Patent ID: 8049642

Claim:
An electricity meter for use within an advanced metering system having and operating relative to a network, other meters, user interfaces, and central collection functionality, comprising: a line side which receives electrical service when connected to said meter; a load side, downstream from said meter line side, which electrically connects with an electrical load when connected to said meter; a detection circuit, upstream from said meter load side and downstream from said meter line side, for detecting the presence of electricity at said meter load side; a remote disconnect switch, upstream from said detection circuit and downstream from said meter line side, controllably actuated for electrically connecting and disconnecting said meter line side relative to said meter load side, so that electrical service when present at said meter line side is, respectively, electrically connected with, and disconnected from, an electrical load when present at said meter load side; metrology, downstream from said meter line side and upstream from said meter load side, for monitoring the consumption or production of electricity vis-à-vis electrical service and electrical load associated with said meter; and a bidirectional communications link, linking said meter and a network operating relative to an advanced metering system, such that data may be communicated regarding actuation of said remote disconnect switch and presence of electricity at said meter load side; wherein said detection circuit comprises a voltage sensor electrically in parallel with said meter load side; said detection circuit comprising a filtering capacitor, an over-current protection resistor, an opto-isolator, and a transient voltage suppressor for setting the turn-on voltage of said voltage sensor.