**2. Architectural structure of smart meter**

Although smart metering has related working principles with the conventional meter in the arrangement and calculation of physical quantities, they differ in the computational aspect. Smart metering computes less energy consumption rate either in hourly or in seconds rather than in monthly. **Figure 2** depicts a smart meter's general structure comprising two parts: hardware and software. The hardware part consists of three central units: acquisition, data processing, and data transmission units. These units represent the combination of components like a voltage sensor (VS), a current sensor (CS), an energy metering integrated circuit (EMIC), microcontroller unit (MCU), liquid crystal display (LCD), power supply/real-time clock (PS/RTC) and communication unit (CMU) [9, 18, 19].

#### **2.1 Data acquisition unit**

As one of the units considered in a smart meter's architectural development, data acquisition is referred to as a unit where analog data is obtained, processed, and converted into a required digital input for data processing. It is advised that careful execution of this process is necessary to generate a reliable result. This unit consists of the voltage sensor (VS), current sensor (CS), and level shifter circuits (LSC) [18].

**Figure 2.** *Basic architecture of smart meter.*

The VS and CS function as the facilitators of data acquisition before being transmitted to the energy metering integrated circuit (IC) for signal conditioning while simultaneously convert analog to digital developments. This type of controller is a "system on chip (SOC)." SOC constitutes analog front end (AFE) with a microcontroller unit (MCU). More so, AFE is a section of the smart energy device that is connected to the high voltage lines [18, 20]. This component regulates the high voltage and high current rates from the mains into smaller values ADC and MCU can easily absorb or process [21]. The MCU can be referred to as the device's brain because it dictates and controls all functions initiated within the smart energy meter.

## **2.2 Data transmission unit**

The data transmission unit is responsible for transferring and receiving generated energy parameters to fully notify the billing and monitoring purposes to both the energy supplier and customers. Data is transmitted to a centralized server with customers' identities stored to determine the customers' unwillingness and criminal activities such as unpaid electricity usage, electricity theft, and electricity property vandalism [12].
