Redundant pulse monitoring in electric energy metering system

• US 4,999,572 A
• Filed: 10/16/1989
• Issued: 03/12/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Hawley, John R., Bickford, Dale M., Farnsworth, Richard G., Hardy, Samuel G., Varney, Albert R. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Eisenzopf, Reinhard J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Vinh P.
• Application Number:
  US07/423,530
• Time in Patent Office: 512 Days
• Field of Search: 324/142, 324/116, 324/103 R, 324/141, 340/870.02, 340/870.03, 364/482, 364/483, 364/493, 379/107, 346/14 MR, 250/233
• US Class Current: 324/103.00R
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 35/04 of instruments for measuring time integral of power or current

Abstract

Redundant pulses generated by independently operable pulse sources in an electricity meter are accumulated as pulse counts in a pair of channels of a multi-channel recorder. The pulse counts are compared to verify the accuracy of the pulses counted by each channel. If the difference between the values of the pulse counts exceeds a predetermined threshold value, a trouble indicator is turned on and a telephone call is initiated by the recorder to notify a data center that a system malfunction has occurred which is disrupting the accumulation of pulses in one of the channels of the recorder. The pulse counts are stored in the recorder as substantially duplicate independent measures of energy usage by a load connected to the electricity meter, to be thereafter retrieved from the recorder to obtain energy survey and billing data. The recorder also maintains a system status error log which records the time and date of each malfunction and the identification of the channel pair where the malfunction occurred. In one embodiment, the operation of the recorder is controlled by a programmable microprocessor. Combinations of independent power sources for powering the recorder and the pulse sources are employed to enhance system reliability by making each of the pulse sources and the recorder substantially independently operable.

Claims

1. In a system of the type including an electricity meter for metering electric energy usage by a load, apparatus for recording verifiable energy usage data, comprising:

(a) first pulse means in communication with said electricity meter for generating first pulse signals;

(b) second pulse means in communication with said electricity meter for generating second pulse signals, said first and second pulse signals being representative of substantially duplicate independent measures of the energy usage by said load;

(c) first and second accumulating means for accumulating said first and second pulse signals as first and second pulse counts respectively, each having a value substantially proportional to energy usage by said load; and

(d) means, in communication with said first and second accumulating means, for periodically verifying said first and second pulse counts and, in response to the verifying, providing an indication of a system abnormality when there is a difference in the values of said first and second pulse counts.

2. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for periodically verifying includes means for comparing the values of said first and second pulse counts and providing an indication of a system abnormality when the difference between the values of said first and second pulse counts exceeds a predetermined threshold value.

3. The system in accordance with claim 2 further including means in communication with said means for comparing for initiating a telephone call to a data center as an indication of a system abnormality disrupting the accumulation of either one of said first and second pulse signals.

4. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said electricity meter includes a rotatably mounted apertured disc which rotates at a rate proportional to electric energy usage by said load and said first and second pulse means are each photo electric light sensing devices for sensing light through apertures in the rotating disc to generate said first and second pulse signals.

5. The system in accordance with claim 4 wherein each of said photo electric sensing devices is energized from a separate electrical power source.

6. A system for recording verifiable energy usage data from a remote electricity meter of the type having a disc which rotates at a rate proportional to the amount of electric energy being consumed by a load connected to the meter, comprising:

(a) first pulse means in said meter for sequentially generating first pulse signals in response to rotation of said disc;

(b) second pulse means in said meter, independently operable from said first pulse means, for sequentially generating second pulse signals in response to rotation of said disc, said first and second pulse signals being representative of substantially duplicate independent measures of the electric energy consumed by said load;

(c) first accumulating means for accumulating said first pulse signals as a first pulse count having a value proportional to electric energy consumption by said load;

(d) second accumulating means for accumulating said second pulse signals as a second pulse count having a value proportional to electric energy consumption by said load; and

(e) means in communication with said first and second accumulating means for verifying said first and second pulse counts by recurrently comparing the values thereof and providing an indication of a system abnormality and initiating a telephone call to a data center when the difference between the values of said first and second pulse counts exceeds a predetermined threshold value.

7. The system in accordance with claim 6 wherein said disc contains at least one aperture therein and said first and second pulse means are each photo electric light sensing devices for sensing light through the at least one aperture in the rotating disc to generate said first and second pulse signals.

8. The system in accordance with claim 7 wherein each of said photo electric sensing devices is energized from a separate electrical power source.

9. In an electricity metering and recording system, apparatus for preventing the loss of recorded electrical energy usage data and promptly providing an indication of a system malfunction which interrupts the proper recording of such electrical energy usage data, comprising:

(a) a meter for metering electrical energy usage by a load connected to said meter, said meter including a pulse source for generating first and second pulse signals, said first and second pulse signals being representative of substantially duplicate independent measures of the electrical energy usage by said load;

(b) first and second recording channels, responsive to said first and second pulse signals respectively, for accumulating and storing first and second pulse counts respectively, each having a value substantially proportional to electrical energy usage by said load; and

(c) means, including processor means, in communication with said first and second recording channels for recurrently comparing said first and second pulse counts and providing an indication representative of a malfunction in said electricity metering and recording system when the difference between the values of said first and second pulse counts exceeds a predetermined threshold value.

10. The system in accordance with claim 9 wherein said pulse source includes independently operable first and second pulse means for generating said first and second pulse signals.

11. The system in accordance with claim 10 wherein said meter further includes a rotatably mounted apertured disc which rotates at a rate proportional to electric energy usage by said load and said first and second pulse means are each photo electric light sensing devices for sensing light through the apertures in the rotating disc to generate said first and second pulse signals.

12. The system in accordance with claim 11 wherein each of said photo electric sensing devices is energized from a separate electrical power source.

13. In an electricity metering system, apparatus for providing an indication of a system malfunction comprising:

(a) a meter for metering electric energy usage by a load, said meter including independently operable first and second pulse means for generating first and second pulse signals respectively, said first and second pulse signals being representative of substantially duplicate independent measures of the energy usage by said load;

(b) first accumulating means, responsive to said first pulse signals, for accumulating a first pulse count having a value proportional to said energy usage;

(c) second accumulating means, responsive to said second pulse signals, for accumulating a second pulse count having a value proportional to said energy usage;

(d) timer means for recurrently generating a comparison signal; and

(e) means, in communication with said timer means and said first and second accumulating means, responsive to the comparison signal from said timer means, for comparing said first and second pulse counts and providing an indication representative of a malfunction in the electricity metering system when the difference between the values of said first and second pulse counts exceeds a predetermined threshold value.

14. In an electricity metering system, apparatus for accumulating backup energy usage data and providing an indication of an abnormality in the operation of the system, comprising:

(a) a meter for metering electrical energy usage by a load, said meter including pulse source means for redundantly generating first and second pulse signals, each representative of a substantially duplicate independent measure of the electrical energy usage by said load;

(b) first and second accumulating means, responsive to said first and second pulse signals respectively, for accumulating redundant first and second pulse counts;

(c) first and second storage means, in communication with said first and second accumulating means respectively, for storing redundant backup energy usage data;

(d) means, in communication with said first and second accumulating means, for recurrently comparing said first and second pulse counts and providing an indication representative of an abnormality in the operation of the electricity metering system when the difference between said first and second pulse counts exceeds a predetermined threshold value; and

(e) means, in communication with said means for recurrently comparing, for resetting each of said first and second accumulating means following each comparison of said first and second pulse counts.

15. A system for accumulating redundant electrical energy usage data comprising:

(a) a meter for metering electrical energy usage consumed by a load connected to said meter, said meter including first and second pulse means for generating first and second pulse signals respectively, each representative of a substantially duplicate independent measure of the energy usage by said load;

(b) first and second power sources for providing energizing current to each of said first and second pulse means respectively; and

(c) an electronic recorder including first and second channels for receiving said first and second pulse signals respectively, each of said first and second channels adapted to accumulate and store a corresponding one of said first and second pulse signals as first and second pulse counts respectively, each having a value proportional to a substantially duplicate independent measure of the energy usage by said load, said electronic recorder further including means for recurrently comparing the values of said first and second pulse counts and providing an indication representative of a system abnormality disrupting the proper accumulation of either of said first and second pulse signals in said first and second channels respectively when the difference between the values of said first and second pulse counts exceeds a predetermined threshold value.

16. In a system of the type including a meter connected to a power line for metering electrical energy usage by a load connected to the meter, the combination comprising:

(a) pulse source means in said meter for generating redundant first and second pulse signals respectively, said first and second pulse signals each being representative of a substantially duplicate independent measure of the energy usage by said load;

(b) a recorder including,

(i) first and second channels for receiving said first and second pulse signals respectively, said first and second channels each adapted to accumulate and store its respectively received first and second pulse signals as first and second pulse counts, each having a value proportional to a substantially duplicate independent measure of said energy usage by said load; and

(ii) timer means for recurrently generating a comparison signal; and

(iii) means, in communication with said timer means and said first and second channels, and responsive to said comparison signal from said timer means, for comparing the values of said first and second pulse counts and providing an indication of a system abnormality when the difference between the values of said first and second pulse counts exceeds a predetermined threshold value.

17. In a power distribution system of the type including a meter for metering electrical energy usage by a load, the combination comprising:

(a) pulse source means in said meter for generating redundant first and second pulse signals, each representative of a substantially duplicate independent measure of the electrical energy usage by said load;

(b) an electronic register in said meter responsive to said first pulse signals for monitoring electrical energy usage, said electronic register including pulse initiator means for generating third output pulse signals substantially proportional to the measure of electrical energy usage as represented by said first pulse signals; and

(c) a recorder, said recorder including first and second data channels for receiving said second and third pulse signals respectively, said first and second data channels each including means for accumulating its respectively received one of said second and third pulse signals as first and second pulse counts, said recorder further including means in communication with said first and second data channels for recurrently initiating a comparison of said first and second pulse counts, and providing a detectable indication that a system abnormality disrupting the normal accumulation of one of said second and third pulse signals has occurred when the difference between the values of said first and second pulse counts exceeds a predetermined threshold value.

18. The system in accordance with claim 17 wherein said pulse source means includes first and second independently operable pulse means for generating said first and second pulse signals.

19. The system in accordance with claim 18 wherein said meter further includes a rotatably mounted apertured disc which rotates at a rate proportional to electric energy usage by said load and said first and second pulse means are each photo electric light sensing devices for sensing light through the apertures in the rotating disc to generate said first and second pulse signals.

20. The system in accordance with claim 19 wherein each of said photo electric sensing devices is energized from a separate electrical power source.

21. The system in accordance with claim 17 wherein said pulse source means, said electronic register and said recorder are each energized from a separate electrical power source.

22. The system in accordance with claim 17 wherein each of said pulse source means, said electronic register and said recorder contains its own power supply.

23. The system in accordance with claim 17 wherein said pulse source means includes first and second independently operable pulse means for generating said first and second pulse signals, and each of said electronic register and said recorder contains an integral power supply, the electronic register power supply providing energizing current to said first pulse means and the recorder power supply providing energizing current to said second pulse means.

24. In a system of the type including a meter connected to a power distribution line for metering electrical energy usage by a load connected to the meter, the combination comprising:

(a) first and second pulse means in said meter for generating first and second pulse signals respectively, said first and second pulse signals each being representative of a substantially duplicate. independent measure of the electrical energy usage by said load;

(b) an electronic register in said meter, said electronic register including a power supply for providing operating voltages for said electronic register and for said first pulse means, said electronic register being responsive to said first pulse signals and including means for generating third pulse signals representative of the measure of electrical energy usage represented by said first pulse signals;

(c) a recorder including,

(i) a power supply for providing operating voltages for said recorder and for said second pulse means,

(ii) first and second data channels for receiving said second and third pulse signals respectively, said first and second data channels each including means for accumulating their respectively received second and third pulse signals as first and second pulse counts, each having a value proportional to a substantially duplicate independent measure of the electrical energy usage by said load, and

(iii) means for recurrently comparing said first and second pulse counts and providing an indication of a system malfunction causing a disruption in the generation of a one of said first, second and third pulse signals when the difference between the values of said first and second pulse counts exceeds a predetermined threshold value; and

(d) means for energizing the power supply in each of said electronic register and said recorder.

25. The system according to claim 24 wherein said means for energizing includes a separate power source for energizing the power supply in each of said electronic register and said recorder.

26. In a system of the type including a meter connected to a power line for metering electrical energy usage by a load connected to the meter, the combination comprising:

(a) first and second pulse means in said meter for generating first and second pulse signals respectively, said first and second pulse signals each being representative of a substantially duplicate independent measure of the energy usage by said load, said first and second pulse means each including a power supply for providing operating voltages therefor,

(b) a recorder including,

(i) a power supply for providing operating voltages for said recorder,

(ii) first and second channels for receiving said first and second pulse signals respectively, said first and second channels each adapted to accumulate their respectively received first and second pulse signals as first and second pulse counts, each having a value proportional to a substantially duplicate independent measure of the energy usage by said load,

(iii) means for recurrently comparing said first and second pulse counts and providing an indication of a system abnormality causing a disruption in the accumulation of one of said first and second pulse signals when the difference between the values of said first and second pulse counts exceeds a predetermined threshold value; and

(c) means for energizing the power supply in each of said recorder and said first and second pulse means.

27. The system according to claim 26 wherein said means for energizing includes a separate power source for energizing the power supply in each of said recorder and said first and second pulse sources.

28. In a system of the type including a meter connected to a polyphase power line for metering electrical energy use by a load connected to the meter, the combination comprising:

(a) first and second pulse means in said meter for generating first and second pulse signals respectively, said first and second pulse signals each being representative of a substantially duplicate independent measure of the energy usage by said load;

(b) an electronic register in said meter, said electronic register including a power supply for providing operating voltages for said electronic register and for said first pulse means, said electronic register being responsive to said first pulse signals and including means for generating third pulse signals representative of the measure of the electrical energy usage represented by said first pulse signals,

(c) a recorder including,

(i) a power supply for providing operating voltages for said recorder and for said second pulse means,

(ii) first and second channels for receiving said second and third pulse signals respectively, said first and second channels each including means for accumulating their respectively received second and third pulse signals as first and second pulse counts, each having a value proportional to a substantially duplicate independent measure of the electrical energy usage by said load,

(iii) means for recurrently comparing said first and second pulse counts and providing an indication of a system abnormality causing a disruption in the accumulation of a one of said first, second and third pulses when the difference between the values of said first and second pulse counts exceeds a predetermined threshold value; and

(d) means connecting the power supply in each of said electronic register and said recorder to a separate phase of said polyphase power line whereby each power supply is separately energized from said polyphase power line.

29. In a system for accumulating energy usage data from a remote electricity meter, the combination comprising:

(a) a pulse source means in said meter for generating first and second pulse signals, said first and second pulse signals being representative of substantially redundant independent measures of the energy usage;

(b) pulse initiator means, responsive to said first pulse signals, for generating third pulse signals related to said first pulse signals, said pulse initiator means including power supply means for providing energizing current for said pulse initiator means and for said pulse source means;

(c) an electronic recorder, including means for accumulating said second and third pulse signals as redundant first and second pulse counts, each having a value substantially proportional to an independent measure of energy usage, means for recurrently comparing said first and second pulse counts and providing an indication of an abnormality in the system disruption the normal accumulation of said second and third pulse signals when the difference between the values of said first and second pulse counts exceeds a predetermined threshold value, said electronic recorder further including power supply means for providing energizing current therefor; and

(d) means for providing power to the power supply means in each of said pulse initiator means and said electronic recorder.

30. In a power distribution system, apparatus for metering electric energy usage by a load comprising:

(a) first and second pulse means for generating first and second pulse signals respectively, said first and second pulse signals being representative of substantially duplicate independent measures of the electric energy usage by said load;

(b) first and second counter means for counting said first and second pulse signals respectively;

(c) first and second accumulator means for accumulating said first and second pulse signals respectively;

(d) first and second storage means for storing said first and second pulse signals respectively as redundant backup energy usage data;

(e) comparator means in communication with said first and second counter means and said first and second accumulator means for comparing the contents of said first and second accumulator means upon either of said first and second counter means achieving a prescribed count, said comparator means further including means for generating a trouble signal indicative of a system abnormality affecting the normal accumulation of said first and second pulse signals when the difference between the contents of said first and second accumulator means exceeds a prescribed value; and

(f) means for providing a reset signal to said first and second counter means and said first and second accumulator means, following the comparing by said comparator means.

31. In a system of the type for recording electrical energy usage data from a remote site, the combination comprising:

(a) a meter for metering electrical energy consumed by a load at said remote site, said meter including pulse source means for generating first and second pulse signals, said first and second pulse signals being representative of substantially redundant independent measures of the electrical energy consumed by said load;

(b) a recorder in communication with said meter for recording said first and second pulse signals, said recorder including,

(i) means for signaling of the presence of a system abnormality affecting the normal recording of said first and second pulse signals;

(ii) a stored program processor, including memory means having a plurality of selectively addressable storage locations for accumulating in separate storage locations thereof said first and second pulse signals as first and second pulse counts respectively, said first and second pulse counts each having a value substantially proportional to the independent measure of electrical energy consumption as represented by each of said first and second pulse signals respectively, said stored program processor further including,

means for directing the accumulation of said first and second pulse signals into said separate storage locations of said memory means to form said first and second pulse counts,

means for recurrently comparing said first and second pulse counts, and

means for enabling said means for signaling when the difference between the values of said first and second pulse counts exceeds a predetermined threshold value.

32. In an electric power distribution system for accumulating electrical energy usage data representative of different measured electrical parameters, the combination comprising:

(a) first and second electronic meters connected to said system for metering electrical energy usage, each adapted to generate a first pulse signal and a second pulse signal, the first pulse signal generated by each of said first and second electronic meters each being representative of a redundant measure of a first measured electrical parameter, and each second pulse signal being representative of a redundant measure of a second measured electrical parameter; and

(b) an electronic recorder including,

(i) a first pair of data channels, each data channel coupled to a corresponding one of said first and second electronic meters for receiving therefrom a corresponding first pulse signal, each data channel of said first pair adapted to accumulate its correspondingly received first pulse signal, to thereby establish redundant pulse counts in said first pair of data channels, the pulse count in each data channel having a value substantially proportional to a first measured electrical parameter,

(ii) a second pair of data channels, each data channel coupled to a corresponding one of said first and second electronic meters for receiving therefrom a corresponding second pulse signal, each data channel of said second pair adapted to accumulate its correspondingly received second pulse signal, to thereby establish redundant pulse counts in said second pair of data channels, the pulse count in each data channel having a value substantially proportional to a second measured electrical parameter, and

(iii) means for recurrently comparing the redundant pulse counts in said first pair of data channels and the redundant pulse counts in said second pair of data channels, and providing an indication representative of a system abnormality disrupting the normal accumulation of said first and second pulse signals by either of said first and second pair of data channels respectively when the difference between the values of the redundant pulse counts in either one of said first and second pair of data channels exceeds a predetermined threshold value.

33. In a system of the type for recording electrical energy usage data from a remote site, the combination comprising:

(a) first and second meters, each serving to meter electrical energy consumed by a load connected to each of said first and second meters, each of said first and second meters including a pulse source means for generating first and second pulse signals, said first and second pulse signals being representative of substantially redundant independent measures of the electrical energy consumed by a load connected to each of said first and second meters; and

(b) a stored program recorder, including,

(i) a first pair of data channels coupled to the pulse source means of said first meter,

(ii) a second pair of data channels coupled to the pulse source means of said second meter, each of said first pair and said second pair of data channels adapted to accumulate the first and second pulse signals from its respectively coupled pulse source means, to thereby establish therein redundant first and second pulse counts,

(iii) means for controlling the accumulation of said first and second pulse signals by each of said first pair and said second pair of data channels,

(iv) means for recurrently comparing the redundant first and second pulse counts of each of said first pair and said second pair of data channels, and

(v) means, responsive to said means for recurrently comparing, for providing an error indication representative of a system abnormality disrupting the normal accumulation of said first and second pulse signals in either of said first pair and said second pair of data channels when the difference between the values of the redundant first and second pulse counts in either of said first pair and said second pair of data channels exceeds a predetermined threshold value.

34. In an electricity metering system, a method of metering electricity energy usage by a load and providing an indication of a system malfunction, comprising the steps of:

(a) generating first and second pulse signals, said first and second pulse signals being representative of substantially duplicate independent measures of the same energy usage by said load;

(b) accumulating said first and second pulse signals as first and second redundant pulse counts respectively, each having a value proportional to a substantially independent measure of the energy usage by said load;

(c) comparing, recurrently, the values of said first and second pulse counts; and

(d) providing an indication representative of a malfunction in the electricity metering system when the difference between the values of said first and second pulse counts exceeds a predetermined threshold value.

35. The method of claim 34, including the step of storing the accumulated first and second pulse signals to provide redundant backup energy usage data.

36. The method of claim 34, including the step of initiating a telephone call to a data center as notification of a malfunction in the electricity metering system.

37. In an electricity metering system, a method of accumulating backup electrical energy usage data and providing an indication of a system abnormality affecting the normal accumulation of such electrical energy usage data, comprising the steps of:

(a) generating first and second pulse signals, each having a different pulse format and each being representative of a substantially duplicate independent measure of electrical energy usage;

(b) accumulating said first and second pulse signals as first and second redundant pulse counts respectively, each having a value proportional to a substantially independent measure of the electrical energy usage as represented by said first and second pulse signals;

(c) comparing the values of said first and second pulse counts;

(d) storing said first and second pulse counts as backup electrical energy usage data; and

(e) providing an indication that a system abnormality exists affecting the normal accumulation of at least a one of said first and second pulse signals when the difference between the values of said first and second pulse counts exceeds a predetermined threshold value.

38. A method of accumulating backup electrical energy usage data from a remotely located electricity meter and verifying the accuracy of such data, comprising the steps of:

(a) generating, from said electricity meter, first and second pulse signals, each representative of a substantially duplicate independent measure of electrical energy usage at the location of said electricity meter;

(b) accumulating said first and second pulse signals to develop redundant first and second electrical energy usage counts respectively;

(c) storing said first and second electrical energy usage counts as backup electrical energy usage data;

(d) comparing, recurrently, the accumulated first and second electrical energy usage counts to verify that the difference between the values thereof is within a predetermined threshold value;

(e) providing a detectable indication representative of a malfunction disrupting the normal accumulation of said first and second pulse signals when the difference between the values of said first and second electrical energy usage counts is not within said predetermined threshold value; and

(f) presetting each of the accumulated first and second electrical energy usage counts to a prescribed count following each comparison of said first and second energy usage counts.

39. In a remote meter reading system of the type including an electricity meter connected to a programmable electronic recorder of the type adapted to communicate with a data processing center, a method of accumulating verifiable electrical energy usage data from the electricity meter and notifying the data processing center of a system abnormality affecting the normal accumulation of electrical energy usage data, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing, to said electronic recorder from said electricity meter, first and second pulse signals, each being representative of a substantially duplicate independent measure of electrical energy usage at the location of said electricity meter;

(b) accumulating, in a memory of said electronic recorder, said first and second pulse signals to develop redundant first and second electrical energy usage counts respectively;

(c) storing, in a memory of said electronic recorder, said first and second electrical energy usage counts as backup electrical energy usage data;

(d) comparing, recurrently, in said electronic recorder, said first and second electrical energy usage counts to verify that the difference between the values of said first and second electrical energy usage counts is within a predetermined threshold value; and

(e) calling said data processing center, from said electronic recorder, when the difference between the values of said first and second electrical energy usage counts is not within said predetermined threshold value as notification of a system abnormality affecting the normal accumulation of said first and second pulse signals in the memory of said electronic recorder.

40. In an electricity metering system for metering electrical energy consumed by a load, a method of accumulating verifiable electrical energy usage data representative of different measured electrical parameters, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing first and second meters for the redundant metering of electrical energy consumed by a load at the location of said first and second meters;

(b) generating from each of said first and second meters first and second pulse signals, the first pulse signals each being representative of a redundant measure of a first measured electrical parameter and the second pulse signals each being representative of a redundant measure of a second measured electrical parameter;

(c) accumulating the first pulse signals from each of said first and second meters to develop redundant first and second pulse counts, each having a value substatially proportional to a first measured electrical parameter;

(d) accumulating the second pulse signals from each of said first and second meters to develop redundant third and fourth counts, each having a value substantially proportional to a second measured electrical parameter;

(e) comparing, recurrently, said first and second pulse counts;

(f) comparing, recurrently, said third and fourth pulse counts; and

(g) providing a detectable indication representative of a system abnormality disrupting the normal accumulation of said first and second pulse signals from either of said first and second pulse signals from either of said first and second meters when the difference between the values of either of said first and second pulse counts and said third and fourth pulse counts exceeds a predetermined threshold value.

41. The method of claim 40, including the step of storing said first and second pulse counts and said third and fourth pulse counts as backup electrical energy usage data representative of said first and second measured electrical parameters.

42. The method of claim 40, wherein the step of providing a detectable indication further includes the step of identifying which of said first and second pulse counts and said third and fourth pulse counts provided said detectable indication.

43. In a remote meter reading system of the type including an electricity meter providing pulse signals representative of energy usage data to an electronic recorder having an executable program stored in a memory of the recorder, a method of recording verifiable energy usage data and signalling the occurrence of a pulse signal recording error, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing, to said electronic recorder from said electricity meter, first and second pulse signals, each being representative of a substantially duplicate independent measure of electrical energy usage at the location of said electricity meter;

(b) providing, in said electronic recorder, first and second channels for receiving said first and second pulse signals respectively; and

(c) executing the program in said electronic recorder while,

(i) reading said first and second pulse signals into said first and second channels respectively;

(ii) accumulating, in said first and second channels, those of said first and second pulse signals, respectively, which are present at said electronic recorder at the time of reading to develop first and second pulse counts, while counting the number of accumulated first and second pulse signals to establish first and second count limits, respectively, to be achieved,

(iii) storing the first and second pulse counts developed in the step of accumulating as redundantly verifiable backup energy usage data,

(iv) testing to see if either of said first and second count limits has been achieved,

(v) repeating the preceding steps of executing the program until a one of said first and second count limits is achieved,

(vi) comparing the number of that one of said first and second pulse signals counted which has not achieved its count limit with a predetermined threshold value to determine if a pulse signal accumulation error has occurred in either one of said first and second channels,

(vii) creating, in the memory of said electronic recorder, a status error log identifying the one of said first and second channels wherein the accumulation error occurred when the number compared with the predetermined threshold value, in the step of comparing, is greater than the predetermined threshold value, and

(viii) providing a detectable indication of the occurrence of an accumulation error.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein the step of creating further includes the step of recording the time and date of the occurrence of the accumulation error.

45. In an electricity metering system apparatus for remotely monitoring the operation of meters, comprising:

(a) first and second meters connected to said system for metering electrical energy usage by a load connected to the meters, each of said meters including means for generating pulse signals, the pulse signals from said first and second meters normally being representative of redundant measures of the electrical energy usage by the load;

(b) a pair of data channels, each data channel coupled to a corresponding one of said first and second meters for receiving therefrom the pulse signals generated thereby, each data channel of said pair, adapted to accumulate its correspondingly received pulse signals to thereby establish redundant pulse counts in said pair of data channels, the pulse count in each data channel normally having a value substantially proportional to electrical energy usage by the load; and

(c) means for recurrently comparing the pulse counts in said pair of data channels and providing an indication identifying a one of said first and second meters which is generating pulse signals at a different rate than the pulse signals being generated by the other meter when the difference between the values of the pulse counts in said pair of data channels exceeds a predetermined threshold value.