Operating smart sensors using distributed ledgers

A smart utility meter comprising:

• at least one processor;
• and
• a memory storing instructions that cause the at least one processor to perform operations comprising:
• performing an action;
• determining a result of the action, the action including performing an installation location determination by scanning an identification tag fixed to a service panel and located in proximity to the smart utility meter and performing validation of the identification tag to determine that the smart utility meter is at an expected location;
• generating a transaction summary including the result;
• sending, to a broker node, a first transmission including the transaction summary and indicating performance of the action, the transmission causing the broker node to perform an update to a distributed ledger;
• receiving a second transmission from the broker node;
• and
• determining that the second transmission indicates an update to the distributed ledger, the update to the distributed ledger including an activity instruction comprising i) an instruction to transfer funds from an account associated with a user and to update a balance associated with the smart utility meter;
• and ii) meter configuration data configured to cause the smart utility meter to perform changing metrology channels collected by the smart utility meter, wherein the smart utility meter is configured to monitor consumption of a utility resource provided to multiple utility resource loads.

A utility network system comprising at least three hierarchal levels that each store a portion of a distributed ledger, the at least three hierarchal levels comprising:

• a master node including a master node distributed ledger, the master node configured to receive a customer transaction and to update the master node distributed ledger indicating occurrence of the customer transaction;
• a plurality of broker nodes, each broker node including a broker node distributed ledger that is applicable to the respective broker node;
• and
• a plurality of smart utility meters configured to:
• receive a first transmission including a first activity instruction from the plurality of broker nodes;
• perform an action based on the first activity instruction;
• determine a result of the action, the action including performing an installation location determination by scanning an identification tag fixed to a service panel and located in proximity to at least one smart utility meter of the plurality of smart utility meters and performing validation of the identification tag to determine that the at least one smart utility meter is at an expected location;
• send, to the plurality of broker nodes, a second transmission indicating performance of the action, the second transmission causing the plurality of broker nodes to perform a second update to their respective distributed ledger;
• and
• determine that a second activity instruction has been updated to the broker node distributed ledger, the second activity instruction comprising i) an instruction to transfer funds from an account associated with a user and to update a balance associated with at least one of the plurality of smart utility meters, and ii) meter configuration data configured to cause at least one smart utility meter of the plurality of smart utility meters to perform setting a signal strength used by the at least one smart utility meter, wherein the at least one smart utility meter is configured to monitor consumption of a utility resource provided to multiple utility resource loads.