Design and Implementation of Smart Billing and Automated Meter Reading System for Utility Gas

Billing automation systems for public utilities (e.g. electricity, gas and water) have been widely studied and implemented in developed countries across the world. But in Pakistan, this technology is still on its way to be implemented for domestic as well as for industrial consumers. This paper explores the design, implementation and application of billing automation system for gas consumers in Pakistan. For low gas consumption (domestic consumers), a prepaid meter has been designed which needs a prepaid card to keep the gas supply continue. Similarly for high gas consumption (industrial consumers), the gas meter is wirelessly connected with the regional billing office. In this way the billing office is able to directly communicate with the meter and records its gas consumption reading. Along with the gas, this system can easily be enhanced to measure the consumption of electricity and water.