###### Abstract  
Energy consumption demands are rapidly increasing every year, with an 8% annual growth rate projected for the next five years. As buildings represent over 35% of this demand, a metering system is required for monitoring to accurately calculate costs. This paper explores the evolution and impact of energy management through smart meters, emphasizing their superiority over traditional electromechanical devices, in applications such as minimizing power losses and enhancing grid reliability. This study compares the performance of five distinct metering systems, including electromechanical and advanced smart meters. Real-time testing across various scenarios is incorporated, examining parameters such as real and reactive power measurement, accuracy and adaptability to smart grids. Key findings revealed that smart meters, notably the EDMI Mk10A, outperform legacy systems in precision, data transmission and energy optimization. In addition, the potential of smart meters to enable dynamic cost calculation and prevent electricity theft is evident. Despite their advantages, challenges such as data privacy, installation costs and electromagnetic radiation concerns, persist. Future investigations to address the identified limitations are required. s +
Footnote †: journal: Applied sciences  
article  
[color=0,nobreak=0 pt,Within the last 50 years, power meters, developed by Landis and Gyr based on the Thomson wattmeter, have been exploited [3]. Their operation is based on the revolutions of the rotating disk that is moved by two coils: an M-shaped shunt electromagnet coil connected in parallel and a U-shaped current coil connected in series with the load. The driving force caused from the flux produced by the two magnets makes the pivotal bearing move. As a result, a disk, connected to this implementation, is triggered to rotate. This component is controlled by a braking magnet for further setting and speed adjustments. The schematic and the layout of the power meter are presented in Figure 1[3,4]. Analog meters are affordable, easy to install and durable, with only a 3% failure rate [5]. However, they lack both accuracy and convenience for measurements and require the employment of extra workers, while being more prone to interference and thus vulnerable to energy theft. Usually, these practices are based on certain illegal moves that aim to reduce or even stop the rotation of the moving disk entirely, by altering the flux with external magnets or interrupting the cable connection. In addition, one major drawback is the access to the meter in case of a fault diagnosis, or the cut-off process if an electricity theft is confirmed. To overcome these issues, the adoption of smart meters is recommended. Smart meters introduce a variety of advantages, including the following:  
* Remote fault, control and operation;
* Wireless data transmission;
* Precise and real-time monitoring of energy usage;
* Availability for frequent measurements, up to 15 min, during the day;
* Implementation of dynamic energy billing tariffs;
* Automation of smart home appliances operation;
* Bidirectional energy metering and self-generation tracking [2,3,6]. Smart meters increase power system reliability by optimizing energy source utilization, ensuring an uninterrupted power supply, enabling data logging and reducing power losses through impedance and topology estimation [2,7]. Since these are monitoring and transmitting data remotely in real time, the power resource efficiency is increased. This is an automated operation of the appliances, in order to shift the load when energy prices are low, hence avoiding surge pricing during peak hours [8]. Statistical data can be provided for consumer behavior purposes, so users can employ flexible energy management practices  
Figure 1: Analog meter representation: (**a**) schematic diagram; (**b**) layout [3,4]. to reduce costs.