Smart instead of light

02.12.2025

Source: E & M powernews

In recent weeks, it has become clear that not everyone who is in favor of smart meter light is questioning the intelligent metering system.

Anyone who wants to offer flexible tariffs or market flexibility is generally dependent on smart metering systems. According to Octopus Energy, for example, a simple and inexpensive metering system that meets "lean requirements" and a focus on solutions in other countries could accelerate 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.

Last summer, however, other competitive metering point operators, including Enpal, caused a stir when they expressed skepticism or even rejection of a "rollout light". "It's not the type of meter that causes the high costs, but the complicated processes and necessary systems. We should not compromise on safety and instead concentrate fully on implementation," said Markus Meyer, Head of Regulation and Energy Policy at Enpal.

While Octopus Germany CEO 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. "Here we see the gateway (the smart meter gateway as part of the smart metering system; editor's note) as a must," the authors wrote. Their approach is therefore not, as is sometimes wrongly claimed, in competition with the smart metering system.

"Avoiding stranded investments

The initiators are more concerned with a "smart modern metering system", i.e. an intelligent electronic meter 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 implemented. 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 list could go on and on.

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. One of the authors of the position papers giving the initiative a face is Marcel Linnemann, who heads the Innovation and Policy Department at IT service provider Items, in which the municipal utilities of Münster, Osnabrück, Solingen and Lübeck are also involved.

However, scientists from the Research Center for Energy Economics in Munich recently expressed skepticism in a white paper that a low-threshold solution such as the one proposed by the initiative would actually "adequately" address the problems with the speed and costs of the smart meter rollout.

This is because smart modern metering devices would also require regulatory intervention and certification processes. Among other things, there is also a risk of installation capacities being reprioritized to the detriment of smart metering systems.

Author: Fritz Wilhelm