EUROPE READIES FOR SMART METERS

Recommendations on preparations for rollout of smart metering in Europe
March 15, 2012 (Metering.com)

"The European Commission has issued recommendations and a set of minimum functionalities for smart metering systems in Europe…[that] cover data security…protection measures, and… a methodology for a long term cost-benefit analysis…10 percent of European households have some sort of smart meter…[but] 80 percent of all electricity meters in the EU have to be replaced by smart meters by 2020…

"…[Common minimum functional requirements for] the customer…Provide readings directly to the customer and any third party designated by the consumer…Update the readings frequently enough to allow the information to be used to achieve energy savings…"

click to enlarge

"For the metering operator…Allow remote reading of meters by the operator…Provide two-way communication between the smart metering system and external networks for maintenance and control of the metering system…Allow readings to be taken frequently enough for the information to be used for network planning.

"For commercial aspects of energy supply…Support advanced tariff systems…Allow remote on/off control of the supply and/or flow or power limitation…For security and data protection…Provide secure data communications…Fraud prevention and detection…For distributed generation…Provide import/export and reactive metering…Member states are required to take all necessary measures to follow the recommendation and to draw it to the attention of stakeholders…"