The German Bundestag has passed a draft law that aims to accelerate the installation of “intelligent electricity meters” in buildings, which are also known as smart meters. The law was passed with the votes of the coalition and the CDU/CSU, against the votes of the left and the AfD. The law has also been submitted to the Federal Council, which is expected to deal with it on May 12, 2023.
The intelligent systems are expected to help use energy more efficiently and cost-effectively, and relieve the power grid. They are an essential component of the energy transition, according to Federal Minister of Economics Robert Habeck, who personally campaigned for the law in February in the Bundestag.
Smart meters make it possible to set up virtual meters and make rental electricity more attractive, for example through photovoltaics. However, the systems for measuring and controlling energy consumption have not spread at the required speed due to complex administrative procedures when releasing the devices.
The aim of the law is to have the digital infrastructure for a largely climate-neutral energy system in place by 2030. To this end, certification from three independent manufacturers is no longer required for each development stage, and an “agile rollout” should be made possible.
Smart meters are expected to become more attractive to consumers by being able to book dynamic electricity tariffs. This would allow consumers to shift their electricity consumption to cheaper times when a lot of electricity is generated from renewable energies. The draft law also places valuable data security. The Federal Office for Information Security should concentrate more on smart meter gateways in its standardization.
