TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. INTRODUCTION................................................................................................................................................ 3

1.1. Scope.............................................................................................................................................................. 3

1.2. Links with other Commission initiatives on smart grids........................................................................ 4

2. State-of-play of smart metering roll-out in Member States........................... 7

2.1. Legal framework on the provisions of Annex I.2 of Electricity Directive 2009/72/EC.................... 7

2.2. State of play in smart metering roll-out- electricity............................................................................. 9

2.3. Common minimum functionalities- electricity...................................................................................... 14

2.4. Set-up of smart metering deployment — electricity............................................................................. 21

2.5. Legal framework on the provisions of Annex I.2 of Gas Directive 2009/73/EC.............................. 26

2.6 State of play in smart metering roll-out– gas...................................................................................... 27

2.7. Set-up of smart metering deployment — gas......................................................................................... 31

3. MEMBER STATES’ COST-BENEFIT ANALYSES FOR ELECTRICITY SMART METERING 33

3.1. CBA boundary conditions and scenarios............................................................................................... 33

3.1.1. Overview of the benchmarking results.................................................................................................. 34

3.1.2. Communication architecture................................................................................................................... 46

3.2. Costs and benefits considered in the CBA.............................................................................................. 48

3.3. Overall alignment of the Member States’ CBAs with EC Recommendation 2012/148/EU............. 54

3.4. Data handling — security and privacy................................................................................................... 55

3.5. Benefits for the consumer — experience to date.................................................................................. 58

4. MEMBER STATES’ COST-BENEFIT ANALYSES FOR GAS SMART METERING................... 63

4.1. Roll-out strategy....................................................................................................................................... 63

4.2. CBA insights and lessons learned........................................................................................................... 63

5. summary......................................................................................................................................................... 68

REFERENCES....................................................................................................................................................................... 71

ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS............................................................................................................................ 72

COUNTRY CODES............................................................................................................................................................... 72

LIST OF TABLES................................................................................................................................................................ 74

TABLE OF FIGURES.......................................................................................................................................................... 74

1. INTRODUCTION 1.1. Scope

This Staff Working Document accompanies the Commission Report ‘Benchmarking smart metering deployment in the EU-27’ and gives an overview of progress on the roll-out of intelligent metering in EU Member States (EU-27[1]) to date. Detailed country-specific information is available in the respective fiches’ Staff Working Document also linked to the main Report.

The data presented and discussed here are coming from Member States’ cost-benefit analyses (CBAs) and roll-out plans for electricity and gas smart metering in accordance with Annex I.2 to the Third Energy Package[2]. The latter promotes the use of intelligent metering systems in electricity and gas to the benefit of the consumer while taking into account the high level of consumer protection. These provisions are complemented by the Energy Efficiency Directive[3] mainly to support the development of energy services based on data from intelligent meters. It is also noted that, as measuring devices, smart meters must comply with the Measuring Instruments Directive (Directive 2004/22/EC) in order to be used in the European Union.

The Third Energy Package provides (Annex I.2) that implementation of smart metering may be subject to an economic assessment of long-term costs and benefits to the market and individual consumers. In that case, the CBAs should be performed by 3 September 2012. For electricity, Member States must:

- proceed with the smart metering roll-out to at least 80% of positively assessed cases on their territory by 2020; and

- prepare an implementation timetable over a period of up to ten years.

The present analysis was carried out in line with the key issues set out in Recommendation 2012/148/EU[4] to support Member States in their preparations for the roll-out of smart metering. The Recommendation was drafted based on lessons learned and good practices accumulated from experience[5] in about half of the Member States over the past ten years. It provides Member States[6] with guidelines for conducting a cost-benefit analysis to ensure that the respective assessments are comparable, relevant and based on comprehensive and realistic deployment plans. The Recommendation also specifies ten key common minimum functionalities that smart metering systems should have to yield benefits also for consumers[7]. Special attention is given throughout this document when discussing related data to the implementation of those recommended functionalities intended to promote active consumer participation in the electricity supply market. The Recommendation also includes provisions to guarantee the protection of personal data and the proper management of vulnerabilities and threats[8]. This is in line with the fundamental right to protection of personal data according to Article 8 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union (the Charter).

Besides highlighting specific roll-out programmes and expected benefits in individual Member States, this document presents key issues and factual information as regards programme governance and management, and reflects on principal indicators (e.g. starting conditions, volumes, phases, timelines, system functionalities, costs, cost recovery and incentives), best practices and lessons learned about consumer experience and evolving costs and benefits.

The Commission collected this information in close contact with Member States, national regulatory authorities and the Council of European Energy Regulators. It held two dedicated workshops (in March and June 2013) with Member States’ representatives to discuss the main indicators and preliminary observations from the CBAs and roll-out plans, along with key points for the way forward.

1.2. Links with other Commission initiatives on smart grids

The analysis takes stock of the work of the expert groups (EG) of the Smart Grids Task Force[9] set up by the Commission, standardisation work[10], and lessons learned from smart metering roll-outs and pilot projects in the EU.

The Smart Grids Reference Group (EG1) is in charge of ensuring the timely adoption of smart grid‑related standardisation work under Commission mandates M/490[11] (smart grids), M/468[12] (electric vehicles) and M/441[13] (smart metering — on the development of an open communication architecture for utility meters). The first set of European smart meter and smart grid standards was released at the end of 2012. Under the agreed iteration of mandate M/490 (for 2013-14), work will focus on developing a second set of standards, system interoperability testing methods and conformance testing map.

Expert Group 2 (EG2) is working to develop a data protection impact assessment template for use with smart metering and grids. The Article 29 Data Protection Working Party has provided two opinions on this template[14]. Pending the taking on board, as appropriate, of comments from the Article 29 Data Protection Working Party, the Commission could envisage issuing a Recommendation to ensure take-up the template.

The Commission is also monitoring the work to develop a cyber-security assessment framework, including best available techniques (BATs) with reference to the smart metering common minimum functionalities in its 2012 Recommendation. This work will involve identifying optimal controls and ‘privacy enhancing technologies’ to mitigate potential inherent risks. The proposed BATs will be updated and amended as appropriate as new information and technologies become available.

Consultations are ongoing with national cyber-security authorities and the energy and ICT industries with a view to creating a minimum framework for resilience throughout the EU. This work is based on an ENISA[15] report which identifies minimal measures for smart grid security and resilience, thus complementing the BATs (which focus only on ‘end-of-the-line’ issues).

EG3 has drawn up and analysed three different smart metering data-handling models for guaranteeing the active management and reliable operation of the grid and its connection points while keeping the customer at the centre of attention. This feeds into the ongoing debate on a possible future retail market design in a smart grid environment and work to identify potential regulatory and legislative implications. The adoption of one model or another in a Member State will clearly affect how smart metering is rolled out.

As part of EG4's work on smart grid-related infrastructure issues, the Joint Research Centre and the Directorate-General for Energy have released an update of the comprehensive inventory of smart grid investments in Europe.[16], [17] The resulting analysis is available online[18]. This work serves as the basis for an exchange among Member States of lessons learned and best practice in smart grid–related implementation.

Finally, the remit of the recently launched EG5 is to develop an industrial policy for smart grids, and draw up an action plan to speed up the uptake of smart grid-related technology and innovation.

The European Electricity Grid Initiative (EEGI) which was set up under the Strategic Energy Technology Plan in 2009, compiled in 2010 an innovation roadmap describing smart grids innovation needs, including smart metering aspects, to achieve the 2020 objectives. This roadmap along with the correlated implementation plan prioritising the support to smart grids research and development at European and national level was updated in 2013. EEGI also fosters the exchange of technical knowledge and cross-replications as well as in the area of smart metering.[19]

2. State-of-play of smart metering roll-out in Member States

As stated earlier, intelligent metering is covered in the provisions under the Annex I.2 of the Electricity Directive 2009/72/EC and the Gas Directive 2009/73/EC. The European Commission has been officially notified by the responsible Member States authorities on the legal measures taken to transpose the Third Energy Package and the specific provisions of Directive 2009/72/EC and Directive 2009/73/EC, including Annex I.2. The Commission services are currently studying the officially notified implementing measures in order to assess compliance of the national transposition measures with EU law.

2.1. Legal framework on the provisions of Annex I.2 of Electricity Directive 2009/72/EC

The Table below summarises the main legal provisions taken per Member State with respect to intelligent metering deployment as stated in Annex I.2 of the Electricity Directive 2009/72/EC, and other related issues such as technical specifications of metering systems to be rolled-out, or timeline for the deployment.

Table 1 Status of relevant national legislation with respect to smart metering as stated in the Electricity Directive 2009/72/EC (Annex I.2) (status — July 2013)

Relevant Legislation for electricity smart metering

Country || Electricity

AUSTRIA || Ministerial Decree — Intelligente Messgeräte-Einführungsverordnung 2012

BELGIUM || No legal framework in place for rolling out smart metering; Regional CBAs approved by relevant authorities[20]

BULGARIA || Not yet available; National Regulatory Authority decision is pending

CYPRUS || Not yet available – expected in 2014

CZECH REPUBLIC || Energy Act § 16 Act No 458/2000, Coll. on Business Conditions and Public Administration in the Energy Sectors and on Amendment Other Laws (Energy Act)

DENMARK || Law no. 642 of 12 June 2013 mandating a full smart metering roll out; Ministerial Order on respective framework for roll-out — in the process of notification according to Directive 98/34/EC)[21]

ESTONIA || Development Plan of the Estonian Electricity Sector until 2018;[22] Grid Code § 39 and chapter 7; Electricity Market Act § 42;[23] Grid Code § 39 § 42

FINLAND || Finish Electricity Market Act No. 66/2009

FRANCE || Governmental decision

GERMANY || Energy Industry Act (‘EnWG’), Draft of the Metering System Ordination (‘MSysV’ notified according to Directive 98/34/EC)

GREECE || Provisions in Law 4001/2011 transposing Directive 2009/72/EC; Ministerial Decree of 04/02/2013[24]

HUNGARY || Not yet available[25]

IRELAND || Issued by the National Regulatory Authority i. Smart metering Decision paper CER/12/008, 04/07/2012; ii. Smart metering Information Paper & appended reports, 17/12/2012

ITALY || Decision of the Regulatory Authority 292/06

LATVIA || Not yet available

LITHUANIA || Not yet available Strategy draft document: ‘Implementation plan of National Energy Independency Strategy for 2012-2016’[26]

LUXEMBOURG || Law of 07.08.2012 modifying the Law of 01.08.2007 related to the electricity market organisation; Technical specifications to be set in 2014

MALTA || Electricity Supply Regulations (SL 423.01)[27]

NETHERLANDS || Decision pending Parliamentary approval

POLAND || Respective new Energy law pending Parliamentary approval

PORTUGAL || Dispatch defining rules for CBA periodic update; minimum technical specifications for smart meters and guidelines for the information to be provided to consumers (Portaria 213/2013)

ROMANIA || Act of electricity and natural gas No 123/2012;[28] MECMA Order 2081/11.11.2010

SLOVAKIA || Ministerial Decree not yet available (pending approval); Act No. 251/2012 Coll. on Energy; Related technical requirements in the process of notification according to Directive 98/34/EC)

SLOVENIA || Art. 70 of Energy Act — pending adoption

SPAIN || Royal Decree 809/2006; Royal Decree 1634/2006; Royal Decree 1110/2007; Order ITC/3022/2007; Order ITC/3860/2007; Order IET/290/2012

SWEDEN || Roll-out not mandated by Law; Hourly readings mandated

UNITED KINGDOM — GB[29] || Amendment of the Standard Electricity Supply Licence[30] and the Standard Gas Supply Licence[31] 30/11/2012; Smart Metering Equipment Technical Specifications — SMETS (2012); Electricity and Gas (Smart Meters Licensable Activity) Order 2012;[32] Electricity and Gas (Competitive Tenders for Smart Meter Communication Licences) ;[33] and Designation of the Smart Energy Code, September 2013, and the Electricity and Gas (Designation and Exclusion)[34]

2.2. State of play in smart metering roll-out- electricity

Table 2 and Figure 1 present an overview of the situation in July 2013 concerning the outcome of CBAs (whether positive or negative) and of the smart metering general roll-out plans in the Member States, targeting at least 80% of all consumers by 2020. For some Member States (e.g. Germany, Latvia and Slovakia) the CBA conducted yielded positive results only for a specific group of consumers translating in smaller overall penetration rate by 2020 with reference to the total number of available metering points, thus favouring a selective roll-out.

· 16 Member States (Austria, Denmark,[35] Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxemburg, Malta,[36] the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Spain, Sweden and the UK) have decided in favour of large-scale roll-out of smart electricity metering by 2020 or earlier. Some countries like Italy or Spain have decided to go ahead with the smart metering roll-out without conducting an elaborated or official CBA; in the case of Italy a CBA was undertaken by the DSO ENEL before the start of its own large-scale roll-out plan.

· According to our estimates (Table 5) this represents the installation of about 195 million of smart meters by 2020 for electricity (ca. 72% of European consumers considering the EU-27) and an accumulated investment of €35 billion.

· 2 Member States — Poland and Romania have presented a positive CBA but an official decision for large-scale roll-out of smart meters is still pending.

· 7 Member States (Belgium, the Czech Republic, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Portugal, and Slovakia) conducted CBAs with negative or inconclusive outcomes for large-scale roll-out (at least 80% by 2020). Belgium, Lithuania and the Czech Republic have decided for the time being not to proceed with a wide roll-out of smart meters. Portugal[37] has reported their CBA as inconclusive and to be annually re-evaluated; for Germany, Latvia and Slovakia, the CBA outcome is reported negative for a full scale roll-out but economically justified for a specific group of customers.

· The outcome of the CBAs for the remaining 4 Member States (Bulgaria, Cyprus, Hungary[38] and Slovenia[39]) is not yet available neither are their intentions with respect to the implementation of large-scale smart metering roll-out.

Table 2 Status of electricity smart metering large-scale roll-out in Member States

(as of July 2013)[40]

Table 3 Number of electricity smart metering systems to be deployed per country in Member States that are proceeding with large-scale roll-out (covering at least 80% of consumers by 2020)[41]

Large-scale roll-out (at least 80% of consumers by 2020) || Metering points in the Country by 2020 || Expected Diffusion rate by 2020 (%) || Total Number of Smart Metering Points to be installed up to 2020

Austria || 5700000 || 95% || 5415000

Denmark || 3280000 || 100% || 3280000

Estonia || 709000 || 100% || 709000

Finland || 3300000 || 100% || 3300000

France || 35000000 || 95% || 33250000

Greece || 7000000 || 80% || 5600000

Ireland || 2200000 || 100% || 2200000

Italy || 36700000 || 99% || 36333000

Luxembourg || 260000 || 95% || 247000

Malta || 260000 || 100% || 260000

Netherlands || 7600000 || 100% || 7600000

Poland || 16500000 || 80% || 13200000

Romania || 9000000 || 80% || 7200000

Spain || 27768258 || 100% || 27768258

Sweden || 5200000 || 100% || 5200000

United Kingdom — GB || 31992000 || 99.5% || 31832040

Total || 192469258 || 95.3% || 183394298

Table 4 Number of electricity smart metering systems considered per country in Member States that have not decided in favour of large-scale roll-out by 2020[42] [43] [44]

No large-scale roll-out (at least 80% of consumers by 2020) || Electricity Metering points in the Country by 2020 || Expected Diffusion rate by 2020 (%) || Total Number of Smart Metering Points to be installed up to 2020

Belgium || 5975000 || NA || NA

Czech Republic || 5700000 || 1.0% || 57000

Germany || 47900000 || 23.0% || 11017000

Latvia || 1089109 || 23.0% || 250495

Lithuania || 1600000 || NA || NA

Portugal || 6500000 || NA || NA

Slovak Republic || 2625000 || 23.0% || 603750

Total || 71389109 || 16.7% || 11928245

Table 5 Estimate of total number of electricity smart metering systems to be deployed in the EU by 2020

Member States || Metering points in the Country by 2020 || Expected Diffusion rate by 2020 (%) || Total Number of Smart Metering Points to be installed up to 2020

EU-23 (for which data are available) || 263858367 || 74.0% (~72% for EU-27) || 195322543

Table 6 Status of electricity CBAs and roll-out plans in the EU-27

STATUS OF ELECTRICITY CBAs and ROLL-OUT PLANS ||

Countries that have conducted a CBA || 20

Positive result of CBA || 13

Countries for which no CBA is available || 5 (2 not applicable + 3 in progress)

Countries with large-scale (>80% of consumers) roll-out plans || 16 (for 2 official decision pending)

Countries with positive result in national CBA for a selective roll-out by 2020 || 3

Countries having decided not to proceed with a large-scale roll-out under present conditions || 4

Countries where there is neither an official CBA nor a decision yet for a roll-out || 4

Figure 1 Overview of CBA outcomes and intentions for electricity smart metering large-scale roll-out (for more than 80% of consumers) in Member States, by 2020 (status — July 2013)

Figure 2 Roll-out plans: Implementation speed and penetration rate of at least 80% of all consumers by 2020 (status — July 2013)[45]

2.3. Common minimum functionalities- electricity

The Commission has included in Recommendation 2012/148/EU ten common minimum functional requirements for electricity smart metering systems.[46] These functionalities capture the essential elements that a smart metering set-up should have to benefit all stakeholders — the consumer, the metering and system operator — while enabling, in a secured and safe environment, commercial aspects of supply/demand and the integration of distributed generation. The Recommendation proposes that all electricity smart metering systems are at least equipped with the functionalities summarised in Figure 3.

Figure 3: List of the recommended ten common minimum functional requirements that every smart metering system for electricity should fulfil (2012/148/EU Recommendation)

These functionalities are the outcome of the Commission consultation[47] with Member States who had already advanced, before the publication of the Recommendation, with the deployment of smart metering. The ten common minimum functionalities recommended are consistent with the European Energy Regulators respective guidelines[48] regarding smart metering functionalities, in particular those which benefit consumers. They are based on, and remain consistent with, those tabled under the standardisation mandate M/441[49]. Table 7 illustrates the correspondence of the ten common minimum functionalities with those proposed by the M/441 working group. The only difference noted is the case of pre-payment which is not covered by the EC recommended functionalities as it is specific to certain energy markets and could not therefore be considered as 'common'.

Table 7 Correspondence of the smart metering systems functionalities identified by M/441 with the recommended common minimum functional requirements in 2012/148/EU, for electricity

SMART METERING FUNCTIONALITIES for ELECTRICITY

M/441 additional functionalities identified in CEN-CLC-ETSI TR 50572:2011 ‘Functional reference architecture for communications in smart metering systems" || 2012/148/EU common minimum functionalities identified in EC Recommendation of 9 March 2012 ‘on preparation for the roll-out of smart metering systems", OJ L 73 p.9

F1 || Remote reading of metrological register(s) and provision to designated market organisations || For the customer: a) Provide readings directly to the customer and to any third party designated by the consumer b)Update the readings referred to in point (a) frequently enough to allow the information to be used to achieve energy savings …The rate has to be adapted to the response time of the energy-consuming or energy-producing products. The general consensus is that an update rate of every 15 minutes is needed at least.

F2 || Two-way communication between the metering system and designated market organisation(s) || For the metering operator: c ) Allow remote reading of meters by the operator d) Provide two-way communication between the smart metering system and external networks for maintenance and control of the metering system e)Allow readings to be taken frequently enough for the information to be used for network planning

F3 || To support advanced tariffing and payment systems || For commercial aspects of energy supply: f) Support advanced tariff systems

F4 || To allow remote disablement and enablement of supply and flow power limitation || g) Allow remote on/off control of the supply and/or flow or power limitation

F5 || To provide secure communication enabling the smart meter to export metrological data for display and potential analysis to the end consumer or a third party designated by the end consumer || For security and data protection: h) Provide secure data communication i) Fraud prevention and detection

F6 || To provide information via web portal/gateway to an in-home/building display or auxiliary equipment || a) (…) readings provided directly from the interface of customer’s choice to the customer and any third party designated by the consumer … equipped with a standardised interface which provides visualised individual consumption data to the consumer.

Note: The smart metering system may be used for a further important functionality: To enable communication of AMI components with devices or gateways within the home / building used in the provision of energy efficiency and demand-side management services. || For distributed generation: j) Provide import/export and reactive metering

Each one of these functional specifications contributes to one or more benefits which arise from smart metering systems. It is of particular importance to have in place functionalities which are related to the customers (see functionality (a) and (b)) in order to make their consumption data available to them (at a rate of at least 15 minutes) and to energy service providers, if they choose so. This kind of information update is absolutely necessary for the consumer to efficiently manage his consumption, and also for the network as a whole.

Functionalities (a) and (b) in conjunction with functionality (f) support advanced pricing structures and are key for both consumer and network operators to achieve energy efficiencies and save costs by reducing the peaks in energy demand. It is therefore strongly recommended that the smart metering systems to be rolled-out are equipped with such functionalities that allow the automatic transfer of information about consumption data and advanced tariffs’ options to the final customers, e.g. via standardised interface. They foster the development and running of service platforms that enable demand response services, ultimately yielding benefits for both the network operators and consumers.

Therefore, it is important to carefully consider the functionalities that smart metering systems should have, and map those into benefits when conducting the Cost Benefit Analysis,[50] since different functionalities result in significant variation of the final outcome of the assessment, and in the decision for, or against, large-scale deployment.

In designing their smart metering systems, the relevant authorities in Member States must also anticipate future energy services, operational needs of the energy system and the deployment of smart grids. Accordingly, it is important to focus on screening of any relevant technological developments which would allow Member States to deploy the most advanced smart metering systems in order to boost the competitiveness of the devices’ producers in line with the cost-benefit analysis. In this context, setting a complete set of functionalities is key for facilitating the roll-out process itself, but also securing benefits for different stakeholders (DSOs, Consumers, Suppliers, etc.), creating the necessary cost-efficiencies and ensuring lasting value.

The functionalities currently being considered by the Member States — or they are at the moment activated and in operation as is the case of FI, IT, SE — are summarised in the Tables below.

Table 8 Smart metering functionalities: Member States rolling out by 2020 Compliance check against common minimum functionalities (Reference: EC Recommendation 2012/148/EU, art. 42)

Table 9 Smart metering functionalities: Member States NOT rolling out smart metering by 2020

Compliance check against common minimum functionalities (Reference: EC Recommendation 2012/148/EU, art. 42)[51]

According to information available to date, the majority of Member States have carefully considered the majority of the common minimum functional requirements described in the Recommendation 2012/148/EU. However, there are cases where some of the functionalities are not included or are only partially covered.[52] Given the benefits that these functionalities can bring also to the consumer and the value they represent, it is strongly recommended to reconsider fulfilling them.

For instance, and as discussed earlier, functionality (b) representing the frequency at which consumption data are updated and made available to the consumers — and not only to the system operator — is essential. However, only in few cases the data refresh rate / update to be offered with the smart metering systems comply with the recommended 15 minutes, as demonstrated in Table 10. It is appreciated that in some cases 30 min or 60 min data refresh intervals are to be used and these may be still frequent enough to support advanced tariffs for demand response programmes and consequent account settling. However, systems that do not support direct, (near) real time information of consumption data and of available tariffs to the consumer, and are limited in purpose (supplying data only every 24 hours or even less frequently) cannot be considered fit-for-purpose. On the contrary smart meters which are equipped with the appropriate functionalities can become an economically attractive proposition for consumers, and contribute to lower energy bills and increased comfort. Through new technologies, consumers will be able to not only efficiently manage their consumption but get actively engaged in the energy market. But they can only do this meaningfully by having frequent access to their consumption patterns and when offered incentives to respond and make a change via their participation – themselves directly or through an aggregator or service provider — to innovative, ICT-enabled, added-value energy management products, like home energy management and demand response, smart appliances, micro-generation and (re-) charging of electric vehicles.

Table 10 Frequency of consumption data readings available to consumer; compliance check to functionalities (a) and (b) from the list of recommended common minimum functionalities (2012/148/EU).

Member States rolling out smart metering || Functionality – (a) || Functionality – (b) || Minutes

AT || YES || YES || 15’ (decision)

DK || YES || Partly || 15’ readings (decision — some meters installed before 2011 provide hourly readings)

EE || Yes || Partly || hourly (measurement)

FI || Yes || Partly || Obligation to report data in one hour intervals; real time readings to customer (optional)

FR || YES || YES || 10’ - 30’ (charging)

GR || YES || YES || Not specified

IE || Yes || Yes || real time to consumer (via HAN), 30’ measurements

IT || Yes || Partly || 10’ updates to consumers — Interfaces currently provided to customers in pilots only; expected to be shortly available in the market

LU || NA || NA || Not specified

MT || Partly || Yes || Not specified

NL || YES || YES || Not specified

PL || Yes || Yes || Not specified

RO || YES || YES || Not specified

ES || Yes || No || N/A

SE || Yes || Partly || 1 hour for measurements

UK — GB || YES || YES || 10 seconds updates to consumers via HAN, 30’ measurements via WAN

Member States not rolling out smart metering || Functionality — (a) || Functionality — (b) || Minutes

BE || YES || see Country Fiche51 || see Country Fiche51

BG || Yes || No || N/A

CY || YES || YES || Not specified

CZ || YES || YES || Not specified

DE || YES || YES || 15’ (draft of metering ordinance)

HU || Partly || Yes || Not specified

LT || YES || YES || Not specified

LV || YES || YES || Not specified

PT || YES || YES || Consumption registration at least every 60 seconds. Communication of data to Centre is expected to be in 15’ intervals.

SK || YES || YES || 15’ readings to consumer or third party

SI || Yes || Partly || Not specified

Based on available information, very few Member States have set (Figure 4) prior to the smart metering roll-out, in a clear and descriptive manner the functional requirements (e.g. in Austria by law) for the systems to be installed. Most of them lag behind, leaving the analysis, options and protocols with the responsible parties for rolling-out — in most cases the DSOs — neither formalise nor set legal guidelines on functionalities. Furthermore, in most cases the functionalities, not only they are not set as obligatory specifications of the systems to be rolled-out but are considered only at the level of the CBA or are tried in pilots or not even addressed.

Figure 4 Status of smart metering functionalities setting in EU Member States — considered or not in CBA; tried in pilots; being implemented even though not yet regulated; set in a ministerial decision; regulated; or in full operation for completed roll-outs

||

2.4. Set-up of smart metering deployment — electricity

Decisions taken concerning policy options for smart metering deployment are crucial in order to allow consumers to reap the full benefits, encouraging their active participation in the electricity supply market.[53]

Based on information provided by Member States after consultation, Table 11 and Table 12, sum up the choices made by each EU Member States with reference to each of the key issues considered: metering deployment strategy and respective arrangements, responsibility for the installation and ownership of smart meters, responsibility to make the data measured through the smart meter accessible to consumers and energy suppliers, and financing options.

The smart metering deployment arrangements play an important role in establishing responsibilities and ownership rights of the market participants. Furthermore, it is also relevant in determining the possibility of combining the metering systems of other utility service providers (gas, water and heating).

Competitive versus regulated metering market

All Member States with large-scale roll-out plans have opted for regulated metering market[54]. Member States not rolling-out smart meters yet intend to also consider adopting a regulated metering market. Two exceptions are noted: the United Kingdom — Great Britain and Germany, where the metering market is competitive.

The idea behind this is that competition between metering service providers could drive down metering costs. This choice is also coupled with the provision that suppliers, or companies like ‘metering operators’, will be responsible for the roll-out installing the meters at their customers' premises. In the UK-GB DSOs do not own and do not install smart meters, while in Germany they only do so if the consumer does not choose a third party as meter operator.

No data about the deployment arrangements have been communicated by Bulgaria, Hungary and Slovenia.

Which party is responsible for granting access to metering data?

Voluntary versus mandatory smart metering deployment strategy

Sixteen Member States (including Romania and Poland, where the official approval for a large-scale roll-out of smart metering systems is still pending) will proceed with a national smart metering roll-out for electricity. Twelve of them opted for mandatory smart metering deployment (Austria, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Ireland, Luxembourg, Poland, Romania, Spain and United Kingdom — Great Britain[55]), while the Netherlands decided in favour of a mandatory approach with opt-out possibility (see further below).

Examples of Voluntary approaches

Two Member States (Malta and Sweden) adopted a voluntary deployment strategy, whereas Italy, Finland and Denmark have started with a voluntary approach (driven by the DSO initiative) then turned into mandatory roll-out through a decision of the National Regulatory Authority (Italy) and by law (in Denmark).

In Italy, Automated Meter Reading (AMR) infrastructure was completed following the initiative of the Italian DSO (ENEL), with an implementation plan that resulted in about 36.7 million meters installed from 2001 to 2011, well before the regulatory framework for mandatory roll-out of electricity smart metering was put in place.

Similarly, in Malta no formal legislation for smart metering roll-out has been adopted, but the ongoing implementation is led by the DSO.

In Sweden, the main driver towards the implementation of smart metering was the adoption of a national legislation imposing mandatory monthly meter reading for small customers with a fuse description less than 63 A. To this end, in 2003, Sweden became the first EU country to indirectly mandate automatic meter reading, due to the adoption of a law requiring, from July 1st 2009, a monthly billing based on actual electricity consumption.

The smart metering roll-out in Finland was originally initiated by the industry already in the early 2000’s as many of the DSOs saw the benefits of remote reading and better control of the network being greater than the costs incurred. In 2007 the industry gave out recommendations for the DSOs to install smart meters for 80% of the customers by 2014. This development was later fortified with a government degree in 2009 under the same objectives. By the end of the year 2013 almost all customers will have a smart meter installed as the DSOs are finalising their roll-out. Already from the beginning of the roll-out back in the early 2000’s hourly meter readings were chosen as a basis for data storage.

A unique situation can be found in the Netherlands, where, following a public debate on data privacy and security, it was decided to grant consumers the possibility of refusing the smart meter: the DSO is committed to offer smart meters to all consumers; however the consumer can refuse the smart meter or turn it ‘administratively off’[56]. Therefore, in the Netherlands, the DSO has the obligation to install the smart meter, but any consumer can refuse to be provided with it.

Who owns the smart metering assets? Who is responsible for the installation of the smart metering services?

The most prevalent model adopted for smart metering in those EU Member States that will proceed with (or already completed) a roll-out is the definition of a regulated market for smart metering. In fact, most countries have chosen to bestow to DSOs the responsibility of installing, and consequently retaining ownership, of smart meters (15 out of 16 Member States proceeding with the roll-out). In the case of FI, the DSO has the responsibility to install smart metering, but can outsource the actual service. In most countries the metering sector is in fact considered part of the distribution business, with the DSO, the regulated entity responsible for the low voltage network, being both the owner and the responsible party for smart meters roll-out and granting access to metering data.

The choice of DSOs as responsible party has also been the favourite route for many of the Member States who have not decided yet for a large-scale roll-out plan: Belgium, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Lithuania, Latvia, Portugal, Slovakia, and the United Kingdom — Northern Ireland already considered this as the most viable option. In Germany the DSOs are the responsible party for the roll-out, as long as the respective consumer does not choose a third party as meter operator.

Slight deviations concerning meter ownership can be found when analysing the French roll-out plan: DSOs will be responsible for the roll-out, but the meter ownership will pertain to the each City Council. In addition, in the UK and Germany the meter ownership is (potentially) attributed to third parties (see above ‘competitive versus regulated metering market’). In the UK, the energy suppliers are responsible in regulation for the provision of metering. There are a number of different firms offering metering services to suppliers. Some suppliers will choose to provide their metering requirements, in line with regulatory obligations, in house, while others will choose to subcontract to others to provide metering services.

Granting access to smart metering data

Notwithstanding the leading role of DSOs in ownership and implementation, few Member States (Denmark, Estonia, Poland, the UK-GB and, among those not rolling out yet Slovakia) exercise the possibility of having a separate entity (central communication hub) responsible for providing access of metering data to third parties, decoupling de facto the treatment of data from the physical meter. In the Czech Republic there is an existing Market Operator (central hub) authority as the entity described above.

In such a deployment set-up, consumers' data are stored on the smart meter installed at their premises (either the electricity meter or the communication hub for gas). The ‘Central Hub’ entity is then responsible for routing (but does not store) data, gathering them from the equipment in consumer's premises and delivering them to energy suppliers, DSOs and other third parties with appropriate access permissions according with privacy legislation. One of the key reasons behind this choice is that centralised communications, particularly in competitive electricity retail market, could lead to improved supplier competition as a result of enabling easier switching between suppliers.

Concerning the Member States not opting for a nation-wide roll-out, there is a balanced tendency between using the DSO and the central hub as responsible party for granting access to metering data.

No data have been communicated on this regard by Bulgaria and Hungary.

Financing of the smart metering roll-out

The financing of smart metering is mostly secured through an adequate remuneration of the Regulatory Asset Base via network tariffs. Some countries like Austria or Spain have provided for an explicit metering tariff or for a rental price for the smart meter. Only in Italy, Denmark and Sweden, has a significant part of the implementation been initiated by the DSO on their own funds, with remuneration through network tariffs introduced only at a later stage. In Italy, a full recovery of the investment was allowed through the metering tariff (introduced in 2004). In the case of Denmark and Sweden a partial recovery of the investment has also been allowed through the network tariff, whereas in Malta the roll-out has been financed by network tariffs with no direct charge to the consumer. In the United Kingdom — Great Britain the roll-out is to be financed through private investment.

From the Member States currently not opting for a national smart metering roll-out, Lithuania and Latvia would finance the deployment through network tariffs. In the case of Portugal and Slovakia, the roll-out would be financed through both DSO funds and network tariffs. In Germany, the financing mechanism is still to be discussed. No data have been communicated of the remaining countries (Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovenia).

Table 11 Summary of deployment arrangements for electricity smart metering in EU Member States that decided to roll out 80% or more of the metering points[57]

Table 12 Summary of deployment arrangements for electricity smart metering in EU Member States decided NOT to proceed with a (large-scale) roll-out under present conditions

2.5. Legal framework on the provisions of Annex I.2 of Gas Directive 2009/73/EC

Table 13 summarises the main legal provisions taken per Member State with respect to intelligent metering deployment as stated in Annex I.2 of the Gas Directive 2009/73/EC, and to address other related issues such as technical specifications of metering systems, or timeline for the deployment.

Table 13 Status of relevant national legislation with respect to smart metering as stated in the Gas Directive 2009/73/EC (Annex I.2) (status — July 2013)

Relevant Legislation for gas smart metering

Country || Gas

AUSTRIA || Intelligente Gas-Messgeräte-Verordnung 2012 – for minimum standards

BELGIUM || No legal framework in place for rolling out smart metering; Regional CBAs approved by relevant authorities

BULGARIA || No information available

CYPRUS || No natural gas network

CZECH REPUBLIC || Energy Act § 16; Act No. 458/2000, Coll. on Business Conditions and Public Administration in the Energy Sectors and on Amendment Other Laws (Energy Act)[58]

DENMARK || No decision yet

ESTONIA || Not available

FINLAND || No decision yet

FRANCE || No decision yet

GERMANY || Energy Industry Act (‘EnWG’), Draft of the Metering System Ordination (‘MSysV’, notified according to Directive 98/34/EC)

GREECE || No decision yet

HUNGARY || Not available[59]

IRELAND || Issued by the National Regulatory Authority: i. Smart metering Decision paper CER/12/008, 04/07/2012; ii. Smart Metering Information Paper & appended reports, 17/12/2012

ITALY || Decision by the National Regulatory Authority n. 155/2008

LATVIA || Not available

LITHUANIA || National Law transposing gas Directive 2009/73/EC; Terms of Reference for a gas CBA are being drafted by the National Regulatory Authority

LUXEMBOURG || Law of 07.08.2012 modifying Law of 01.08.2007 related to electricity market organisation

MALTA || No natural gas network

NETHERLANDS || Respective law pending Parliamentary approval

POLAND || Respective law pending Parliamentary approval

PORTUGAL || Decree 77/2011 mandated the CBA whose result was negative; Government decision not to proceed with roll-out

ROMANIA || Electricity and Natural Gas Law no. 123/2012;[60] MECMA Order 2081/11.11.2010

SLOVAKIA || Act No. 251/2012 Coll. on Energy

SLOVENIA || No information available

SPAIN || No legal framework in place for rolling out smart metering; CBA approved by the National Regulatory Authority

SWEDEN || No decision yet

UNITED KINGDOM — GB || Amendment of the Standard Electricity Supply Licence[61] and the Standard Gas Supply Licence[62], 30/11/2012; Smart Metering Equipment Technical Specifications — SMETS (2012); Electricity and Gas (Smart Meters Licensable Activity) Order 2012;[63] Electricity and Gas (Competitive Tenders for Smart Meter Communication Licences) ;[64] and Designation of the Smart Energy Code, September 2013, and the Electricity and Gas (Designation and Exclusion)[65]

2.6 State of play in smart metering roll-out– gas

Table 14 and Figure 5 present an overview of the CBAs outcome (whether positive or negative) and of the smart metering large-scale roll-out plans in Member States targeting at least 80% of all consumers in their territories by 2020. It is remarked that Cyprus and Malta have no natural gas network.

· 5 Member States (Ireland, Italy, Luxemburg, the Netherlands and the UK-GB) have decided to roll-out smart gas metering by 2020 or earlier. According to preliminary estimations, this represents the installation of about 45 million of smart meters by 2020 and an accumulated investment of €10 billion.[66]

· 2 Member States — Austria and France — have not yet taken an official decision to proceed with large-scale gas smart metering. Austria has published the minimum standards for the meters but not yet the roll-out plan. France notified a positive CBA which is currently being revised, and an official decision for large-scale roll-out is expected later in 2013.

· 12 Member States (Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Greece, Latvia, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Spain and Sweden) concluded CBAs with negative results and with the exception of Denmark, Finland, Greece, Latvia, and Sweden, have decided not to proceed with large-scale roll-out at least under the current conditions. Latvia reports that the installation of smart metering systems can be economically justified only for a specific group of customers. Greece notified that an additional CBA by the gas distribution system operators is foreseen by summer 2013 and will feed in the final decision with respect to a smart gas metering roll-out. The legal framework in Germany foresees no separate smart metering infrastructure for gas, Gas meters shall use the communication infrastructure of the electricity meters, where they exist.

The outcome of the CBAs and respective information for the remaining 6 Member States (Bulgaria, Estonia,[67] Hungary,[68] Lithuania, Poland and Slovenia) was not yet available at the moment of data analysis for the current document nor were their intentions with respect to large-scale implementation of smart gas metering.

Table 14 Status of gas smart metering roll-out in Member States (July 2013)[69]

Table 15 Summary of CBAs status and roll-out plans for gas metering in EU-27 (status — July 2013)

STATUS OF GAS CBA & ROLL-OUT PLANS ||

Countries that have conducted a CBA || 19

Positive result of CBA for large-scale roll-out of at least 80% by 2020 || 7

Countries for which no CBA is available || 8 (6 + 2 cases where not applicable)

Countries with large-scale (>80% of consumers) roll-out plans || 7 (for 2 official decision still pending)

Countries with positive result in national CBA for a selective roll-out by 2020 || 1

Countries having decided not to proceed large-scale roll-out under present conditions || 7

Countries where there is no decision yet for a roll-out || 10

Figure 5 Overview of CBA outcomes and intentions for gas smart metering large-scale roll-out (for more than 80% of consumers) in Member States (status July 2013)

2.7. Set-up of smart metering deployment — gas

The following tables summarise the deployment strategy and respective arrangements in the EU Member States. Table 16 includes Member States that have decided to proceed with a large-scale roll-out of gas smart metering systems or have a positive CBA and the decision to proceed is pending. In most of these Member States the responsible party for the implementation of smart metering in the gas sector will be the DSOs. Consequently the majority of the decided roll-outs will be financed through the network tariffs. The DSOs are also responsible for metering and for handling of the smart meters data. The only exception is this of the UK-GB where the roll-out is led by the suppliers and a Central Data Hub will be the responsible party for handling the data.

Table 16 Summary of deployment arrangements for gas smart metering in EU Member States that have decided to proceed with a (large-scale) roll-out or have a positive CBA (status July 2013).

Member States rolling out smart meters || CBA Outcome || Deployment Strategy || Metering Market || Responsible party — implementation and ownership || Responsible party — access to metering data || Financing of roll-out

Austria || positive || Mandatory (official decision pending) || Regulated || DSO || DSO || Network tariffs

France || positive || Mandatory (official decision pending) || Competitive || DSO || DSO || Network tariffs

Ireland || positive || Mandatory || Regulated || DSO || DSO || Network tariffs

Italy || positive || Mandatory || Regulated || DSO || DSO || Metering tariffs

Luxembourg || positive || Mandatory || Regulated || DSO || DSO || Network tariffs

Netherlands || Positive || Mandatory (opt-out option) || Regulated || DSO || || Network tariffs

United Kingdom - GB || positive || Mandatory || Competitive || Supply companies || Central Data Hub || Funded by suppliers

Table 17 includes Member States that have not yet decided a large-scale roll-out under the current circumstances. All these Member States had a negative CBA or have not performed a CBA. Austria and France were not included in this table as they had a positive CBA and are therefore included in Table 16. In the majority of Member States CBAs assumed that the DSOs will be the responsible party for the implementation of the roll-out and handling of smart meters data.

Table 17 Summary of deployment arrangements for gas smart metering in EU Member States that have decided NOT to proceed with a (large-scale) roll-out under present conditions (status July 2013)

Member States NOT rolling out smart meters yet || CBA Outcome || Deployment Strategy || Metering Market || Responsible party — implementation and ownership || Responsible party — access to metering data || Financing of roll-out

Belgium || negative || || || || ||

Bulgaria || || No decision yet || || || ||

Cyprus || N/A || N/A || N/A || N/A || N/A || N/A

Czech Republic || negative || No large-scale roll-out / Voluntary || Regulated || DSO || Central Hub — Market operator || No decision

Denmark || negative || No roll-out || Not Regulated[70] || DSO || DSO-TSO || Network tariffs

Estonia || || No decision yet || || || ||

Finland || negative || No roll-out || Competitive || DSO || DSO || Network tariffs

Germany || negative || Competitive || Competitive || Metering point operator or DSO || Metering point operator or DSO || No decision yet

Greece || negative || No roll-out || Regulated || DSO || ||

Hungary || || No decision yet || || || ||

Latvia || negative || No roll-out || Competitive || Customer || System Operator || Network tariffs

Lithuania || || No decision yet || || || ||

Malta || N/A || N/A || N/A || N/A || N/A || N/A

Poland || No CBA || Voluntary (No official decision yet) || || DSO || || Network tariffs

Portugal || negative || No roll-out || Regulated || DSO || DSO || DSO resources + network tariffs

Romania || negative || No large-scale roll-out / Voluntary || Regulated || DSO || TSO-DSO || Network tariffs

Slovakia || negative || No large-scale roll-out / Voluntary || Regulated || DSO || DSO || No Decision

Slovenia || || No action || || || DSO || No Decision

Spain || negative || No roll-out || Regulated || DSO, but customer can own the meter || DSO || Meter rental or purchasing fees

Sweden || negative || No large-scale roll-out / Voluntary || DSO || DSO || DSO ||

3. MEMBER STATES’ COST-BENEFIT ANALYSES FOR ELECTRICITY SMART METERING

The present study concentrated on the roll-out of smart metering in electricity for which a specific target is identified in the Third Energy Package. In carrying out the analysis of the respective long-term economic assessment of costs and benefits performed by Member States, focus was placed on three different dimensions and associated issues, namely:.

CBA conditions and scenarios Definition of input data and model parameters Deployment speed and penetration ratios Smart metering communication architecture CBA outcome Main benefits Main costs Beneficiaries Critical variables (sensitivity analysis) Overall compliance with EC recommendations Lessons learned and recommendations

3.1. CBA boundary conditions and scenarios

In order to carefully assess the implementation of smart metering systems according to Directive 2009/72/EC, Annex I.2, Member States may choose to undertake, by September 3rd 2012, ‘an economic assessment of all the long-term costs and benefits to the market and the individual consumer or which form of intelligent metering is economically reasonable and cost-effective and which timeframe is feasible for their distribution’.

Although the Third Package does not provide the methodology to be used for the aforementioned economic assessment, this has been detailed[71] by the European Commission.[72] It is appreciated that a number of Member States had already conducted their cost-benefit analysis for the smart metering roll-out prior to the issuing of the Commission Recommendation. Nevertheless, the proposed methodology is based on generally accepted principles which are widely employed in economic assessments of long-term costs and benefits for similar investments and to large extend has been applied by the Member States.. A number of key issues to be considered, and herein benchmarked against, are identified such as: discount rate, number of metering points involved, roll-out period, implementation speed, penetration rate, smart meter lifetime, CBA horizon, total investment[73] and benefits, consumer benefit, energy savings and peak load shifting.

3.1.1. Overview of the benchmarking results

Table 18, Table 19, Table 20 summarise both actual data for those who have completed the roll-out and main assumptions used in elaborating the CBAs in the sixteen EU Member States that decided to proceed with (or have already completed –see Table 18) a large-scale smart metering roll-out and communicated these data to the Commission.[74]

Table 18 CBA Scenarios — Member States having already completed the smart metering roll-out[75]

Table 19 shows data from the three Member States, IE, the UK-GB and the NL that are proceeding with a large-scale joint roll-out for both gas and electricity. In the case of the NL and UK-GB, the number of metering points represents the sum of electricity and gas metering points,[76] whereas the figure reported by Ireland represents the number of electricity metering points only.

Table 19 CBA Scenarios — Member States rolling-out smart metering in electricity and gas jointly (targeting at least 80% of consumers)[77]

Table 20 CBA Scenarios: Member States rolling out electricity-only smart metering by 2020 [78]

Table 21 presents the data of the Member States not rolling out smart metering systems at a nation-wide level. It is important here to make the distinction for those countries which have decided to proceed with a selective roll-out of smart metering, such as Germany, the Slovak Republic and Latvia.

Table 21 CBA Scenarios: Member States NOT rolling out smart metering in large-scale by 2020[79]

Regarding the data, the first dimension considered in the tables above is the number of metering points[80] in each Member State. This number has been reported by the Member States, with the only exception of Ireland, which only estimated the number of consumers to be equipped with smart meters. In our analysis, the number of metering points is assumed to remain constant throughout the roll-out. Some countries, e.g. the UK-GB, explicitly took into account an increase in the number of metering points during the appraisal period; this is driven by reasons beyond the scope of this benchmarking exercise, e.g. expected increase in population, decrease of the average number of persons per household, etc.

Most of countries, namely 13 out of 16 (Austria, Denmark, Estonia, France, Ireland, Luxemburg, Malta, the Netherlands, Spain, the UK-Great Britain, in addition to those who have completed their roll-outs: Finland, Italy, Sweden), decided to proceed with a roll-out well above the target of 80% of metering points by 2020, recognising the importance of granting access to advanced metering infrastructure to the widest consumer base. On the other hand, Greece, Poland and Romania are foreseeing an 80% roll-out by 2020.

Concerning the smart metering lifetime[81]considered in the CBAs, reported in Table 19, Table 20,Table 21, the landscape appears less homogeneous: the range of smart metering lifetime varies from 8 years to 20 years, with 15 years being the median value of the distribution. The direct implication for this is that, when elaborating CBAs, Member States preferred a long amortisation period, which might be closer to the real lifetime of a smart metering device. The second part of the aforementioned tables report figures calculated by each Member State when assessing their respective smart metering roll-out plans. These data are therefore estimated ex-ante, and might turn out to be significantly different in an ex-post assessment; for this reason a sensitivity analysis is recommended.[82] In the case of Member States who have already completed the roll-out (Table 18), namely Italy, Finland and Sweden, some of these actual data are provided but a complete account has not yet become available. These Member States are frontrunners in smart metering and their roll-outs were subject to different drivers. The focus of the smart metering system in Italy was originally driven by significant operational savings (€500 million per year over about 30 million meters) while it is now moving towards customer engagement and energy savings. In Sweden, the requirement for monthly meter reading for smaller customers with a fuse description less than 63 A (since 1 July 2009) has led to a nation-wide roll-out of smart metering systems, yielding a significant increase in accuracy of billing and settlement. In Finland the initiator for the roll-out was the energy industry. The main focus of the wide spread roll-out was to enable demand side management, better network control and enhance the working of retail markets. Looking at the specific parameters for each roll-out, for those completed and scheduled, a number of observations can be made. Starting with the absolute total investments and benefits, it can be seen from the data provided that they clearly increase with the size of the Member State. On the basis of these figures provided by Member States, the Commission services have estimated normalised values per metering point (Table 23), in order to favour the comparability of data (Figure 6).

When the investment[83] data are consulted it becomes apparent that the estimated total costs of installing and running smart metering systems are included in a range of less than €100 (PT, MT, IT, RO) to €590 (Austria) whereas the next value, and highest, is €766 from the not rolling out countries (the Czech Republic).

Figure 6 Normalised cost and benefit values per metering point estimated from the Member State CBA data

The investment per metering point associated to the procurement of smart metering devices might have been expected to be quite similar across Member States, given the high level of competition in the smart metering vendors market.[84] Three main reasons are then seen as the drivers for such differences among Member States when looking at the investment normalised by number of metering points:

Different local realities and boundary conditions in each Member States, namely labour costs, geographical configuration, etc. Inclusion of additional features in the smart metering system, e.g.: Other functionalities (beyond or not all of) the 10 common minimum functionalities recommended; Add-ons for the smart metering device, e.g. in-home displays, which might bring significant additional benefits but also increase the initial investment; Investment in additional security measures for the ICT/TLC system supporting Automatic Metering Reading; and Share of tri-phase versus mono-phase meters over the total number of meters to be procured; design and manufacturing of tri-phase meters might increase the costs for smart meters procurement. Methodological differences in conducting the CBA: Differences in the appraisal period

The CBA horizon — the period over which all costs and quantitative benefits are discounted is an important metric for calculating the Net Present Value of the costs and benefits. Some Member States use the smart metering life time (for instance Latvia) or the roll-out period as a CBA horizon; however most Member States consider a longer CBA appraisal period to ensure that the entire lifecycle of the first generation of smart equipment is captured. The appraisal period is an important parameter and a big driver for costs and benefits differences between Member States and it should be borne in mind when comparisons of the data are attempted;

Differences in the rate of social discounting that is applied; From the data collected, it can be seen that there is a range of discount rates used across Member States. Obviously the discount rate has a significant impact on the assessment of the smart metering scenarios, as costs are incurred predominantly at the beginning of the scenario, while the smart metering roll-out often provides benefits only in the long-term. The range of discount rate used across Member States deciding to roll-out electricity smart metering systems varies between 3.5% used in the UK-GB (social discount rate) to 8.5% used for Luxembourg. Among countries not rolling-out, Portugal opted for a higher discount rate of 10%. in their CBA; Differences in the counterfactual assumptions;[85] and Inclusion of financing costs or optimism bias or exclusion of operational costs or broader costs to society (as opposed to just private costs to the party responsible for the installation of the equipment).

The analysis of the Member States CBAs elements indicates that a strict comparison as such of the respective data is not possible. Differences in scope and methodology mean that caution should be applied in the interpretation of the cost-benefit comparisons herein presented. Nevertheless, useful indications and trends on parameters of particular interest to all stakeholders can still be drawn with the reservations expressed earlier.

When the respective data for the ‘cost per metering point’ are therefore grouped into price bands (Figure 7) a projected average cost range is revealed within which most of the data are falling in, while the corresponding average price is €252 with a wide standard deviation of €189. If we account only for those countries that have completed or will be proceeding with the roll-out, then this is further reduced to €223 and the respective spread is narrowed (€143).

The case for the associated benefits is also complicated. The estimation of benefits per metering point seems to also return a scattered picture of smart metering roll-out in Member States: the range of benefits varies significantly from as low as €18 (Latvia) to €654 (for Austria), as shown in Figure 8. On average for those Member States rolling-out the expected benefit per metering point is €309 (with a standard deviation of ±€170).

Some caution is needed in interpreting these figures given the different methodologies used to estimate benefits[86] and the different items included in the evaluation: in fact, several Member States only accounted for the benefit associated with the DSO rolling out and not for the consumers’ benefit or other benefits accruing to the society as a whole. The benefit attributed to the DSO is in general easier to estimate, as smart metering primarily implies savings in meter reading operations, switching, non-technical losses etc. In addition, advanced metering infrastructure allows for more accurate billing of electricity consumption, reducing complaints and litigations, to which a monetary value for the DSO can be calculated.

Figure 7 Price bands for cost per smart metering point in the Member States

Figure 8 Normalised benefit values per metering point in the Member States

The benefit associated with consumers, besides the part arising from more accurate billing information, is instead more difficult to estimate, as it also depends on the actual involvement of consumers themselves in for example demand response mechanisms, time-of-use pricing, etc. This can be also confirmed by the low number of countries from those proceeding with the electricity smart metering roll-out that provide an estimate — as a percentage — for such a benefit.

Other types of benefits are associated with energy savings[87] and peak load shifting[88] over total electricity consumption. Also, when analysing these two indicators, a scattered picture of the expected positive effects of smart metering roll-out emerges. Expected energy savings vary from 0% (considered in the CBA of the Czech Republic) and 1% (Poland, Slovakia) to 5% (Greece, Malta), with an average — for all data available — around 2.6% (±1.4%) or 3% (±1.3%) considering only the data from those countries who have rolled out or are proceeding with large-scale roll-out. The peak load shifting varies greatly from 0.75% (UK-GB) and 1% (Poland) to 9.9% in Ireland, and 1.2% (in CZ) to 4.5% quoted for Lithuania from those Member States that are not presently proceeding with large-scale roll-out.

Figure 9 Potential for energy saving and peak load shifting over total electricity consumption expected from smart metering roll-outs in the Member States[89]

It should be noted that these significant differences may appear due to:

· Different experiences in pilot projects and/or hypotheses adopted in building the scenarios, e.g. consumers' participation rate in demand response programmes (time-of-use pricing, etc.), different consumer engagement strategies (e.g. indirect vs. direct feedback); and

· Different patterns in electricity consumption, e.g. presence of district heating, wide-spread use of gas, etc.

To conclude the overview of the current situation in EU, Table 22 lists Member States that had not communicated yet their CBA data at the time of analysis and writing of this document.

Table 22 CBA Scenarios: missing CBAs from Member States[90]

Table 23 Costs and Benefits normalised by number of metering points

||

||

* Highlighted cells present values directly supplied by the Member States and not calculated by Commission services as the ratio of total costs or benefits over the number of metering points.

The following chart represents the cost and benefit values per metering point reported in Table 23 for all four groups of Member States considered: Member States having already completed their roll-out; Member States that decided to go ahead with a roll-out whether jointly for electricity and gas, or separately; and Member States that will not yet proceed, at least under the current conditions, with large-scale roll-out.

As seen, all Member States proceeding with a roll-out, either for electricity only or for both electricity and gas, identified that smart metering benefits are higher than costs. Exceptions are fictitious, as Malta, France and Finland did not have a quantitative evaluation of the benefits, and therefore their values on the y axis are zero. Romania also provided an investment figure including the total for the full roll-out up to 2022, while the benefits accumulate up to 2020.

On the other hand, the majority of Member States that will not yet proceed with a large-scale roll-out assessed that the costs of smart metering are higher than its benefits, with the exception of Portugal. Portugal has not taken yet a final decision and it is currently re-assessing the results of its CBA.

Figure 10 Normalised cost and benefit values per metering point[91]

In general, the deviation of each of the rolling-out Member States from the blue reference (1:1) line (Benefit = Cost per metering point) (Figure 10) is contained in a relatively small range. On the other hand, the deviation for Member States not rolling out yet varies significantly from country to country. This implies that, while there is a fairly unanimous evaluation of the percentage of benefits of smart metering roll-out among the Member States rolling out, a comparable consensus on how much the costs surpass the benefits cannot be found among Member States not rolling out. Therefore, at this stage it is not possible to identify a threshold value for expected costs or benefits which will make the business case for large-scale deployment. Nevertheless, an observation can still be made: the respective benefit over cost values in the majority of the positively assessed cases, where the Member States are proceeding with large-scale roll-out, lie within certain boundaries of cost (about €100-€300 plus) and benefit (€150 - €450) per metering point as illustrated in Figure 10. This is a first indication for a threshold area within which costs and benefits could range to result in a positive business case for smart metering deployment.

Figure 11 and Figure 12 show how each Member State evaluated the main benefits arising from smart metering roll-out in terms of energy savings and peak load shifting. The respective values for the case of the UK-GB and the NL that are proceeding with a combined roll-out of electricity and gas are not illustrated in this figure as the energy saving potential in the figure refers only to electricity whereas cost and benefits for these two Member States refer to both electricity and gas. Estonia, France and Spain have not communicated nor evaluated the energy savings, whereas Malta and Finland have not quantitatively estimated the total benefit associated with the smart metering deployment.

As in previous charts, the blue line represents the series of points where the benefits equal the costs. Most Member States, regardless of their decision for rolling out or not, have given a quite consistent evaluation of the potential for energy savings, included in the range 1% to 5%. The only outlier value is that for the Czech Republic, which have estimated that no energy savings can be achieved through smart metering. The others are providing a quite univocal estimation of the potential benefit in terms of energy savings arising from smart metering. This positive result underpins the fact that the ex-ante estimation of energy savings achieved through smart metering in EU Member States rolling out is not controversial, although further refinement might be achieved through the observation of real energy savings once the massive roll-out start. It is therefore important to accompany the roll-out plans with appropriate monitoring schemes in order to quantify the effects of a large-scale smart metering deployment.

Figure 11 Benefit cost ratio over energy savings reported by Member States

Concerning benefits coming from peak load transfer, the picture is on the other hand not clear-cut, with estimations ranging from 0.8% to 9.9%. This spread is rather anticipated, as the benefit from peak shaving/load shifting depends on several local variables, such as:

· consumption patterns typical to each country (i.e. the percentage of shiftable energy consumption over the total energy consumption might differ significantly across countries);

· the availability of demand response programmes; and

· expected consumer participation in such programmes.

Member States may further carefully assess the peak load shifting potential in their territory through appropriate monitoring mechanisms, while also taking into consideration results from smart metering pilot projects.

Figure 12 Benefit cost ratio over peak load shifting reported by Member States

3.1.2. Communication architecture

The successful integration of advanced applications of intelligent electricity grid involves the real-time generation, control, and analysis of extensive amount of data. The communication system is therefore a key component of smart metering. Electricity utilities are challenged to define communication requirements and architecture to handle the output data and deliver reliable, secure and cost-effective service throughout the whole power system.

Most Member States have adopted or intend to adopt a communication architecture (Table 24) between the smart meter and the Data Management System (DMS) based on a middleware (i.e. Data Concentrator). In this way, the Data Concentrator (DC), located at Medium Voltage/Low Voltage substations works as a communication gateway between the Data Management System (DMS) and the electricity smart meters.

Power Line Carrier (PLC) along with GPRS[92] appears to be the most spread technology for communication between the smart meter and the Data Concentrator, while in most cases the DC communicates with the DMS through GPRS.

Table 24 Summary of preferred communication infrastructure for smart metering roll-out in Member States

Country || Option 1 || Option 2 || Option 3

AUSTRIA || Smart meter (SM) — Data Concentrator (DC): 70% PLC and 30% GPRS DC — DMS: 100% Fibre Optics || ||

BELGIUM || see Country Fiches[93] || ||

BULGARIA || PLC, GPRS || ||

CYPRUS || First phase implementation: PLC with GPRS || ||

CZECH REPUBLIC || SM — DC: PLC+GPRS (where not possible to use PLC) DC — DMS: GPRS +Fibre Optics || ||

DENMARK || PLC+GSM/GPRS and wireless radio frequency || ||

ESTONIA || 90% PLC and 10% GPRS || ||

FINLAND || PLC (~30%) + GPRS (~60%) + RF (~10%)[94] || ||

FRANCE || PLC || ||

GERMANY || Market-driven || ||

GREECE || SM — DC: PLC DC — DMS: PLC || · SM — DC: GPRS · DC — DMS: GPRS || · SM — DC: Fibre Optics (90%) and RF/GPRS (10%) · DC — DMS: Fibre Optics (90%) and RF/GPRS (10%)

HUNGARY || N/A || ||

IRELAND || All options to be considered; decision during design phase || ||

ITALY || SM—DC: PLC DC—DMS: GSM/GPRS || ||

LATVIA || PLC – tbc at official procurement stage || ||

LITHUANIA || SM — DC: PLC/GPRS DC — DMS: GPRS || Fibre optics network (FTTx) available ||

LUXEMBOURG || To be decided Considered & tested: Consumption data: PLC, GPRS and fibre optics; M-Bus between electricity and gas meters || ||

MALTA || PLC/GPRS || ||

NETHERLANDS || Not prescribed; DSOs to decide; GPRS chosen for small scale rollout; Reference scenario– 20% GPRS and 80% PLC || ||

POLAND || Most probably PLC – choice will be influenced by standardisation || ||

PORTUGAL || 85% PLC, 15% GPRS || ||

ROMANIA || SM — DC: PLC DC — DMS: GSM/GPRS, WiFi/WiMAX, Fibre Optics || ||

SLOVAKIA || More used: GPRS/ETHN PLC (testing PLC S-FSK, OFDM, BPL, eventually radio) || ||

SLOVENIA || PLC+GSM || ||

SPAIN || PLC || ||

SWEDEN || SM — DC: GPRS (1%); RF (17%); PLC (37%) and GPRS+PLC+RF (46%) DC—DMS: GPRS (86%); IP (33%); RF (9%); PLC (8%) and other (17%) || ||

UNITED KINGDOM — GB || (subject to final technical design) Smart meter to Data and Communications Company (DCC): 65% cellular (GPRS and 3G) 33% long range radio remainder mesh radio || ||

3.2. Costs and benefits considered in the CBA

Table 25 presents the top 3 benefits and costs associated with the smart metering roll-out across Member States. The benefits reported relate to the electricity smart metering roll-out with the exception of the UK—GB and NL where the benefits are due to both electricity and gas smart metering deployment.

Table 25 Most significant cost/benefits share from electricity smart metering roll-out considered in Member States’ analyses

Country || Main benefits || Main costs

AT || Energy savings — 55% || · Operational costs (30%)

Operational savings due to more efficient supplier switch procedure — 19% (indirect benefits to the consumers) || · Capital costs — smart meter, installation, communication infrastructure, IT system (26%)

Reduction of DSO associated meter reading cost – 9% || · Supplier associated network balancing costs due to consumer behaviour change (24%)

BE || see Country Fiches[95] || see Country Fiches95

BG || NA || NA

CY || NA || NA

CZ[96] || Reduced electricity theft (53%) || Meter procurement (24%)

Peak load transfer (42%) || Investments in ICT (10%)

Deferred generation capacity investments (5%) || Operation costs of ICT — meter reading (9%)

DE || Energy savings (33%) Load shifting (15%) Avoided distribution grid investments (13%) || Investments in smart metering systems (meter, gateway, communication infrastructure) 30% Communication costs (20%) IT costs (8%)

DK || Saved metering investment (29%) || Capital costs (smart meter, installation, communication infrastructure, IT system) — 67%

Increased competition (21%) || Tax distortions (8%)

Energy savings (16%) || Operational costs (data collection, validation and delivery to central data hub) — 4%

EE || Network losses reduction || Operating costs

Avoided investments || Maintenance cost of the central metering system

Avoided meter operating cost (repair and maintenance costs of metering systems) || Cost of tele-service

FI || Demand side management || Meters (40-55%)

DSO cost reduction (due to remote reading) || Accessories for the meters (relays, switching gears, etc.) 5-25%

Electricity trade and new services || Installation and maintenance (10-25%)

|| Communications (5-40%)

FR || Avoided Investment in installing existing meters: 30% of total benefits for the DSO || Meter procurement and installation cost – 80 %

Avoided network losses: 25% for the DSO || Procurement and installation cost of data concentrators – 10 %

Avoided meter reading costs: 15% || IT systems – 10%

GR || Reduction in consumption — direct feedback (44%) || Procurement and installation of meters (55%)

Meter reading savings (14%) || Display costs (20%)

Carbon benefits (11%) || Communication Infrastructure — PLC (9%)

HU || NA || NA

IE || Energy savings — 2.9% of overall electricity consumption and 9.9% peak load reduction from total peak || DSO costs — cost of meters, installation, communication and project management

Deferred capacity investments and reduction of System Marginal Price || Supplier costs— Improved billing systems and customer education, running more complex set of bills and tariffs

Retailer savings — fewer complaints and queries, less costly management of bad debts and supplier switch savings ||

IT || Revenue protection (including reduction of non-technical losses) || 95% of CAPEX is associated with the production and installation of smart meters and concentrators.

Reduction of readings and operations costs || The remaining 5% of CAPEX corresponds to costs associated with IT system development, R&D costs and other expenses.

Purchasing and logistics ||

Customer service (e.g. invoicing, bad debts management)||

LT || Consumption reduction (26%) || Cost of smart meters (38%)

Commercial loss reduction (22%) || Installation of the smart metering system (18%)

Consumption shifting (14%) || Procurement of data concentrators (8%)

LU || Reduced meter reading and operating cost || Meters cost

Reduced energy consumption || Meters installation cost

Non-replacement of old meters || Investment and operating cost of common IT infrastructure

LV || Decrease of energy consumption (57%) || Cost of smart meters (32%)

Decrease of personnel costs for the DSO (24%) || cost of communication infrastructure (16%)

CO2 reduction (11%) || Meter installation cost (8%)

MT || NA || NA

NL || Energy savings (15%) || Smart electricity meters and installation cost (25%)

savings on call centre costs (15%) || Smart meter data management system (16%)[97]

savings due to increased number of supplier switches (8%) || Communication infrastructure – PLC (14%)[98]

PL || Energy savings (27%) || Meter reading costs (24%)

Reduction of balance sheet differences in respect of both technical and commercial losses (25%) || Customer service costs (3%)

Reduced meter reading costs (24%) || Cost for extra infrastructure to increase the grid capacity (7%)

Postponement of generation plant and of extra grid capacity due to peak shaving (15%) ||

PT || Demand reduction (55.3%) || Supplier profit reduction —by consumer demand reduction — (47.4%)

Peak reduction (13.3%) || Acquisition and installation of smart meters (31%)

Commercial losses reduction (11.1%) || Communication infrastructure (14.6%)

RO || Reduced meter reading costs (36%) || Implementation and investments costs (mostly, but not exclusively, CAPEX) —57.53%

Reduced commercial losses (33.6%) || Costs for system operations and maintenance (37.78%)

Avoided distribution investments (12.9%) || Financing costs (4.69%)

Reduced distribution operation costs 7.7% ||

SK || Reduction of cost related to load shifting (26%) || Meters cost (69%)

Reduction of balancing cost (23%) || Meters installation cost (17%)

Reduction in electricity consumption (16%) || Procurement of IT (7%)

SI || NA || NA

ES || NA || NA

SE || NA || NA

UK — GB || Supplier cost savings: 54% (domestic); 15% (non-domestic) || Smart meter costs (CAPEX and OPEX): 43% (domestic); 49% (non-domestic)

Energy savings : 28% (domestic); 60% (non-domestic) || Communication costs (CAPEX and OPEX): 23% (domestic); 31% (non-domestic)

CO2 savings: 7% (domestic); 19% (non-domestic || Installation: 15% (domestic); 16% (non-domestic)

When consulting the data presented in Table 25, a number of observations can be made regarding the long-term assessment of costs and benefits considered by the Member States, as described below.

Main benefits

Two of the most wide spread benefits across the total benefits attributed to the smart metering roll-out (see Table 25) are supplier-related savings and energy savings, reported as major benefits in a number of Member States.

One of the main factors in achieving energy savings (listed in the Table above as major benefit in 10 Member States: AT, DE, GR, IE, LT, LU, LV, NL, PL, SK) is feedback provision on the electricity consumption data to the consumers enabled by smart metering infrastructure. A general distinction is made on indirect (via web sites, usage statements on the electricity bill, etc.) and direct feedback (via in-house displays of current consumption). In most of the CBA analyses across Member States, the same benefit appeared as determining factor for turning out a positive business case for smart metering deployment. There is a substantial variation in the value of the energy savings for the consumers from the total benefits mix across Member States, mainly due to different hypotheses adopted in building the scenarios in respect to:

Provision of different feedback on consumption data, i.e. indirect vs. direct feedback; Different consumer engagement strategies (time-of-use pricing, real time pricing, peak load pricing, etc.); Expected consumer participation rate; Different energy efficiency programmes (e.g. through more efficient use of the domestic appliances); and Different patterns in electricity consumption, e.g. presence of district heating, wide-spread use of gas, etc.

A most spread benefit due to electricity smart metering deployment across Member States is the savings of meter reading costs and network losses reduction (technical and commercial). Both have served as main drivers in many smart metering pilot projects, e.g. InovGrid in Portugal and ENEL in Italy before proceeding with a nation-wide smart metering roll-out.

Savings on meter reading costs appear as a second major benefit in smart metering deployment in eight Member States (AT, FI, FR, GR, IT, LU, PL and RO). The focus of smart metering adoption in Italy was on the commercial electricity losses reduction, and this appears to be also the case for Romania. Furthermore, it was identified in the national CBAs conducted as the largest external benefit for the Czech Republic, and the second largest benefit for LT. Both technical and commercial electricity losses reduction emerge as a second largest benefit in Estonia, Poland and the Slovak Republic.

Main costs

On the cost side, all Member States, with the exception of PT and PL reported the meter costs (CAPEX and OPEX) as major cost (Table 25) of the smart metering roll-out followed by the capital and operational cost due to data communication.

In most of the countries (and relative to the electricity deployment arrangement of the country), the smart metering investment and installation cost appears as an upfront cost for the DSO in the initial stage of the deployment; however, later fully or partly passed to the final consumer through network tariffs, with the exception of the UK-GB where the cost is faced by the energy supplier.

Main beneficiaries

In Member States, such as CZ, DK, EE, FR, IT, LU and RO, the DSO is the first/large direct beneficiary of the electricity smart metering and the reasons behind this reflect different countries realities and market mechanisms. Accordingly, in countries such as EE and IT the main focus of smart metering systems is on electricity losses reduction (technical and commercial), whereas in LU and RO (along with the need for commercial losses reduction) is on avoided meter reading costs.

Furthermore, consumers' energy saving potential is a strong driver in the decision for smart metering deployment. A number of Member States (AT, DE, GR, IE, LT, LV, NL, PL, PT, UK-NI) shed particular light on this potential in their economic analysis of long-term benefits and costs associated with smart metering, indicating the energy saving as the major benefit coming out from smart metering roll-out. The smart metering infrastructure in itself does not save energy, but using it correctly does. Therefore, the consumer has a central position in achieving energy savings and whether he/she will accept and the way he/she will use it would have a major influence in exploiting the energy saving potential. To this end, some Member States, such as the Netherlands, dedicated particular focus in their analysis on the consumer behaviour in smart metering acceptance and efficient use.

The energy supplier appears as another beneficiary of smart metering roll-out. In Member States, such as the UK-GB and the NL; the major benefit is attributed to the suppliers in terms of increased suppliers’ switching (due to enhanced and easier procedure), reduced call centre costs, etc.

Finally, CO2 emissions reduction due to first energy savings and then more efficient electricity network operation (reduced technical and commercial losses) results in benefits accrued to the whole society.

Critical variables — sensitivity analysis

The economic assessment of long-term costs and benefits of smart metering deployment across Member States is sensitive to a number of parameters. Energy savings (CZ, DE, GR, IR, LT, PT, NL, UK-GB),[99] smart meter capital costs and data communication systems (CZ, FR, LT, LV) and discount rate (CZ, GR, PT, RO) are the three top variables most discussed in the respective CBAs performed by the Member States.

Qualitative analysis — additional non-monetary impacts

The following qualitative benefits have been addressed by most of the Member States in evaluating costs and long-term benefit related to electricity smart metering roll-outs.

Enabling smart grids — Some Member States, such as GR and IE addressed the importance of smart metering infrastructure in enabling smart electricity grids (through facilitation of decentralised electricity generation, integration of electric vehicles, etc.). Building smarter electricity a network is an incremental process of communication technology adoption to enable real time flows of network information and allow for closer interaction between suppliers/DSO and the consumers and facilitate integration of growing potential of renewable energy and electric vehicles. To this end, smart metering infrastructure is an essential component in building more complex electricity network than today, which would deliver more efficient, reliable and sustainable electric energy. Although, the benefits resulting from smarter electricity grids are likely to be significant in the long-term, their estimation at this stage is difficult. Nevertheless, certain benefits are expected to arise from the deployment of smart metering infrastructure (due to demand response and system optimisation, reduced need for network reinforcements, lower predictive maintenance, distributed generation, reduced technical losses and customer minutes lost). In addition, in the period of 2020-2050 greater use of demand side management (due to higher assumed level of heat pumps and electric vehicles) and more cost effective management of distributed energy sources would result in greater benefits due to smart grid deployment. Increased market competition — smart metering infrastructure provides accurate and reliable data flows that will support easier and quicker switching between suppliers. In addition the information on energy consumption provided to consumers via displays will enable them to seek out better tariff deals, switch suppliers and therefore drive prices down. Future products and provision of new services — smart metering infrastructure is expected to enable strong growth in the home energy management sector. The availability of detailed consumption data will create significant new opportunities to these companies in offering services and products on appliance diagnostics, more refined automation of heating and hot water controls and the analysis of heating patterns. Furthermore, it will facilitate multi utility smart meters deployment (e.g. gas, water, etc.).

3.3. Overall alignment of the Member States’ CBAs with EC Recommendation 2012/148/EU

The EC Recommendation 2012/148/EU focuses on three main aspects to be considered in preparation of the smart metering systems roll-outs:

- Data protection and security considerations;

- Methodology for the economic assessment of the long-term costs and benefits for the roll-out of smart metering systems; and

- Common minimum functional requirements for smart metering systems for electricity.

The data protection and security considerations imply protection of personal data by considering ‘data protection by design’ and ‘data protection by default’ measures. Few Member States, such as the Netherlands and the UK refer to the Personal Data Protection Act put in place to ensure data privacy and security. In the Netherlands, data security and privacy was one of the main drivers for revision of the CBA from 2005, leading to an option for the consumer to refuse the smart meter or turning it ‘administratively off’ ensuring no data exchange with the DSO or any third party. The UK-GB acknowledged the importance of freedom given to the consumers to decide whether they would like to share their data with third parties, (for instance, to seek tailored advice on energy efficiency or decision on supplier or tariff that best suit them). In the case they decide to share their energy consumption data, these data will be treated as personal data for the purposes of the Data Protection Act. In this aspect, the national smart metering roll-out plans are committed to ‘privacy by design’; this is to ensure that privacy issues are considered and embedded into the design of the system from the start.

Other countries, such as Austria, Germany, Ireland, Lithuania and Greece have explicitly mentioned the importance of this issue in their economic assessment of long-term costs and benefits associated with the smart metering roll-out. However no Protection Law/Act is yet present on this matter except for Germany, where the draft of the ‘Metering System Ordinance’ has passed the notification process according to Directive 98/34/EC. The draft refers to Protection Profiles and Technical Guidelines for Smart Metering Systems which have been developed by the German Federal Office for Information Security.

Most of the Member States have addressed the main methodological features of the long-term costs and benefits for the roll-out of smart metering systems, in particular on the costs benefit analysis tailored to local conditions and realities. However, countries such as CZ, FR, PL and SK lack insight into the qualitative assessment of long-term benefits, including externalities and social impact of smart metering systems.

Regarding the common minimum functionalities proposed by the Commission in its Recommendation, there has been a particular divergence of compliance with functionality one and two, i.e. on the provision of standardised interface for electricity data readings to the consumer and the time frame of the update for the same readings. Some Member States do not comply (ES) or partially consider (DK, EE, IT, SE) functionality b). In the case of Denmark this is due to meters installed before the first national Regulation in June 2011, while it is now being assured that all new meters are capable to update the readings every 15 minutes. On the same note, Finland has carried out the roll-out with smart meters capable of hourly measurements, and countries, such as Estonia and Sweden also consider hourly updates to the consumers. On the other hand, in Italy, while technological solutions for data provisions to the consumers at every 10 minutes are available and are already deployed in large scale projects, they are not yet offered to all consumers.

To conclude, most Member States have clearly considered the common minimum functionalities in their smart metering systems. However, very few Member States have formalised a set of legal guidelines regarding functionalities to be deployed in the field (for instance by law as in Austria).

Reaching a consensus towards adoption of common minimum functionalities has a multifold relevance: i) ensure technical and commercial interoperability in smart metering; ii) guarantee data privacy and security; and iii) enable demand response and home automation services that would ultimately support future retail markets and deliver full benefits to the consumers and the energy system.

3.4. Data handling — security and privacy

Smart grids and smart metering lead to an increase in IT communications and introduce the processing of personal data on a massive scale. Smart metering systems can bring numerous innovative ways of handling and processing (personal) data and delivering services to consumers, thus making collection and use of data as significant as business processes in the investments by energy utilities. This potential to process increasing amounts of personal data is unprecedented in this industry, but also implies challenges for data security.

In the internal energy market, data should flow freely, but the fundamental right of protection of personal data as provided for in Article 8 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, Article 16 of the TFEU and Directive 95/46/EC[100] on protection of personal data and the national laws implementing it, must always be guaranteed. To increase consumer confidence, consumption and also own production data should be protected and only shared, with consumer consent, at the appropriate level of detail between network operators and retail market actors for running novel businesses, energy services and new choices for consumers.

Accordingly, measures for ‘data protection by design’ and ‘data protection by default’ need to be carefully considered when rolling-out smart metering. As stated earlier, only few Member States, such as the Netherlands and the UK refer in their smart metering assessment and respective roll-out programme to the Personal Data Protection Act put in place to ensure data privacy and security. In the Netherlands, data security and privacy was one of the main drivers for the CBA revision that led to introducing a consumer option to refuse the smart meter or turn it ‘administratively off’ ensuring that there is no data exchange with the DSO or any third party. The UK-GB acknowledged the importance of freedom given to consumers to decide whether they would like to share their energy consumption data with third parties; if this option is taken, the data will be treated as personal data for the purposes of the Data Protection Act. Here, the national smart metering roll-out plans are committed to ‘privacy by design’ as privacy issues are considered and embedded into the system design from the start. Other countries (such as Austria, Germany, Ireland, Lithuania and Greece) have explicitly mentioned the importance of data privacy and security in their smart metering assessment