Smart meter (contador inteligente)

What the smart meter is

It is the meter that replaced the old spinning-disc meters. It is normally owned by the distributor, which in Seville is e-distribución, and sits in the building’s meter room or a cabinet on the façade. It communicates with the distributor through the power network itself, so nobody has to come and read it.

What it measures and does

• Hourly consumption. It records the kWh of each hour, so the different tariff periods can be billed.
• Remote reading. Bills use real readings, not estimates.
• Power control. It includes the ICP: it cuts out if you exceed your contracted power.
• Remote changes. The distributor can change your contracted power without replacing it, as long as your installation allows it.

How to read its display

Pressing its button cycles the display through several values: date and time, total and per-period accumulated energy, instantaneous power and contracted power. Codes vary by manufacturer, but accumulated kWh and power in kW are usually easy to spot.

The CUPS and your consumption curve

The CUPS is the 20-character code starting with ES that identifies your supply point. It is on your bill and you need it for any paperwork: new connection, switching supplier or raising power. With it you can register in your distributor’s customer area and download your hourly consumption curve. See increase contracted power in Seville, Spain.