Electricity meter – Instructions for use and general information

Caruna's electricity meters are remotely readable, i.e. meter readings do not need to be reported separately. Meter readings come from the meter to our systems via a data connection. 

With remote reading, invoicing is always based on up-to-date electricity consumption. You can view your electricity consumption in the Caruna+ energy monitoring service.

Electricity monitoring

How to use an electricity meter

  
AThe small identifier T1 or T2 indicates which counter is currently in use
BPress the change button on the meter screen to change the counter device:
 

T0 indicates general electricity consumption, i.e. the number of kilowatt hours (kWh)

T1 indicates daytime or winter daytime consumption as two-rate hour metering

T2 indicates consumption at night or at other times as two-rate hour metering

AIKA indicates the time

PVM indicates the date

TARF indicates the electricity distribution product currently in use, i.e. the tariff

CLoad control relay on/off status indicator
DThe red lights flash according to consumption

Example image of Caruna's electricity meter:

Carunan etäluettava sähkömittari.

Disconnect electricity from the meter during an absence

If you want to ensure that all your electrical devices are switched off while you are away from home for an extended period, you can disconnect the electricity by pressing the meter’s 0 button. 

Do not disconnect electricity from the main switch of the apartment, as it will cut off the data connection of the electricity meter. If the connection is lost, we will not receive data from the meter about matters such as possible power cuts. When you disconnect the electricity by pressing the meter's 0 button, you will receive an invoice based on your up-to-date electricity consumption. 

The blue indicator light comes on if you disconnect the electricity. The data communication connection will continue to work even if you disconnect the electricity from the meter. The light turns off when you switch electricity on with the I button. In the interests of electrical safety, the electricity should be disconnected at the main switch on the property when electrical work is carried out.

Effect of electrical load control on the electricity meter

With electrical load control, an electrically operated storage heater, such as a water boiler or accumulating underfloor heating, is started from the electricity meter in a scheduled manner. 

In order to use load control, the electricity meter must have a relay, and it must be connected to the electrical devices you wish to control. It is a common misconception that the click of the relay in the meter indicates the start of night pricing for the electricity distribution product. Actually, it is the sound of electrical load control switching on. 

To find out which connection time group you are currently using, press the change button on the electricity meter until the screen shows "RELE". The number following the text indicates the group to which the connection time belongs. 

You can choose a suitable connection group from 1 to 5. The service is free of charge and does not affect the distribution product or pricing. 

View the electrical load control connection times  > 

Smart meters with Home Area Network (HAN) port

After 1 May 2023, the electricity meters installed within Caruna’s electrical grid will have a new functionality – a Home Area Network (HAN) port. The interface is also abbreviated HAN, H1 or P1 port. The HAN port is located under a yellow silicone flap on the cover of the electricity meter.

The HAN port allows you to deploy your own terminal for reading electricity meter data in real time. The data is updated every ten seconds. The metering data includes, for example, consumption and production data, as well as phase-specific power.

Detailed list of available data (Sesko)

How can I use the port?

Even if we install a new meter at your point of delivery, the HAN port is not automatically enabled. You will need to ask Caruna to activate the HAN port. After activation, you can connect your terminal device to the electricity meter. This is done by connecting a cable with an RJ12 connector to the HAN port on the electricity meter. Contact your electrician for more information on connectors.

If you do not have an electricity meter with a HAN port, you can order a replacement for your electricity meter from Caruna’s customer service. For meter replacement, we charge a fee in accordance with the service rates.

Caruna is not to be held responsible for external devices connected to the HAN port or for the customer effects resulting from data use. The metering data transmitted through the HAN gate cannot be considered billing values, as this data has not been subjected to the quality checks carried out in Caruna’s system for metering data collection and billing.

Privacy of electricity consumption data

We collect electricity consumption data from meters in databases that are protected by firewalls, passwords and other technical means. Consumption data is transferred and encrypted automatically from the meter to our internal systems. The data can only be accessed by Caruna employees and partners who need it for their work. 

The consumption monitoring service and the backend systems have undergone an information security audit to ensure that each customer can only see their own consumption data. When you open Caruna's energy monitoring service, you are authenticated, and you can only view your consumption data for the accounting points where you currently have or have had an electricity network contract. If the point of delivery was previously owned by another person, you will not see the consumption data for that period. 

Hubs collect data on electricity usage

Remotely readable electricity meters send electricity consumption data via the electricity network to hubs, which forward the data using a mobile network connection (3G/GPRS) once a day. Thus, meters do not send data directly on the mobile network. Meters and hubs operate in accordance with set standards on frequencies intended for use by electricity network companies. Hubs are installed outdoors or in the basements of apartments so that we can service them freely.

Electricity meters do not interfere with other electrical devices

Electricity meters and hubs comply with the EMC (electromagnetic compatibility) standard. Standard-compliant electrical devices must not be affected by or interfere with the operation of other devices electrically or electromagnetically. This means that an electricity meter does not interfere with, for example, a pacemaker.

The Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority has published radiation data related to home appliances on its website, which also covers the electromagnetic radiation caused by remotely readable electricity meters. The Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority has stated that remotely readable electricity meters are safe to use.