Mar 08, 2017 07:31 AM EST By Emily Marks, UniversityHerald Reporter

A study by researchers from the University of Twente (UT) and Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences (AUAS), both based in the Netherlands, found that some traditional electronic energy meters give false readings that are much higher than actual energy consumption. This causes a problem since this type of meter has been installed in about 750,000 Dutch households.

It was revealed that these traditional meters can give false readings that are up to 582 percent higher than the actual consumption of a household. The study has been published in the journal "IEEE Electromagnetic Compatibility Magazine."

There have been a lot of speculations on the inaccuracy of the readings provided by these traditional electronic energy meters. This led Professor Frank Leferink of the UT investigate this issue, TechXplore reported.

Leferink, along with Cees Keyer and Anton Melentjev from AUAS, examined nine different electronic energy meters in the study. These meters were manufactured between the years 2004 and 2014.

The researchers connected the meters using an electric switchboard to various appliances like light bulbs, heaters, LED bulbs and dimmers. They then compared the actual consumption rate of the system to the readings provided by the electronic energy meters.

It was found that five out of nine meters gave much higher readings than the actual amount of power used. The rate went as high as 582 percent. On the other hand, two of the meters gave readings that were 30 percent lower than the actual amount of power consumed.

The biggest inaccuracies were seen when the researchers combined dimmers with energy saving light bulbs and LED bulbs. Keyer said that they avoided using exceptional conditions.

It was noted that the Dutch government wants smart meters to replace traditional energy meters in every household by 2020. Consumers can also have their energy meter tested by an accredited inspection company.

Smart meters allow users to monitor electricity usage in real time, Phys.org noted. It also provides data to help identify usage habits and issues.

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