JPH10206199A - Automatic meter reading method and device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Problem] To provide an automatic meter reading method and apparatus capable of quickly detecting an abnormality due to unauthorized use or the like and facilitating maintenance thereof. A pulse signal output from a pulse generator (20) of an integrating wattmeter (100) and an output of a current detection circuit (30) are monitored, and the pulse signal and the pulse signal and the current detection circuit (30) are monitored. If inconsistency occurs with the output, it is determined that the meter is abnormal.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic meter reading method and apparatus for automatically reading various meters such as a wattmeter, a water meter, and a gas meter arranged in a plurality of houses. The present invention relates to an automatic meter reading method and apparatus that automatically detects and improves the reliability of the automatic meter reading and facilitates maintenance of the automatic meter reading device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, meter reading of various meters such as a wattmeter, a water meter, and a gas meter arranged in each house has been performed by a meter reader periodically patroling each house.

[0003] However, the conventional meter reading method based on patrol of meter readers is extremely troublesome, and in view of the presence of absence homes, etc., it is not always possible to read meters even when patrol, and the labor required for this is not always possible. In addition, there is a problem that the cost is enormous.

Therefore, an automatic meter reading system using a telephone line communication system has recently been proposed. In the automatic meter reading system using the telephone line communication system, a network control device capable of automatically making or receiving a call is provided in each house, and a center device that collects meter reading values sends a call to this network control device. Automatic meter reading of various meters, such as a wattmeter, a water meter, and a gas meter, arranged in each house through a telephone network by a call or an automatic call from the network control device to the center device.

[0005]

However, in the above-described conventional automatic meter reading system, when an abnormality for illegal use or the like occurs in an automatic meter reading terminal that performs automatic meter reading of various instruments arranged in each house, an accurate measurement is performed. In addition, there is a problem in that it is difficult to detect a meter reading value, and there is a problem in its reliability, and it is difficult to maintain the automatic meter reading device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an automatic meter reading method and apparatus which can quickly detect an abnormality caused by unauthorized use and the like, and facilitate maintenance thereof.

[0007]

To achieve the above object, a first aspect of the present invention is an automatic meter reading method for automatically reading meter readings of a meter, wherein the meter reading output of the meter is monitored, and the meter reading is measured based on the meter reading output. When a contradiction occurs between the detected meter reading value of the meter and the operation of the meter, it is determined that the meter reading is abnormal.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the meter outputs a pulse signal having a predetermined duty cycle as the meter reading output with a pulse interval corresponding to the meter reading value. The value is detected by counting the pulse signal.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, the duty cycle of the pulse signal is monitored, and when the duty cycle of the pulse signal changes, it is determined that the meter reading is abnormal. I do.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, the pulse interval of the pulse signal is monitored, and if the pulse interval of the pulse signal does not correspond to the meter reading value, it is determined that the meter reading is abnormal. It is characterized by determining.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, a change in the object to be measured by the meter is monitored, and a change in the pulse signal is detected despite the change in the object to be measured by the meter. If no error occurs, it is determined that the meter reading is abnormal.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, the change of the pulse signal is monitored even if the measurement target of the meter is not changed. If it occurs, it is determined that the meter reading is abnormal.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the meter is an integrating wattmeter, and the integrating wattmeter has a predetermined duty cycle whose pulse interval changes in accordance with power consumption. A pulse signal is output as the meter reading output, and the meter reading value is detected by counting the pulse signal.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the seventh aspect of the present invention, the duty cycle of the pulse signal is monitored, and if the duty cycle of the pulse signal changes, it is determined that the meter reading is abnormal. I do.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in accordance with the seventh aspect of the present invention, the pulse interval of the pulse signal is monitored, and the current value flowing through the integrating wattmeter is monitored. If the current value no longer corresponds to the reciprocal, it is determined that the meter reading is abnormal.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the invention of the seventh aspect, the current flowing through the integrating wattmeter is monitored, and if the pulse signal is not generated despite the presence of the current, the meter reading abnormality is determined. It is characterized by determining.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the invention of the seventh aspect, the current flowing through the integrating wattmeter is monitored, and if the pulse signal is generated despite the absence of the current, the meter reading abnormality is determined. It is characterized by determining.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the automatic meter reading device for automatically reading the meter reading of the meter, the meter reading output monitoring means for monitoring the meter reading output of the meter, and the meter reading output monitored by the meter reading output monitoring means. Abnormality discrimination means for discriminating as meter reading abnormality if inconsistency occurs with the operation of the meter;
It is characterized by having.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in the twelfth aspect, the meter generates a pulse signal having a predetermined duty cycle whose pulse interval changes in accordance with a meter reading value of the meter as the meter reading output. And pulse counting means for counting pulse signals generated by the pulse generating means.

According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, in the thirteenth aspect, the abnormality determining means determines that the meter reading is abnormal when the duty cycle of a pulse signal generated from the pulse generating means changes. It is characterized by.

According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, in the thirteenth aspect of the present invention, the abnormality determining means determines that the pulse interval of the pulse signal generated by the pulse generating means does not correspond to the meter reading value. It is characterized in that it is determined that the meter reading is abnormal.

According to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, in the thirteenth aspect of the present invention, the abnormality judging means changes the pulse signal from the pulse generating means even though the object to be measured by the meter has changed. If no error occurs, it is determined that the meter reading is abnormal.

According to a seventeenth aspect of the present invention, in the thirteenth aspect of the present invention, the abnormality discriminating means determines that the change of the pulse signal from the pulse generating means has not occurred even though the measurement target of the meter has not changed. If it occurs, it is determined that the meter reading is abnormal.

According to an eighteenth aspect of the present invention, in the twelfth aspect, the meter is an integrating wattmeter, and the integrating wattmeter has a predetermined duty cycle in which a pulse interval changes in accordance with power consumption. It is characterized by comprising pulse generating means for generating a pulse signal, and counting means for counting the pulse signal generated from the pulse generating means.

According to a nineteenth aspect of the present invention, in the eighteenth aspect, the abnormality determining means determines that the meter reading is abnormal when the duty cycle of the pulse signal generated by the pulse generating means changes. It is characterized by the following.

According to a twentieth aspect of the present invention, in the eighteenth aspect of the present invention, the abnormality determining means includes a current detecting means for detecting a current flowing through the integrating wattmeter, and the pulse generated by the pulse generating means. Means for determining that the meter reading is abnormal when the pulse interval of the signal does not correspond to the reciprocal of the current value detected by the current detecting means.

According to a twenty-first aspect of the present invention, in the twentieth aspect, the abnormality determining means outputs the pulse signal from the pulse generating means despite the fact that the current detection means detects the current used. If no error occurs, it is determined that the meter reading is abnormal.

According to a twenty-second aspect of the present invention, in the twentieth aspect, the abnormality determination means outputs the pulse signal from the pulse generation means even though the current detection means does not detect a use current. If it occurs, it is determined that the meter reading is abnormal.

According to a twenty-third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an automatic meter reading device for automatically reading a meter reading value of a meter, a meter reading value detecting means for detecting a meter reading value of the meter, a monitoring means for monitoring the operation of the meter, When there is a discrepancy between the meter reading value detected by the meter reading value detecting means and the operation of the meter monitored by the monitoring means, abnormality determining means for determining that the meter reading is abnormal; and the meter detecting by the meter reading value detecting means. Power line communication means for transmitting the meter reading value and the determination result by the abnormality determination means using power line communication via a power line.

[0030]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing an embodiment of an integrated wattmeter configured by applying the automatic meter reading method and apparatus according to the present invention.

The integrated wattmeter 100 shown in FIG. 1 is disposed in each house, and measures the used power supplied via a pair of power lines L1 and L2 drawn into each house. .

A transformer Tr for detecting a voltage supplied via the power lines L1 and L2 is provided between the pair of power lines L1 and L2.
Current detectors (current transformers) S1 and S2 for detecting a current supplied via the power lines L1 and L2 are arranged on one power line L2 of L2.

The power detection unit 10 receives the output of the transformer Tr and the output of the current detection unit S1 to rotate the disk 10a, and detects the power used from the rotation of the disk 10a.

That is, in the power detection unit 10, the rotation speed of the disk 10a corresponds to the power consumption, and the power consumption can be detected by counting the rotation speed of the disk 10a. .

The configuration up to this point is the same as that of the conventional integrating wattmeter.

In this embodiment, there is provided a pulse generator 20 for converting the rotation of the disk 10a of the power detector 10 into a pulse signal using a photointerrupter or the like. Then, a pulse signal (a meter reading signal) output from the output terminal P of the pulse generation unit 20, that is, the number of rotations of the disk 10a of the power detection unit 10 is counted, and the used electric energy is measured.

The output of the current detection section S2 is input to the current detection circuit 30.

The current detection circuit 30 detects the value of the current flowing through the power line L2 based on the output of the current detection section S2. That is, since an alternating current flows through the power line L2, the current detection circuit 30 outputs the power line L extracted by the current detection unit S2.
Rectifies the signal corresponding to the alternating current flowing through the power line L
2 is determined.

FIG. 2 shows the current detection circuit 3 shown in FIG.
0 shows a specific circuit configuration. Current detector S
2, a signal proportional to the AC current flowing through the power line L2 is converted to a voltage signal by the resistor R, input to the diode bridge D, and rectified therein to be converted to a DC voltage signal. The DC voltage signal rectified by the diode bridge D is smoothed by the capacitor C and output from the terminals A and E as a current value signal.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a meter reading terminal 200 connected to the integrating wattmeter 100 shown in FIG.

The meter reading terminal 200 shown in FIG. 3 performs the automatic meter reading of the integrated power meter 100 by counting the number of pulses of the pulse signal output from the terminal P of the integrated power meter 100 shown in FIG. At the same time, based on the pulse signal output from the terminal P and the current value signals output from the terminals A and E of the integrating wattmeter 100, the meter reading abnormality of the integrating wattmeter 100 is determined.

The meter reading value and the meter reading abnormality determination result obtained by the automatic meter reading are obtained by power line communication using a pair of power lines L1 and L2 drawn into the house.
Similarly, data is collected by a collection terminal (not shown) connected to the pair of power lines L1 and L2.

Although not described in detail in this specification, the collection terminal similarly collects the meter readings of each integrated wattmeter from a plurality of meter reading terminals into which the power lines L1 and L2 are drawn, and collects the meter readings. The value is transmitted to the nearest center device using a telephone line, a dedicated line, or the like, and the center device performs processing such as collecting usage charges based on the received meter reading value.

Now, referring to FIG.
Is a transformer 21 for extracting the driving power of the meter reading terminal 200 from the power lines L1 and L2, a power supply circuit 22 for generating a driving power supply of the meter reading terminal 200 based on the power extracted by the transformer 21, and an overall operation of the meter reading terminal 200. A control unit 23 for controlling, a power line communication modem 24 for transmitting a meter reading value obtained by the automatic meter reading of the meter reading terminal 200 and a determination result of meter reading abnormality to the collection terminal (not shown);
A transformer 25 for connecting the power line communication modem 24 and the power lines L1 and L1, the integrating wattmeter 10 shown in FIG.
The input / output circuit (I / O) 26 includes an A / D converter 27.

The pulse signal output from terminal P of integrating wattmeter 100 shown in FIG.
The controller 23 performs automatic meter reading by counting the number of pulses of the pulse signal.

The current value signals output from terminals A and E of integrating wattmeter 100 shown in FIG.
/ O) 26 via an A / D converter 27.
/ O) 26 to the controller 23.

The control unit 23 includes the integrating wattmeter 1 shown in FIG.
Based on the pulse signal and the current value signal input from 00, a meter reading abnormality of the integrating wattmeter 100 shown in FIG. 1 is determined.

In this embodiment, the following method is adopted as a method for determining whether or not the meter reading is abnormal in the control section 23.

1) Since the duty cycle of the pulse signal output from the terminal P of the integrating wattmeter 100 is always constant, the duty cycle of the pulse signal output from the terminal P of the integrating wattmeter 100 is monitored. If the duty cycle deviates from a certain value, it is detected as a meter reading abnormality.

2) The pulse period of the pulse signal output from terminal P of integrating wattmeter 100 is proportional to the reciprocal of the value of the current flowing through power line L2.
The pulse period of the pulse signal output from the terminal P of 0 is monitored, and when this pulse period is no longer proportional to the reciprocal of the current value indicated by the current value signal output from the terminals A and E of the integrating wattmeter 100. Is detected as a meter reading abnormality.

3) Power line L2 of integrating wattmeter 100
When a current is flowing through the disk 10 of the power detection unit 10,
a should rotate, so that the terminal P of the integrated power meter 100 is detected despite the fact that a predetermined current value is detected by the current value signals output from the current terminals A and E of the integrated power meter 100. If no pulse signal is output from the device, it is detected as a meter reading abnormality due to improper use or the like.

4) Power line L2 of integrating wattmeter 100
When no current is flowing through the disk 1 of the power detector 10
0a should not rotate.
If a pulse signal is output from the terminal P of the integrating wattmeter 100 even though no current value is detected by the current value signals output from the 0 current terminals A and E, it is detected as a meter reading abnormality. I do.

If the controller 23 does not satisfy any of the conditions for the meter reading abnormality determination and determines that the meter reading is not abnormal, the controller 23 counts the number of pulses of the pulse signal output from the terminal P of the integrating wattmeter 100. Count and use this integrated wattmeter 1
The meter reading value of 00 is acquired, and the acquired meter reading value is transmitted to the power lines L1 and L2 via the power line communication modem 24, the transformer 25, and the capacitors C1 and C2 in response to a meter reading value request from a collection terminal (not shown).

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the processing in the control section 23 shown in FIG.

In FIG. 4, the control unit 23 first determines whether there is a pulse, that is, whether the integrated power meter 100 shown in FIG.
It is checked whether or not there is a pulse signal output from the terminal P (step 401). If there is no pulse (NO in step 401), then there is a current, that is, a predetermined current value is detected based on current value signals output from current terminals A and E of integrating wattmeter 100. Is checked (step 408). Here, if there is no current (NO in step 408), the process returns to step 401 and waits for a pulse signal from the terminal P of the integrating wattmeter 100. If there is current (YES in step 408), a meter reading abnormality is detected. A determination is made (step 409).

If it is determined in step 401 that there is a pulse (YES in step 401),
It is checked whether there is a current, that is, whether a predetermined current value is detected from the current value signals output from the current terminals A and E of the integrating wattmeter 100 (step 402). If there is no current (NO in step 402), it is determined that the meter reading is abnormal (step 409).

If it is determined in step 402 that there is a current (YES in step 402), it is determined whether the duty cycle of the pulse signal output from terminal P of integrating wattmeter 100 is within a certain range. Is checked (step 403). Here, when the duty cycle of the pulse signal output from terminal P of integrating wattmeter 100 is not within a certain range (NO in step 403), it is determined that the meter reading is abnormal (step 409).

In step 403, the integrated wattmeter 10
If it is determined that the duty cycle of the pulse signal output from the terminal P of 0 is within a certain range (YES in step 403), then the terminal P of the integrating power meter 100
It is checked whether or not the cycle of the pulse signal output from the terminal is proportional to the reciprocal of the current value indicated by the current value signal output from the terminals A and E of the integrating wattmeter 100 (step 404). Here, if the period of the pulse signal output from terminal P of integrating wattmeter 100 is not proportional to the reciprocal of the current value indicated by the current value signal output from terminals A and E of integrating wattmeter 100 (step (NO at 405), it is determined that the meter reading is abnormal (step 409).

In step 404, the integrated wattmeter 100
If the cycle of the pulse signal output from the terminal P is determined to be proportional to the reciprocal of the current value indicated by the current value signal output from the terminals A and E of the integrating wattmeter 100, a meter reading abnormality has occurred. Since there is no pulse reading, the meter reading is obtained by counting the pulses of the pulse signal output from the terminal P of the integrating wattmeter 100 (step 405).

Next, it is checked whether there is a meter reading request from a collection terminal (not shown) (step 406). If there is no meter reading request, the process returns to step 401, and steps 401 to 40 are performed.
Step 6 is repeated.

If it is determined in step 406 that there is a meter reading request from a collection terminal (not shown), the meter reading obtained by the pulse counting in step 405 is transmitted via the power line communication modem 24, the transformer 25, and the capacitors C1 and C2. (Step 407), and the process ends.

In the above embodiment, the case where the meter to be measured is an integrating wattmeter has been described. However, the present invention can be similarly applied to a case where the meter to be measured is a water meter, a gas meter, or the like.

That is, even when the meter to be measured is a water meter, a gas meter, or the like, the water amount of the water meter, the gas amount of the gas meter, and the like are detected in a non-contact manner using a photointerrupter or the like and converted into a pulse signal. Is output as a meter reading signal.

In this case, the duty cycle of the pulse signal is monitored, and if this duty cycle deviates from a certain value, it can be detected as a meter reading abnormality.

The pulse cycle of the pulse signal is monitored, and if the pulse cycle has no correspondence with the water amount of the water meter or the gas amount of the gas meter, this can be detected as a meter reading abnormality.

In addition, when the pulse signal is not generated despite the water amount of the water meter and the gas amount of the gas meter, and the pulse signal is not generated even when the water amount of the water meter and the gas amount of the gas meter are not present. If it occurs, it can be similarly detected as a meter reading abnormality.

[0068]

As described above, according to the present invention, the meter reading output of the meter is monitored, and when the meter reading value detected based on the meter reading output is inconsistent with the operation of the meter. Is configured to be determined as a meter reading error,
It is possible to provide an automatic meter reading method and apparatus that can quickly detect an abnormality due to illegal use or the like and that can easily maintain the abnormality.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing an embodiment of an integrating wattmeter configured by applying an automatic meter reading method and device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram showing a specific configuration of the current detection circuit shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a meter reading terminal connected to the integrating power meter shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining processing in a control unit shown in FIG. 3;

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 power detection unit 20 pulse generation unit 21 transformer 22 power supply circuit 23 control unit 24 power line communication modem 25 transformer 26 input / output circuit (I / O) 27 A / D conversion unit 30 current detection circuit 100 integrating power meter 200 meter reading terminal L1, L2 power line Tr transformer S1, S2 current detector (current transformer)

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code FI G08C 19/00 G08C 19/00 P H04B 3/54 H04B 3/54 (72) Inventor Hideo Takahashi 1-chome Nakaochiai, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo No. 2-8 Inside Nissho Manufacturing Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Toshio Matsuda 16-8-201 Tomikucho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo Inside Computer Science Laboratories

Claims (23)

[Claims] 1. An automatic meter reading method for automatically reading meter readings of a meter, wherein the meter reading output of the meter is monitored, and a contradiction between the meter reading of the meter detected based on the meter reading output and the operation of the meter is provided. An automatic meter reading method characterized in that if it occurs, it is determined that the meter is abnormal. 2. The meter outputs a pulse signal of a predetermined duty cycle as the meter reading output, the pulse interval corresponding to the meter reading value, and detecting the meter reading by counting the pulse signal. 2. The automatic meter reading method according to claim 1, wherein: 3. The automatic meter reading method according to claim 2, wherein the duty cycle of the pulse signal is monitored, and if the duty cycle of the pulse signal changes, it is determined that the meter reading is abnormal. Monitoring a pulse interval of the pulse signal;
3. The automatic meter reading method according to claim 2, wherein when the pulse interval of the pulse signal does not correspond to the meter reading value, it is determined that the meter reading is abnormal. 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein a change in the object to be measured by the meter is monitored, and if the change in the pulse signal does not occur despite the change in the object to be measured by the meter, the meter reading is determined to be abnormal. 3. The automatic meter reading method according to claim 2, wherein 6. The method according to claim 6, wherein a change in the object to be measured by the meter is monitored, and when a change in the pulse signal occurs even though the object to be measured by the meter has not changed, it is determined that the meter reading is abnormal. 3. The automatic meter reading method according to claim 2, wherein 7. The meter is an integrating wattmeter, and the integrating wattmeter outputs a pulse signal of a predetermined duty cycle whose pulse interval changes in accordance with power consumption as the meter reading output, and the meter reading value is 2. The automatic meter reading method according to claim 1, wherein the detection is performed by counting the pulse signal. 8. The automatic meter reading method according to claim 7, wherein the duty cycle of the pulse signal is monitored, and when the duty cycle of the pulse signal changes, it is determined that the meter reading is abnormal. 9. Monitoring the pulse interval of the pulse signal and monitoring the current value flowing through the integrating wattmeter. If the pulse interval of the pulse signal does not correspond to the reciprocal of the current value, the meter reading abnormality is detected. The automatic meter reading method according to claim 7, wherein the determination is made as: 10. The automatic meter reading according to claim 7, wherein a current flowing through the integrating wattmeter is monitored, and if the pulse signal is not generated despite the presence of the current, the meter reading is determined to be abnormal. Method. 11. The automatic meter reading according to claim 7, wherein a current flowing through the integrating wattmeter is monitored, and if the pulse signal is generated despite the absence of the current, the meter reading is determined to be abnormal. Method. 12. An automatic meter reading device for automatically reading meter readings of a meter, wherein meter reading output monitoring means for monitoring meter reading output of the meter, and between meter reading output monitored by the meter reading output monitoring and the operation of the meter. And an abnormality judging means for judging an inconsistency in meter reading when inconsistency occurs in the automatic meter reading device. 13. The meter according to claim 1, wherein said meter generates a pulse signal having a predetermined duty cycle whose pulse interval changes in accordance with a meter reading value of said meter as said meter reading output. 13. The automatic meter reading device according to claim 12, further comprising: counting means for counting a pulse signal. 14. The automatic meter reading device according to claim 13, wherein the abnormality determining means determines that the meter reading is abnormal when the duty cycle of the pulse signal generated by the pulse generating means changes. 15. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the abnormality determining means determines that the meter reading is abnormal when the pulse interval of the pulse signal generated from the pulse generating means does not correspond to the meter reading value. Automatic meter reading device. 16. The abnormality determining means determines that the meter reading is abnormal if the pulse signal does not change from the pulse generation means even though the measurement target of the meter has changed. 14. The automatic meter reading device according to claim 13, wherein 17. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the abnormality determining means determines that the meter reading is abnormal when a change in the pulse signal is generated from the pulse generating means even though the measurement target of the meter has not changed. 14. The automatic meter reading device according to claim 13, wherein 18. The power meter, wherein the meter is an integrating wattmeter, wherein the integrating wattmeter generates a pulse signal having a predetermined duty cycle whose pulse interval changes in accordance with power consumption; 13. The automatic meter reading device according to claim 12, further comprising: a counting unit that counts a pulse signal generated from. 19. The automatic meter reading device according to claim 18, wherein the abnormality determining means determines that the meter reading is abnormal when the duty cycle of the pulse signal generated by the pulse generating means changes. 20. The abnormality detecting means, comprising: a current detecting means for detecting a current flowing through the integrating wattmeter; and a pulse interval of the pulse signal generated by the pulse generating means, wherein a current detected by the current detecting means. 19. The automatic meter reading device according to claim 18, further comprising: means for determining that the meter reading is abnormal when the value no longer corresponds to the reciprocal of the value. 21. The abnormality determining means determines that the meter reading is abnormal when the pulse signal is not generated from the pulse generating means even though the current detection means detects a current to be used. 21. The automatic meter reading device according to claim 20, wherein: 22. The abnormality determination means, wherein when the pulse signal is generated from the pulse generation means even though the current detection means does not detect a use current, it is determined that the meter reading is abnormal. 21. The automatic meter reading device according to claim 20, wherein: 23. An automatic meter reading device for automatically reading meter readings of a meter, a meter reading detecting means for detecting a meter reading of the meter, a monitoring means for monitoring the operation of the meter, and a meter reading detecting means. If there is a discrepancy between the measured meter reading and the operation of the meter monitored by the monitoring means, an abnormality judging means for judging a meter reading abnormality; and a meter reading of the meter detected by the meter reading detecting means and the abnormality judgment. Power line communication means for transmitting a determination result by the means using power line communication via the power line.