Energy Markets Inspectorate report "Functional requirements for future electricity meters (Ei R2015:09)"
The referral was received from the Ministry of Environment and Energy
The Electricity Act should be supplemented with a provision on free information to customers on metering and voltage values and a provision that the metering system should promote reliable and efficient network operation, reduced energy consumption and increased integration of local production.
There are several reasons why the functionality of metering systems should be regulated instead of leaving it entirely up to the electricity network companies to decide which functionality is appropriate:
- Functional requirements create a level playing field. Ensuring a certain minimum level of metering systems creates a level playing field throughout the country for all stakeholders such as customers, electricity traders and energy service companies
- Functional requirements enable a developed market for energy services. A common minimum level of functionality, which includes functions that promote energy services, creates the conditions for a developed and well-functioning energy services market.
- Functional requirements accelerate the development towards smarter electricity grids. Functional requirements ensure that the tools for a more efficient use of grid resources are available. With more advanced functions in metering systems that can also be used in grid operation, the development towards smarter grids can be accelerated.
- Functional requirements that are consistent with the EU approach reduce the risk of changes in the future. The European Commission has produced a list of minimum functionalities formulated as recommendations that Member States should follow as far as possible. If stricter requirements are imposed in the future in the form of directives that must be followed, it is reasonable to assume that these will be based on the recommended functional requirements.