STMicroelectronics selected as technical partner for smart meter platform

Semiconductor company STMicroelectronics is supporting e-distribuzione, the Enel Group company holding the concession for electricity distribution services, in the deployment of second-generation smart meter platform Open Meter.

Designed and developed by e-distribuzione, Open Meter extends the benefits of traditional advanced metering infrastructures (AMI) by introducing a communication link inside the home leveraging on open standard Meters and More protocol, enabling enhanced services such as smart home energy management, dynamic tariff optimisation and better, more complete usage information for customers.

ST is supporting the Open Meter program with the latest evolution of its PLC system-on-chip (SoC) programmable platforms, as well as energy-conscious 32-bit application microcontrollers, high-efficiency power-supply ICs and discrete semiconductors for power control and switching. The high feature integration and performance of these devices simplify connecting smart objects in the home with the smart grid and the cloud, helping to improve management of precious resources and ensure secure and robust infrastructures as consumer needs and environmental concerns continue to intensify.

“ST has been supporting Enel’s pioneering deployment of smart meters since 2001 with successful programs in Italy, Spain, Eastern Europe and Latin America,” said Domenico Arrigo, general manager, Industrial and Power Conversion Division, STMicroelectronics. “ST is now supplying the latest and most advanced PLC and smart meter technologies to Enel for this new step forward.”