Definition
A meter service operator (MSO) is a third party that, on behalf of the grid companyCompany that owns and operates electricity grids and is responsible for power supply to end users., handles the collection, transmission and quality assurance of metering dataData from electricity meters - the foundation for billing, balance settlement and market processes in the power market. from AMSAdvanced Metering and Control System - the digital electricity meter Norwegian households received from 2019, reporting consumption hourly to Elhub. meters at end customers. The role was established alongside the AMS rollout and is regulated by NVENorway's Directorate of Water Resources and Energy - regulates the electricity and water resources sectors., which sets requirements for what the MSO may and must do. MSOs communicate with AMS meters via the communication network (PLC, mobile network), collect hourly and quarter-hourly values, carry out initial data validationThe first step in VEE - automated checks of metering data against technical and logical limits to detect obviously erroneous values. (VEEValidation, Estimation, Editing - systematic process to ensure quality of raw metering data from electricity meters.) and forward approved data to the grid company and ElhubNational hub for metering data and market processes in the Norwegian electricity market.. The MSO may additionally offer supplementary services to power suppliers and end users - for example real-time access to consumption data, alerts on unusual consumption and integrated energy optimisation services via the HAN portHome Area Network - communication port on smart meters enabling end users to extract their own electricity data in real time.. The MSO role is closely linked to the AMIAdvanced Metering Infrastructure - comprehensive system for two-way communication between smart meters and power suppliers' systems. system and the MDMMeter Data Management - system for collection, storage, quality assurance and distribution of metering data from the electricity grid. platform, and is an example of the Norwegian power market having created space for specialist service providers between the grid company and the end customer.