BONN (dpa-AFX) - The Federal Network Agency (Bundesnetzagentur) has initiated 77 proceedings against power grid operators following failures to install smart electricity meters. The Bonn-based authority announced that these companies failed to meet the legally mandated 20 percent quota for the so-called smart meter rollout.
The installation of smart meters plays a pivotal role in the digitalization of the electricity system, explained agency president Klaus Müller. "We have observed that many companies are not meeting the statutory expansion targets." In an initial phase, proceedings are being launched against companies that have not yet commenced the rollout.
Network Agency plans coercive fines
The affected companies now have the opportunity to submit statements. These submissions will be reviewed and factored into further decisions, the authority added.
The objective of the proceedings is to ensure compliance with expansion targets through the imposition of coercive fines. These fines will be assessed based on, among other factors, the economic capacity of the companies and must remain proportionate.
The Federal Network Agency announced further supervisory proceedings. "Small and medium-sized enterprises are primarily affected by this," a spokesperson explained. "These companies have generally not yet equipped the required 20 percent of mandatory installation cases with intelligent metering systems."
Smart meters provide precise measurement
Smart meters measure a household's electricity consumption every 15 minutes and transmit the data to grid operators and energy suppliers. With such intelligent metering systems, households can see exactly how much electricity they consumed at what time of day. If consumers have opted for specific electricity tariffs, they can, for instance, schedule the operation of a washing machine or the charging of an electric vehicle during periods of high solar and wind energy production, when electricity is cheaper. Simultaneously, grid operators can use the data to better manage their networks./tob/DP/zb
