Friday, June 28, 2013: STMicroelectronics has launched what it claims to be the world’s first smart-meter integrated circuit (IC) with built-in support for the METERS AND MORE open communication standard, which enables widespread interoperability among smart metering equipment using Power Line Communication (PLC). This will help to maximise smart-grid benefits for the environment, consumers and utility companies.
ST’s ST75MM IC is the first to embed hardware and communication protocol support for METERS AND MORE, simplifying meter design to ultimately enable faster, lower-cost and reliable deployments. The METERS AND MORE is an open specification managed by the METERS AND MORE not-for-profit Association comprising leading technology companies and utilities spanning the Americas, Europe and Asia.
“The ST75MM represents a concrete answer to the challenges associated with encouraging standardisation and interoperability, while assuring the adoption of a mature technology proven over millions of smart meters already in the field,” said Giuseppe Michele Salaris, the chairman of the board of directors at METERS AND MORE Association. “The world’s energy businesses, from technology companies to utilities, should take advantage of this breakthrough using METERS AND MORE, an open and field proven standard, to meet important climate-saving objectives such as the EU’s 20/20/20 goals.”
Customers using the ST75MM can join the METERS AND MORE Association and achieve Certification for their products to enable widespread use by utility companies.
First samples of the ST75MM, in the 7x7mm QFN 48 package, will be available to selected customers by October this year.