Abstract: A utility meter implementing the ANSI C12.19 standard is able to bypass security processing using Decade4 security tables for a single data access operation. The meter includes a procedure that is executed by a processor in the meter to process requests for security keys. Data internal to the meter is used to generate a security key. The security key is used by the requesting external device and the procedure to generate an access key. The external device sends its access key to the procedure so it may be compared to the internally generated access key. If both access keys are the same, a data access operation performed by the external device is allowed without reference to the Decade4 security tables. Once a timeout or data access operation is performed, subsequent data access operations are subject to processing in accordance with the Decade4 security tables unless another security key is requested for repetition of the process.

Abstract: An electrical utility meter includes measurement error diagnostic capabilities with intelligent communication capabilities. In an exemplary embodiment, the present invention includes an electrical utility meter for measuring energy consumption by a load. The electrical utility meter includes, sensor circuitry, a conversion circuit, a communication circuit, and a controller. The sensor circuitry connects to a meter socket. The meter socket connects to a plurality of power lines that, in turn, connect the load to a source of electrical power. The source of electrical power provides power to the load in a plurality of phases. The sensor circuitry generates voltage and current measurement signals representative of the voltage and current waveforms on the plurality of power lines.

Abstract: An electrical utility meter includes a controller that determines a list of highest demands using event-triggered windows of time to ensure that only one of the entries on the list corresponds to any one high consumption event. The controller generates a demand value corresponding to the quantity of energy consumed within a demand interval, and then determines whether the demand value for the demand interval is greater than a smallest demand value on a list of highest demands in a memory location. If so, the controller opens a demand window, the demand window having a duration exceeding the demand interval. The controller then obtains a plurality of additional demand values for the duration of the demand window, each of the additional demand values corresponding to one of a plurality of additional demand intervals within the demand window. The controller records in the list of highest demands in the memory location a select one of the demand value and plurality of additional demand values.