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SmartRegions: Improving the energy efficiency prospects of smart metering through collaboration and innovative services

Panel: 8. Dynamics of consumption 

This is a peer-reviewed paper.

Author:
Henk van Elburg, Netherlands Enterprise Agency, The Netherlands

Abstract

Smart metering is rapidly gaining momentum in Europe, thanks to the Energy Services Directive (ESD) and the 3rd Energy Package. Although, considerations for large-scale rollouts take place in many Member States, it’s hypothesized success for energy saving and/or peak load reduction should not be taken for granted. Smart meters can only contribute to energy efficiency, if they come public accepted and in line with truly innovative smart metering services. For that reason, a new Intelligent Energy-Europe dissemination project, named SmartRegions, collects and promotes best implementation practices on smart metering and innovative services. Recently, SmartRegions published its first European Landscape Report, analyzing the development of smart metering regulation and metering services in the Member States. As an example, this paper focuses on the experiences in one of the Member States, the Netherlands, to underline that energy saving prospects of smart metering will be more uncertain without these preconditions.

Until recently the Netherlands appeared to be on track for a high-tech and mandated rollout of smart meters. However, intense opposition from consumers’ organizations and privacy watchdog groups slowed down this process of regulation and innovation and stimulated the government to switch from a top-down policy implementation to a more collaborative approach with stakeholders and consumers’ organizations. Within a new legal framework based on a voluntary acceptance by consumers, smart meters are considered now more likely to contribute to increasing energy efficiency, compared to the initial proposed mandated rollout. These learning’s can inspire other countries to anticipate and avoid similar setbacks which could eventually endanger the ESD and the EU-target of at least 80% of consumers equipped with a smart meter by 2020.

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