Tuesday 22 May 2012

Energy Efficiency Directive and smart meters

The Council doesn’t wish to go further than the conditions of the smart meters specified in the third energy package which simply indicates that Member States should deploy smart meters, but does not specify what this entails.
According to Landis+Gyr Europe, these appliances are the only way to reduce household energy consumption and costs for consumers.

(...) the directive mentioned the need for a housing interface for smart metering. This provision is crucial for giving end consumers information on their consumption (...) explains John Harris, vice-president of Landis+Gyr Europe.

Energy Cities approves this statement and reminds its point of view published in its opinion paper on the Energy Efficiency Plan (EEP) in April 2011.

An extract from "Will energy efficiency be taken seriously at last?":

"Energy Cities is of the opinion that smart meters must not be designed just taking the -rightful- desire of distributors to improve peak demand management into account. They must first and foremost help consumers monitor their energy use in real time, thus enabling them to adapt their behaviour. This is why all “smart” meters should include a display unit, visible inside the housing or office block, that, if possible, shows electricity, gas, heat and water consumptions. Social aspects have to be taken into account."