Brighter Future For Interoperable Smart Meters And Energy Efficient Appliances

Posted on 25. Sep, 2009 by Ross in Europe, New Technologies

Hopes are growing that smart meters might start to live up to their billing as agents of increased energy efficiency, rather than smart meters just benefiting energy companies looking to lay off staff and charge people more quickly.

This week three leading smart meter manufacturers, Iskraemeco, Itron and Landis+Gyr, have agreed interoperability standards across markets in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The agreement will spur the development of smart metering, say the companies, and bring the EU and UK closer to their 2022 and 2020 roll out targets.

Energy regulators, policy makers and the industry have been calling for universal definitions and communications standards for better smart meter technology, so that they can interface better with smart energy-efficient appliances and home PC energy monitoring software - necessary for households to understand smart meter bills. With input from major utilities, Iskraemeco, Itron and Landis+Gyr have demonstrated in tests that each company