Simplify Smart Metering advertises with added value

23.09.2025

Source: E & M powernews

An initiative is promoting a "smart modern metering system" and makes it clear that this is not intended to compete with the smart metering system.

Flexible tariffs or the marketing of flexibility are generally dependent on smart metering systems. Numerous competitive metering point operators have already made it clear on several occasions that the rollout is too slow.

Octopus Energy, for example, has said that a simple and inexpensive metering system that meets "lean requirements" and a focus on solutions in other countries could speed up the rollout and quickly open up the mass market for innovative tariffs. The transmission of meter data in real time is the order of the day to make tariffs fly and put an end to the blind flight of network operators in the low-voltage sector.

While Octopus Germany boss Bastian Gierull also proposes controlling systems "digitally via the cloud" as in other countries, the "Simplify Smart Metering" initiative has made it clear in a position paper that control processes in particular must take place via secure channels. "This is where we see the gateway as essential," the authors now confirm in their third position paper. Their approach is therefore not, as is sometimes wrongly claimed, in competition with the smart metering system.

Simplify Smart Metering advocates the introduction of "smart modern metering devices", i.e. intelligent electronic meters without a smart meter gateway. This would allow dynamic tariffs to be implemented more quickly and easily. In the same way, optional installation cases, i.e. below the consumption threshold for mandatory installation, could be realized in the short term. In addition, grid transparency could be increased through the fast and comprehensive provision of 15-minute readings and expensive grid expansion could be avoided. The authors list a total of nine points in their second position paper from the end of 2024.

Control via the smart meter gateway

In its third position paper, the initiative has now explained that its approach goes far beyond the benefits of introducing dynamic tariffs and speaks of "enormous added value" in other areas of application, such as 24-hour supplier switching. This is because remote readability has not been standard in Germany for a long time, meaning that an up-to-date meter reading means either sending a technician to the customer, asking the customer to read the meter themselves or working with estimated values. With smart, modern metering equipment, data could be collected faster, more efficiently and more reliably.

At the same time, the initiative advocates including gas meters in the analysis. The 24-hour change of supplier is also envisaged here and poses the same challenges. A smart, modern measuring device could also be used here on a transitional basis.

According to the authors, there is further added value in areas such as energy sharing, forecasting payment flows, balancing on the part of the grid operator or the transfer of grid data when changing concessions. The initiators also see smart modern metering systems as an efficiency lever for the direct marketing of small PV systems.

The initiators of "Simplify Smart Metering" counter the criticism that a smart, modern metering system would create a parallel world that ultimately harbors the risk of stranded investments with the argument that upgrading to a smart metering system at a later date is possible without replacing the meter.

According to its own information, the initiative is now supported by 45 companies, including competitive metering point operators such as Tibber and Octopus as well as metering point operators with basic responsibility such as Netze Duisburg, Enercity from Hanover and N-Ergie from Nuremberg.

The Simplify Smart Metering position papers can be downloaded from their website.

Author: Fritz Wilhelm