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European Parliament backs smart metering across the region

The European Parliament voted last week on two motions that will give smart metering in Europe a significant boost.

The EU Energy Package, which was backed by the European Parliament last week, includes a mandate to roll-out smart meters in all Member States with 80% coverage by 2020.

The Energy Efficiency of Buildings Directive (EPBD), which is proposing that all new construction in the region will be zero-energy after 2018, also includes a requirement to fit smart meters to new buildings and in major refurbishments. The European Parliament urged that smart meter deployment be expedited under this legislation.

Energy management company Landis+Gyr has welcomed the move, but says Member States must start thinking about how they are going to start deploying smart meters on a national scale.

“The European Parliament has recognised smart metering as a key enabling technology,” says Ad van der Meys of Landis+Gyr. “. Only through its mandatory deployment across Member States will the EU be able to meet its 20-20-20 goals.”

Starting the installation of smart meters under the auspices of EPBD well before 2020 is a “significant development and one which is to be applauded”, he adds.

According to van der Meys, 30 million smart meters have already be deployed in trials in Italy, while an EDF project in France is set to install 35 million meters.

For further information:
www.europarl.europa.eu/parliament.do
ec.europa.eu/energy/index_en.htm
www.epbd-ca.org/
www.landisgyr.com

28 April 2009

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