Background Information

There is an enormous amount of information available on smart metering, smart meters, smart grids, etc. This page provides an overview of some recent publications that are publicly available and downloadable and may be of interest to the participants in the Seminar.

More references will be added as they become available.

Anyone who is aware of other relevant information is invited to send details to the BIML: Willem.Kool

This information is grouped into the following categories:

1. General
2. Policy
3. Legislation
4. Standardization
5. Stakeholders' position papers

1. General

- Wikipedia has an entry on smart meters with recent, but very global information about the implementation of smart metering in a number of countries;

- There is also a Wikipedia entry on smart grids which gives a good insight into what is possible when smart meters are used;

- Google maps has a Smart Metering Projects Map showing smart metering initiatives around the world, including details of technology used, dates, volumes etc. Initiatives could relate to electricity, gas or water metering. The map is created and updated regularly under the auspices of the SRSM smart metering project being run by the Energy Retail Association in the UK.

- Google.org has launched a web site which is an example of how information from smart meters may be used by the consumer to better control energy consumption.

- European SmartGrids Technology Platform: "Vision and Strategy for Europe's Electricity Networks of the Future" (European Commission RTD Info, 2006).

2. Policy / Regulation

- European Regulator's Group for Electricity and Gas (ERGEG) report: Smart Metering with a Focus on Electricity Regulation (31 October 2007). The report's objective is to present the issue of smart metering from an energy regulator's point of view and to clarify the role a regulator can play in this matter.

- Edison Electric Institute (USA): Deciding on "Smart" Meters: The Technology Implications of Section 1252 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (September 2006).

- Jorge Vasconcelos: "Survey of Regulatory and Technical Developments Concerning Smart Metering in the European Union Electricity Market" (Robert Schuman Centre for Advances Studies (RSCAS) Policy Paper 2008/01.

3. Legislation

- USA: Energy Policy Act 2005, in particular Section 1252 on smart metering.

- EU: Directive 2004/22/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 31 March 2004 on measuring instruments.

- EU: Directive 2006/32/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 April 2006 on energy end-use efficiency and energy services, in particular article 13.

- Ontario (CA): Energy Conservation Act 2006.

- National Electricity (South Australia) (Smart Meters) Amendment Bill 2009 (Exposure Draft 22/12/2008).

4. Standardization

- OIML D 31:2008 - General requirements for software controlled measuring instruments. Responsible Technical (sub)Committee: TC 5/SC 2.

- Netherlands Technical Agreement NTA 8130 (e): "Minimum set of functions for metering of electricity, gas and thermal energy for domestic customers" (NEN, August 2007).

- Standardization mandate to CEN, CENELEC and ETSI in the field of measuring instruments for the development of an open architecture for utility meters involving communication protocols enabling interoperability (European Commission, Enterprise and Industry Directorate General, Document reference: M/441, dated 12th March 2009). The text of the mandate can be downloaded here.

- CENELEC organized an informal meeting on smart metering standardization in Europe. A brief report and the presentations given at the meeting can be downloaded here.

5. Stakeholders' position papers

- EURELECTRIC's Position Paper: Building a European Smart Metering Framework suitable for Retail Electricity Customers, June 2008.
The Union of the Electricity Industry - EURELECTRIC - is the professional association which represents the common interests of the electricity industry at pan-European level, plus its affiliates and associates on several other continents. The association was formed as a result of a merger in December 1999 of the sister sector bodies UNIPEDE and EURELECTRIC.

- National Consumer Council (UK) report: The consumer implications of smart meters (July 2008). The NCC has since merged with other organizations to form 'Consumer Focus'.

- ESMIG (European Smart Metering Industry Group) Position Paper: "Smart Metering for Europe" (21 January 2009). The foundation of the European Smart Metering Industry Group will give advice and provide its expertise to key stakeholders and actors, such as the European Union institutions, EU Member States governments and authorities, regulators, consumers and utilities on all aspects related to Smart Metering.

- ESNA, The Energy Service Network Association, is an association formed by a group of companies who recognized the need for establishing an organization to promote the application of advanced energy management systems. ESNA's position paper on smart metering can be downloaded here.

- MARCOGAZ (Technical Association of the European Natural Gas Industry) and FACOGAZ (Association of European Gas Meter Manufacturers) have published a common position paper on Gas Smart Metering Systems. The paper can be downloaded here.