Smart Metering - electronic remote, real time monitoring or collection of usage data - is achieved by the use of communications enabled utilities meters.

Various technical means to communicate exist including short/long range radio, TCP/IP, and powerline signalling.

In addition innovative payment systems include smart card, and keypad technologies. Once this basic infrastructure is in place a number of challenges can be tackled. These include environmental, social and information age challenges.

In particular, business, social and consumer value can be derived from precise usage data and the communications facilities.