution. The mentioned solutions are suitable for the upcoming cities, the old city, including residential and industrial areas and also the rural areas respectively.