Smart Metering
The liberalisation of the metering sector, which began with the amended Energy Industry Act and the introduction of the Metering Access Ordinance in autumn 2008, is posing huge challenges for utilities: since 1 January 2010, utilities have been required to draw up their own analyses and concepts so that they can fulfil the legal requirements of the metering sector whilst making use of the opportunities of further market developments.
Electricity generation and the energy system as a whole are set to change dramatically in the years to come. The only way to ensure clean, safe and low-cost supply in the future is to adapt demand to volatile generation volumes. Thanks to its potential to shift loads and boost efficiency, smart metering could become the starting point to achieve this.
Grid operators acting as metering point operators are faced with business risks that cannot be covered by regulated revenues. New players are moving into the field of metering point operations and metering services and this is leading to dynamic competition.
Deadlines and requirements under the Energy Industry Act, the Metering Access Ordinance and the expected regulations by the Federal Network Agency will all have to be implemented before the end of 2010. Functional, technological solutions have to be drawn up here.
At the same time, smart metering offers new business opportunities, especially for energy distribution and metering service providers. Electronic meters are the key to boosting the efficiency of countless processes and offer sales units the chance to develop innovative tariffs and products. Independent metering service providers can offer competitive prices and services thanks to their size and skill in complex data management.
