METHOD AND DEVICE FOR MANAGING PREPAID RESOURCES IN A DISTRIBUTION NETWORK FOR SUCH A RESOURCE

Abstract

Specifically disclosed are a method and device for managing prepaid resource meters. The method involves receiving information from a meter indicating the amount of resource consumed. The meter has a regulating device that can be in one of three states: a first state blocking resource consumption, a second state allowing consumption up to a first flow limit, and a third state allowing consumption up to a second flow limit, the second limit being strictly greater than zero and strictly less than the first limit. The method then checks whether a credit level is equal to or greater than the amount consumed. If the check is negative and the regulating device of the given meter is in the second state, a message is sent to move the regulating device to the third state. Figure 2 illustrates this in the abstract.

Description

Title of the invention: METHOD AND DEVICE FOR MANAGING PREPAID RESOURCES IN A DISTRIBUTION NETWORK FOR SUCH A RESOURCE technical field

[0001] The various embodiment examples described in this disclosure relate to the management of meters in a distribution network for a prepaid resource, for example an electricity, gas, water, heat, etc. distribution network... Technical background

[0002] There is a gateway for prepaid energy distribution centralizing the consumption of one or more meters, including cutting off the power supply to a meter in the event of credit overrun.

[0003] A delay before a service interruption may be provided to account for communication problems between a credit top-up and the gateway. Indeed, the interruption could have adverse consequences.

[0004] For example, in the case of an electricity meter, the interruption of the power supply to a safety device or to a refrigerator for the contents of which it is necessary to maintain a temperature below a maximum threshold can lead to endangering a person or losing refrigerated products.

[0005] There is a need for a suitable method of managing a prepaid resource and the meters of the distribution network of this resource. Summary of the invention

[0006] A first aspect of this disclosure relates to a method for managing meters (in a prepaid resource distribution network), the method being implemented by a device comprising a processor, the method comprising: - the reception, from a given network resource consumption meter, of information representing a quantity of resource consumed, the given meter having a regulating device capable of being controlled to have one of three states, including: • an initial state blocking the consumption of the resource, • a second state allowing consumption of the resource up to an initial flow rate limit; and • a third state allowing consumption of the resource up to a second flow limit, the second limit being strictly greater than zero and strictly less than the first limit; - obtaining a level of prepayment credit for the resource associated with the given meter; - checking whether the credit level is equal to or greater than the amount of resource consumed; and if the check is negative and the regulating body of the given meter is in the second state, the transmission, to the given meter, of a message to put the regulating body of the given meter into the third state.

[0007] Advantageously, the action of lowering the authorized flow rate at the level of a meter is accompanied by the transmission of a message to the customer whose account is linked to this meter to warn him of the new authorized flow rate.

[0008] The level of the new, reduced flow rate can be defined in several ways, depending on the context, the type of customer, the known normal use ... For example, it can be fixed in relation to a minimum flow rate defined by regulation, a minimum flow rate adapted to allow the operation of certain types of sensitive or vital devices, or to force the customer to select the devices that he can operate at the same time, or to force him to use one or more devices at a reduced degree compared to the maximum capacity of these devices.

[0009] According to one embodiment, the method includes, if the check is positive and the regulating element of the given meter is in the third state, the transmission of a message to the given meter to put the regulating element into the second state.

[0010] According to one embodiment, the method further includes updating the credit level by subtracting the quantity consumed.

[0011] According to one embodiment, the resource is electricity, the flow rate is a power and the first flow rate limit is a power subscribed to with an electricity supplier.

[0012] According to one embodiment, a power is subscribed for a limited number of predetermined discrete tiers with the electricity supplier, the first limit is a first subscribed power tier and the second limit is a second subscribed power tier, lower than the first tier.

[0013] According to one embodiment, the resource is water and the flow rate is a water flow rate.

[0014] According to one embodiment, the resource is town gas and the flow rate is a flow rate of gas.

[0015] A second aspect of this disclosure relates to a meter management device comprising means for implementing a method in a distribution network of a prepaid resource, as disclosed.

[0016] A third aspect of this disclosure relates to a resource consumption metering device adapted to a prepayment resource distribution network, the meter comprising:

[0017] - a processor;

[0018] - a metrological device configured to count the quantity consumed of the resource;

[0019] - a control unit capable of being controlled to have one of three states, including: • an initial state blocking the consumption of the resource, • a second state allowing consumption of the resource up to a first flow rate limit; and • a third state allowing consumption of the resource up to a second flow limit, the second limit being greater than zero and less than the first limit; - a communication interface configured for • to transmit information representative of the quantity of the resource consumed; and • receive a command message from the state of the regulating device;

[0020] the processor being configured to change the state of the regulating organ in response to the received message.

[0021] According to one embodiment, the resource being electricity, the flow rate being power and the first flow rate limit being a power subscribed to with an electricity supplier, the processor being configured to, when the regulating organ is in the third state and a flow rate of resource consumed is greater than the second start limit, change the state of the organ from the third state to the first state.

[0022] A third aspect of this disclosure relates to a method implemented by a metering device in a prepaid resource distribution network, the metering device comprising:

[0023] - a processor;

[0024] - a metrological device configured to count the quantity consumed of the resource;

[0025] - a control unit capable of being controlled to have one of three states, including: • an initial state blocking the consumption of the resource, • a second state allowing consumption of the resource up to a first flow rate limit; and • a third state allowing consumption of the resource up to a second flow limit, the second limit being greater than zero and less than the first limit; - a communication interface adapted to communicate with a meter management device, the method comprising:

[0026] - the transmission of information to the meter management device representative of the quantity consumed of the resource counted by the metrological body;

[0027] - the receipt of a command from the state of the regulating organ by the meter management system;

[0028] - the change in the state of the regulating organ in response to the message received.

[0029] According to one embodiment, the resource being electricity, the flow rate being a power and the first flow rate limit being a power subscribed to with an electricity supplier, the method further comprising: - when the regulating organ is in the third state and a flow rate of resource consumed is greater than the second start limit, a change of the organ's state from the third state to the first state.

[0030] Also disclosed is a computer program product comprising instructions which, when executed by at least one processor, cause the implementation of such a method.

[0031] Also disclosed is a computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the implementation of such a method. In one embodiment, the storage medium is non-transient.

[0032] Meter and counter management devices may be software-based, that is, instructions intended to be executed by a set of circuits to perform one or more or all of the operations or steps to be carried out by the network head and / or the meter, in accordance with the methods described in this disclosure. The set of circuits may consist of dedicated circuitry. It may also consist of one or more processors and one or more memories comprising one or more computer program codes, said processors, memories, and computer codes being configured to cause the network head and / or the meter to execute one or more or all of the steps of the methods described in this disclosure. Brief description of the figures

[0033] The implementation examples will be better understood in the light of the detailed description that follows and the accompanying drawings, which are given for illustrative purposes only and are therefore not limiting to this disclosure.

[0034] Fig. 1 is a diagram of an example network according to one or more embodiment examples.

[0035] The [Fig.2] is a flowchart of a method according to one or more embodiment examples.

[0036] The [Fig.3] is a flowchart of a method according to one or more embodiment examples when the resource is electrical energy.

[0037] Fig. 4 is a block diagram of a device that can be used to implement the methods described. Detailed description

[0038] Various embodiments will now be described in more detail, by way of non-limiting examples, with reference to the drawings accompanying this disclosure, which illustrate certain embodiments.

[0039] The specific structural and functional details described herein are non-limiting examples. The embodiments described herein may be subject to various modifications and alternative forms. The subject matter of the disclosure may be realized in many different forms and should not be interpreted as being limited to the embodiments presented herein as illustrative examples. It should be understood that there is no intention to limit the embodiments to the particular forms described later in this document.

[0040] This disclosure applies to any distribution network for a resource comprising at least one network head and a plurality of meters measuring the consumption of said resource. This could be, for example, a distribution network for electricity, gas, water, heat, etc.

[0041] In the non-limiting example of [Fig. 1], a distribution network 100 comprises at least one network headend 110 which is configured to communicate via at least one device 102 with a plurality of meters 103_K installed at customer premises, where K is an integer from 1 to N, where N is the total number of meters. The device 102 is, for example, a sub-distributor or a data concentrator, commonly used in certain power grid architectures.

[0042] Communication between the network headend 110 and the device 102 can take place in various ways, for example via a wireless telecommunications network 109. The wireless communication network 109 can be a GPRS, UMTS, LTE, 5G, or a narrowband IoT (Internet of Things) network. Objects in French). The network head 110 and the device 102 are equipped with suitable communication interfaces, respectively referenced 111 and 107 in [Fig.1].

[0043] Device 102 communicates with meters 103_K. This communication can also occur in various ways, for example, via power line communication (PLC) over an existing wired infrastructure such as the electrical network 113. This communication can also occur by other means, including wirelessly. Device 102 includes a suitable communication interface 108, while each meter includes a corresponding communication interface 106_K.

[0044] A meter 103_K installed at a given customer's premises is configured to measure each customer's consumption of the resource distributed via the distribution network 100. For example, when the network 100 is an electricity distribution network, each 103_K meter measures electricity consumption. When the network 100 is a water or gas distribution network, the meters can measure the volume of resource consumed. Consumption is measured, for example, using a metrological device 104_K, producing consumption index values.

[0045] The 103_K meters connected to the device 102 are configured to transmit to this device customer information representative of consumption, based on the information produced by the metrological device.

[0046] This information can be the differences between successive readings over a given period. For example, 103_K meters transmit information representative of daily consumption every day. This customer information includes, for example, a consumption value for each time segment of a predetermined duration, for example, every 15 minutes. The values ​​transmitted for each 15-minute segment during the day make it possible to establish a load curve for a meter for the day.

[0047] Each meter also includes a control unit 105_K comprising, among other things, a control component 117_K that acts directly on the flow rate (e.g., circuit breaker, valve, etc.). The state of each control unit is controlled by the device 102, which transmits control messages to the meters to change their state. According to this disclosure, a control unit has at least three states: - in the first state, no resources can be consumed; - in the second state, the resource can be consumed up to a first flow limit; - in the third state, the resource can be consumed up to a second flow limit, the second limit being strictly greater than zero and strictly less than the first limit.

[0048] For example, according to a non-limiting embodiment, in the context of an electricity distribution network, the regulating device includes a circuit breaker or equivalent. The first state then corresponds to an open circuit breaker, the second state to a closed circuit breaker, and the third state to a circuit breaker that is initially closed but opens if the second power limit is exceeded.

[0049] In the third state, it is the regulating device which will measure the power consumed and open the circuit in case of exceeding the second limit, either immediately, or - according to a variant - after a given time above the second limit.

[0050] The behavior in the third state is generally similar to that in the second state, but the limits used differ depending on the state.

[0051] In the case of networks distributing volumes of resources (water, gas), the regulating device includes, for example, a valve, which can be open (giving access to a maximum flow rate) or closed (no resource can be consumed), or in a state of partial opening or closing, corresponding to the third state mentioned above.

[0052] The network headend 110 is configured to perform the functions described below, either autonomously or in cooperation with devices or systems with which the network headend can communicate. Figure 1 shows, by way of example, a communication network 101, for example an IP network such as a VPN or the Internet, of which the network headend 110 is a part.

[0053] According to the non-limiting embodiment shown in [Fig. 1], the network 101 includes, in particular, a meter data management system (MDMS) server 112, a payment server 114, a prepayment key management service (KMS) server 115, and a meter key management server 116, also a KMS server. The functions of these four entities can be grouped in various ways on one or more common hardware platforms, including with the network headend 110. The architecture of [Fig. 1] corresponds to a typical architecture, particularly with regard to the separation of the key servers from the other entities, but other implementations are obviously possible.

[0054] According to the example illustrated in [Fig. 1], the payment server 114 interacts with client devices (not shown in [Fig. 1]) to receive payments for the purchase of resource credit. For each client, the payment server has access to a key provided by the prepayment key management server 115. This key is also known to the client device and is used by the client device to encrypt messages destined for the payment server. The latter can decrypt A message is received from a customer's device using the appropriate key. Customer devices include, for example, computers, tablets, and mobile phones running a suitable application. The counter data server 112 stores each customer's credit level and, if necessary, updates its data based on messages from the payment server 114 representing a customer's payment. A customer holds an account with the payment server 114, which they can then credit.

[0055] The credit data will be designated by C_K in what follows, where C_K is the unused credit level for meter K, i.e., the available credit. In the example in [Fig. 1], the credit levels are transmitted by the network headend 110, which forwards them to the device 102. The meter key management server 116 maintains a key for each meter, the meter keys being communicated by the network headend to the device 102.

[0056] A key from a meter K is used by the device 102 to exchange information securely with the meter K. A meter, which also knows its key, can transmit a metrological index of resource consumption to the sub-distributor. The sub-distributor can securely transmit commands to a meter, for example, stopping the distribution of the resource (opening a power cut-off device, closing a valve for gas or water).

[0057] A prepayment key stored by the prepayment key management server 115 makes it possible to secure the prepayment through a client device, the latter having knowledge of the prepayment key(s) of the meter associated with the customer account with application 114.

[0058] According to this description, the resource distribution control mechanism is adapted to allow modulation of the amount of resource accessible per unit of time (flow rate) to an intermediate value between a complete shutdown of distribution and a first flow rate limit, when the balance of the account associated with a given resource becomes zero or negative. As previously stated, this intermediate value is also referred to as the second flow rate limit in this disclosure.

[0059] For an electricity distribution network, the first flow rate limit is, for example, the contracted power. This contracted power is typically defined by the subscription contract linking the customer to the network operator.

[0060] For a water or gas distribution network, the first flow limit is, for example, the flow corresponding to a fully open valve (maximum flow).

[0061] The intermediate value, i.e. the second flow limit, can be chosen in several ways. For example, it can be a percentage strictly greater than 0% and strictly less than 100% of the first flow limit.

[0062] The percentage can, for example, be chosen so that the intermediate value represents a given fraction of the customer's average consumption. This will allow some uses of the resource, but not all uses. This has the effect of encouraging the customer to rectify their negative credit situation.

[0063] In the case of an electrical network, the powers to which a customer can subscribe can be defined by a number of discrete values, the second flow limit can thus correspond to one of these powers, lower than the subscribed power defining the first flow limit.

[0064] According to one or more embodiments, the customer is notified that the prepaid credit linked to their meter is insufficient to cover the consumption indicated by that meter, i.e., a zero or negative balance. The warning may take the form of an automatically generated text message or email, or a signal on the meter itself. The warning may explicitly indicate the second debit limit. This second debit limit may also be implicit.

[0065] The customer can thus manage their use of the resource knowing the imposed limit, for example by prioritizing priority appliances to reduce electricity consumption, by limiting gas heating to one room to reduce gas consumption, by limiting their water use to essential uses ... and thus remain below the second flow limit.

[0066] According to an alternative embodiment applicable to an electricity distribution network, when a meter is limited to a power corresponding to the second flow limit, the supply of current is totally interrupted if consumption exceeds the second flow limit.

[0067] According to the implementation, this cut-off can be effective as soon as the instantaneous power exceeds the second power limit, or after a certain time above the second power limit. In the latter case, the cut-off device monitors the instantaneous power over a predetermined time interval. The instantaneous power is supplied by the metrological device.

[0068] According to one or more embodiments, when a meter is limited to the second debit limit, the first debit limit is restored as soon as the customer has sufficiently credited the account associated with the meter so that the balance is again positive.

[0069] According to one embodiment, the customer is notified that his account has a positive balance, as well as that the resource is again available at the nominal debit.

[0070] It should be noted that the functionalities of a sub-distributor 102 described in the embodiment examples can, in other embodiments, be integrated into the network headend 110. Indeed, a sub-distributor is generally implemented in electricity or gas distribution networks, but rarely in a water distribution network.

[0071] Figure 2 is a flowchart of a method according to a non-limiting embodiment. The method can be implemented by device 102, which is ideally located between the network headend and the meters and can thus easily control them. However, the method can also be implemented by another device in the distribution network. A person skilled in the art will be able to adapt this method according to the architecture of the distribution network and the device implementing it.

[0072] Device 102 determines (in 201) whether the balance, in other words the prepaid credit available for a meter K minus the consumption recorded by that meter, is strictly positive or not. The balance indicates whether a customer has consumed exactly what they paid in advance (zero balance) or whether they have consumed more than they paid in advance (negative balance).

[0073] If the balance is zero or negative, device 102 will cause the meter's regulating element to switch to the third state. According to the embodiment shown in [Fig. 2], device 102 will check at 202 whether meter K is in the second state, i.e., whether it is operating at its nominal flow limit (first limit). If so, a message is transmitted at 203 by device 102 to meter K so that the control element of this meter is switched to the second state. This check of the current state of the regulating element is performed to avoid sending a change message to the third state when the element is already in that state.

[0074] According to an alternative embodiment (not illustrated), the check in 202 is not performed and the message in 203 is sent systematically.

[0075] The current state is, for example, a state stored by device 102 during a previous iteration of the method in [Fig. 2]. Alternatively, this state can be obtained from the relevant meter following a request from device 102. The method loops back to 201 at the output of 202 and 203 to check the balance again, knowing that the customer may have topped up their account in the meantime.

[0076] If the balance is positive in 201 and the regulating device is in the third state (positive check in 204), then the sub-distributor sends a message to meter K so that the latter changes the state of the control device to the second state, allowing consumption at the nominal flow rate again (circuit breaker closed, valve fully open). Otherwise, the method loops back to check the balance in 201 again. This situation occurs when, after the flow rate has been limited due to a negative or zero balance, a payment is made which allows the balance to become positive again.

[0077] A negative balance is possible insofar as a meter does not itself determine whether there is remaining credit to be used, but this task is delegated to device 102, which can receive information relating to prepaid credit on the one hand and to the effective consumption of the resource in an asynchronous manner and therefore triggering a limitation of the flow rate even though the prepaid credit has already been exceeded.

[0078] [Fig.3] is a more detailed flowchart of a method according to [Fig.2], with reference to certain elements of [Fig.1].

[0079] In step 301, device 102 obtains the encryption keys for the N meters 103_1 to 103_N assigned to it. In step 302, the available credits C_1 to C_N associated with each of these meters are initialized to zero. This is observed from device 102. In step 303, the consumption index of each meter at time M1, I_K_M-1, is obtained from the meters (K ranging from 1 to N). The available credit for each meter is incremented based on payments received as communicated in step 304 to device 102 by the network headend 110.

[0080] Consumption indexes, I_K_M, at time M, more recent than time Ml, are obtained in 305 for all meters.

[0081] For each counter K: - The available credit C_K is adjusted in 307 by removing the consumption of meter K between times Ml and M - this is the balance. - We also keep in memory, for each meter K, the consumption index I_K_M, this index becoming the index I_K_M-1 for the next iteration. - We check in 308 whether the balance is less than or equal to 0. • If this is the case and the power regulation unit of meter K is in the second state (flow at the first limit, i.e. the nominal flow), then device 102 generates in 309 a command message to meter K to change the state of the regulation unit to the third state (flow at the second limit, lower than the first limit). • If this is not the case, and the power regulation unit of meter K is in the third state, then the sub-distributor generates in 311 a command message to meter K to change the state of the control unit to the second state. - The meter index is incremented to K+l in 310, and the loop continues until the N meters have been reviewed (verification in 312), after which the method resumes in 303 and 304 with the update of consumption indexes and credits.

[0082] The device implementing the disclosed method can, for example, be implemented in the form of a device such as that shown in Figure [Fig. 4]. This device, referenced 400, comprises a printed circuit board 401 on which a communication bus 402 connects a processor 403, a RAM 404, and a support storage 411, optionally an interface 405 for connecting a display 406, a series of connectors 407 for connecting user interface devices or modules such as a mouse or touchpad 408 and a keyboard 409, one or more wireless network interfaces 410 and / or one or more wired network interfaces 412. Depending on the required functionality, particularly whether the device 400 is used in a headend 110 or a sub-distribution frame 102, the device may implement only some of the above. For example, some modules in Figure [Fig. 4] may be internal or externally connected, in which case they are not necessarily an integral part of the device itself.For example, the screen 406 may be a screen that is connected to the device 400 only under specific circumstances, or the device 400 may be controlled by another device equipped with a screen, and in this case the device 400 does not have a screen 406 or an interface 405.

[0083] The memory 411 contains one or more software codes which, when executed by the processor 403, allow, depending on the implementation, the network head 110 or the sub-distributor to execute the management method described herein. In one embodiment given by way of example, a removable storage medium 413, such as a USB flash drive, may also be connected. For example, the detachable storage medium 413 may contain the software codes to be downloaded into the memory 411.

[0084] The processor 403 can be any type of processor such as a central processing unit ("CPU") or a dedicated microprocessor such as an embedded microcontroller or a digital signal processor ("DSP").

[0085] The device 400 may also include other components that are commonly found in computer systems, such as an operating system, queue managers, device drivers or one or more network protocols that are stored in memory 411 and executed by the processor 403.

[0086] The device 400 can also be used to implement a counter, by integrating a regulation element 105_K and a metrological element 104_K.

[0087] In one embodiment, the control unit comprises a processor, software code executed by the processor, and a flow control component 117_K (circuit breaker, valve, etc.). Control signals for the flow control component are generated by the processor when it executes the software. The processor for the control unit may be processor 403. The software code may be stored in memory 411.

[0088] Depending on the needs and nature of the meter, some components may be removed and others added.

[0089] Those skilled in the art will understand that all the functional diagrams presented here represent conceptual views, given by way of example, of circuits incorporating the principles of disclosure.

[0090] Each function, block, and step described can be implemented in hardware, software, firmware, middleware, microcode, or any suitable combination thereof. If implemented in software, the functions or blocks of the functional diagrams and flowcharts can be implemented by computer program instructions / software code, which can be stored or transmitted on a computer-readable medium, or loaded onto a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, or other programmable processing device and / or system, such that the computer program instructions or software code executing on the computer or other programmable processing device create the means for implementing the functions described herein.

[0091] Although aspects of this disclosure have been described with reference to particular embodiments, it should be understood that these embodiments only illustrate the principles and applications of this disclosure. It is therefore understood that many modifications may be made to the illustrative embodiments and that other arrangements may be devised without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as determined on the basis of the claims and their equivalents.

[0092] The advantages and solutions to problems have been described above with respect to specific embodiments of the invention. However, the advantages, benefits, solutions to problems, and any element that may cause or result in such advantages, benefits or solutions, or cause such advantages, benefits or solutions to become more pronounced, shall not be construed as a critical, required, or essential feature or element of any or all of the claims. List of reference signs

[0093] 100 - Prepaid resource distribution network

[0094] 101 - Communication network

[0095] 102 - Data sub-distributor or data concentrator

[0096] 103_K - Resource Counter K

[0097] 104_K - Metrological component of the K counter

[0098] 105_K - Resource regulation unit of the K meter

[0099] 106_K - Communication interface of the i counter

[0100] 107 - Sub-distributor communication interface

[0101] 108 - Sub-distributor communication interface

[0102] 109 - Headend communication network - sub-distributor

[0103] 110 - Network Head

[0104] 111 - Network Headend Communication Interface

[0105] 112 - Meter data management system

[0106] 113 - Sub-distributor communication network - meters

[0107] 114 - Prepayment application

[0108] 115 - Prepayment Key Management System

[0109] 116 - Key counter management system

[0110] 117_K - K-counter regulation component

[0111] 400 - Device

[0112] 401 - Printed circuit board

[0113] 402 - Communication bus

[0114] 403 - Processor

[0115] 404 - RAM

[0116] 405 - Interface

[0117] 406-Screen

[0118] 407 - Connectors

[0119] 408-Mouse

[0120] 409 - Touchpad

[0121] 410 - Wireless interface

[0122] 411 - Storage medium

[0123] 412 - Wired network interface

[0124] 413 - Removable storage support

Claims

Demands

1. Method for managing meters (103_K) in a distribution network (100) of a prepaid resource, the method being implemented by a device (102, 110, 400) comprising a processor (403), the method comprising: - the reception, from a given meter (103_l, ... 103_N) of consumption of the network resource, of information representative of a quantity of resource consumed, the given meter having a regulating element (105_K) capable of being controlled to have one of three states, including: • a first state blocking consumption of the resource, • a second state allowing consumption of the resource up to a first flow limit; and • a third state allowing consumption of the resource up to a second flow limit, the second limit being strictly greater than zero and strictly less than the first limit;- obtaining a prepayment credit level of the resource associated with the given meter; - checking (201, 308) whether the credit level is equal to or greater than the quantity consumed of the resource; and if the check is negative and the regulating element of the given meter is in the second state, the transmission, to the given meter, of a message to put the regulating element of the given meter into the third state (203, 308).

2. Method according to claim 1, comprising, if the verification is positive and the regulating element of the given meter is in the third state (204), the transmission of a message to the given meter to put the regulating element into the second state (205, 311).

3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising updating (307) the credit level by subtracting the amount consumed.

4. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the resource is electricity, the flow rate is power, and the first flow rate limit is power contracted with an electricity supplier.

5. Method according to claim 4, wherein power is subscribed for a limited number of predetermined discrete tiers from the electricity supplier, the first limit is a first subscribed power tier and the second limit is a second subscribed power tier, lower than the first tier.

6. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the resource is water and the flow rate is a water flow rate.

7. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the resource is town gas and the flow rate is a gas flow rate.

8. Meter management device (102) (103_K) comprising means for implementing a method in a distribution network of a prepaid resource according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. A consumption meter (103_K) for a resource adapted to a prepayment distribution network (100) for the resource, the meter comprising: - a processor (403); - a metrological element (104_K) configured to count the quantity of the resource consumed; - a control element (105_K) capable of being controlled to have one of three states, including: • a first state blocking consumption of the resource, • a second state allowing consumption of the resource up to a first flow limit; and • a third state allowing consumption of the resource up to a second flow limit, the second limit being greater than zero and less than the first limit; - a communication interface (106_K) configured to: • transmit information representing the quantity of the resource consumed; and • receive a control message indicating the state of the control element; the processor being configured to change the state of the regulating device in response to the received message.

10. Device according to claim 9, the resource being electricity, the flow rate being power and the first flow rate limit being a power contracted with an electricity supplier, the processor being configured to, when the regulating organ is in the third state and a flow rate of resource consumed is greater than the second start limit, change the state of the organ from the third state to the first state.

11. A method implemented by a metering device (103_K) in a distribution network (100) of a prepaid resource, the metering device comprising: - a processor (403); - a metrological element (104_K) configured to count the quantity consumed of the resource; - a regulation element (105_K) capable of being controlled to have one of three states, including: • a first state blocking consumption of the resource, • a second state allowing consumption of the resource up to a first flow limit; and • a third state allowing consumption of the resource up to a second flow limit, the second limit being greater than zero and less than the first limit;- a communication interface adapted to communicate with a meter management device (102), the method comprising: - the transmission to the meter management device of information representative of the quantity consumed of the resource counted by the metrological element; - the reception of a command on the state of the regulating element from the meter management device; - the change of the state of the regulating element in response to the message received.

12. Method according to claim 11, the resource being electricity, the flow rate being power, and the first flow rate limit being a power contracted with an electricity supplier, the method also including: - when the regulating organ is in the third state and a flow rate of resource consumed is greater than the second start limit, a change of the organ's state from the third state to the first state.

13. Product computer program comprising instructions which, when executed by at least one processor, cause the implementation of a method according to any one of claims 1 to 7 or 11 and 12.

14. Non-transient computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the implementation of a method according to any one of claims 1 to 7 or 11 and 12.

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