  The growing popularity of e-mobility, heat pumps, and renewable generation
such as photovoltaics is leading to scenarios which the distribution grid was
not originally designed for. Moreover, parts of the distribution grid are only
sparsely instrumented, leaving the distribution system operator unaware of
possible bottlenecks resulting from the introduction of such loads and
renewable generation. To overcome this lack of information, we propose the use
of widely available smart home devices, such as smart plugs, for grid
monitoring. We detail the aggregation and storage of smart plug measurements
for distribution grid monitoring and examine the accuracy of the measurements.
A case study shows how the average monitoring error in a distribution grid area
decreases the more measurement devices are installed. Hence, simple smart plugs
can help with distribution grid monitoring and provide valuable information to
the DSO.
