Smart Metering Technologies
Smart Metering offers consumers, suppliers, network operators, generators and regulators a wide range of useful tools and services enabling ultimately a smarter energy world.
Generally, Smart Metering technologies consist of several different technical components which may vary according to the specific market conditions in different Member States, but the majority include the following features:
1. Accurate measurement and transmission of electricity, gas, water or heat consumption data
2. Provision of a two-way information gateway and communication infrastructure between the metering systems and relevant parties and their systems, for:
- raising awareness and empowering the consumer through delivery of actual consumption data
- improving Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and services, including automated billing/invoicing based on detailed metering data
- managing energy networks/grids better by shifting or reducing energy consumption, e.g. through Demand Side Management (DSM)
- enabling new energy services for improving energy efficiency
- encouraging decentralised, micro-generation of energy, thus transforming the consumer into an energy producer (“Prosumer”).
Smart Metering systems feature a number of innovations: digital technology, communications, control and better operation of networks. Smart Metering technologies will change the way that metering works completely. They provide customers with much more information on how they use energy and enable those customers to reduce their usage.
