Status: 04/20/2023 2:54 p.m
The Bundestag has decided to accelerate the installation of digital electricity meters. The so-called smart meters should enable better control of the electricity grid and make it easier for customers to get an overview of electricity consumption.
In the future, digital electricity meters will be used to measure electricity consumption. The Bundestag passed a corresponding draft law with the votes of the coalition factions of SPD, Greens and FDP as well as with the votes of the Union. AfD and Linke rejected the bill.
More control over power consumption
Federal Minister of Economics Robert Habeck wants to use the intelligent electricity meters to advance digitization in the energy sector. By the end of 2032 at the latest, the so-called smart meters should be used across the board.
Smart meters are networked measuring devices for heat or electricity that automatically transmit consumption to the provider. For the first time, the operators can get precise information about the time and place. This is intended to better control the power grid.
In addition, the technology should also make it more transparent for customers when and how much electricity is consumed and at what price. Because the electricity meters can also receive data, such as the current electricity price. In this way, users can read the data and control large devices in a targeted manner – and thus save electricity and money, that’s the idea. For example, electric cars can be charged when electricity is cheap.
Dynamic electricity tariffs from 2025
Dynamic electricity tariffs should also contribute to this, in which the electricity price fluctuates depending on the availability of energy from wind and sun. From 2025, all electricity suppliers will have to offer such tariffs. At present, this obligation only applies to large suppliers.
In the future, private individuals and small consumers should not have to pay more than 20 euros a year for an intelligent electricity meter. For households with controllable consumption devices such as heat pumps, it should be a maximum of 50 euros.