VERY-LOW COST METERS FOR LOW-POWER CONSUMERS

The electrical energy utilities in Brazil are facing a serious problem related to the large number of consumers whose consumption is close t o the minimum billing threshold, representing today 30 kWh/month (this is the so-called compulsory minimum tariff). The revenue to the utili ties from these consumers does not compensate for the investment neces sary to buy and to install the conventional electromechanical meter. T he simplest conventional electromechanical meter, the single-phase one , is a product that has been improved and whose cost has been reduced over a long period of time, and that has no further possibilities of s implification and/or cost reduction. The ideal solution should cost fr om one-third to one-half of the cost of the conventional electromechan ical meter, in order to assure the payback to the utilities.