Interest in smart meter installation rising sharply in Germany – survey
Clean Energy Wire
Interest in smart meters has risen sharply in Germany, along with the desire for more transparency in the electricity market, according to a new survey commissioned by digital economy association Bitkom.
Some 75 percent of people surveyed said they can imagine using a smart meter in their household, while only 23 percent expressed reservations and do not want to use a smart meter, the survey showed.
Smart meters are seen as essential for Germany to efficiently manage its switch to renewable energy and advance the energy transition, in part by enabling greater flexibility with the supply and demand of electricity. They also make it possible for customers to benefit from flexible electricity tariffs that allow energy to be used when it is cheapest.
When smart meters were first launched in Germany in January 2020, only 36 percent of people in the country were open to the technology and by 2022 the share had risen to 57 percent. "Smart meters are a crucial component of the energy transition,” said Bitkom CEO Bernhard Rohleder. “They create transparency in electricity consumption and enable more efficient use of energy. To achieve their full potential, a rapid and comprehensive rollout is needed."
The survey found that 76 percent of consumers want to be able to read their electricity consumption as easily as they can read data usage on their mobile phone or their car's fuel consumption. Smart meters can ensure this, showing in real time how much electricity is being used and when, thus helping to avoid unnecessary costs, Bitkom stated.
Nevertheless, many of those surveyed expressed concern about the cybersecurity of digitalised power grids and fear hacker attacks. "Given the ongoing threat situation, energy suppliers must protect themselves particularly well against cyberattacks,” Rohleder said. Smart meter systems are “pioneers” in this area as they work exclusively with certified components and encrypt all data, the digital industry representative said.
Among EU countries, Germany is lagging far behind in the smart meter rollout and has been for years, with the government attempting to relaunch the rollout multiple times. A recent report showed almost 500 of the 879 companies that operate metering points in Germany are still to install their first smart meter.
