The smart electricity meter: what it is, its advantages and how it is installed
What a smart electricity meter is
The smart electricity meter, also known as a smart meter, is a digital metering device that replaces the old mechanical meter or simple electronic meter. It records electricity consumption and transmits the data automatically, remotely, to the distribution operator, with no further need for a manual index reading.
In Bucharest, Ilfov and Giurgiu, the distribution operator that installs and manages these meters is Retele Electrice Romania S.A. (formerly E-Distributie Muntenia / Enel, part of the PPC group). The meter remains the operator’s property, being a component of the distribution grid rather than of the customer’s installation.
In short: the smart meter does the same job as a conventional one (it measures the kWh consumed), but it does so digitally, communicates the data on its own and provides much more information about how and when you use energy.
The difference compared with a conventional meter
A conventional meter, whether mechanical or electronic, only displays an index that someone has to read periodically and report. This is where reading errors, estimated bills and reconciliation differences arise.
The smart meter solves these problems through automatic communication and measurement over hourly intervals. In addition, it can handle new functions, such as bidirectional measurement, which is required for those who produce energy from photovoltaic panels.
How a smart meter works
A smart meter has three essential functions:
- It measures electricity consumption in real time, over intervals (usually hourly or sub-hourly).
- It stores the consumption data locally, in the meter’s memory.
- It transmits this data to the operator, over a communications network (for example PLC over the power line or GSM/mobile), without any intervention from the consumer.
The operator thus receives the consumption curve and issues bills based on actual consumption rather than estimates. Many models also allow the index to be read locally directly on the display, so you can check how much you have consumed at any time.
The advantages of the smart electricity meter
Switching to a smart meter brings concrete benefits for both the consumer and the operator:
- Billing based on actual consumption – estimated bills and unpleasant reconciliations are eliminated.
- No manual readings – you no longer have to be at home or submit the index.
- Visibility over your consumption – you can see when and how much you consume, useful for cutting costs.
- Faster fault detection – the operator detects outages almost in real time.
- Support for time-of-use tariffs – the meter can handle different prices over time intervals.
- A foundation for prosumers – it allows bidirectional measurement of energy produced and fed into the grid.
Disadvantages and limitations
For the sake of fairness, a few aspects are worth mentioning: the meter remains under the operator’s management, so you cannot choose the model yourself; the replacement programme is rolled out in stages, by zone and customer group; and to benefit from time-of-use tariffs you need a contract compatible with your supplier.
Comparison: conventional meter vs. smart meter
| Feature | Conventional meter | Smart meter |
|---|---|---|
| Index reading | Manual, periodic | Automatic, remote |
| Billing type | Estimated + reconciliation | Based on actual consumption |
| Consumption data | Total index only | Hourly / detailed profile |
| Bidirectional measurement | No | Yes (dedicated models) |
| Time-of-use tariffs | Limited / no | Yes |
| Fault detection | Slow | Almost real time |
| Who installs it | The distribution operator | The distribution operator |
How the smart meter is installed
Here is an important point to clarify: installing and replacing the meter is carried out exclusively by the distribution operator, Retele Electrice Romania S.A. No private electrician and no installation company is entitled to tamper with or replace the meter, because it forms part of the public distribution grid.
Under the national smart metering programme, replacing the conventional meter with a smart one is usually done free of charge for the residential consumer, in stages, by zone and customer group as set by the operator. You will be notified when it is your area’s turn.
The usual steps during installation
- The operator schedules the work in your area and notifies customers.
- An authorised operator team removes the old meter.
- The new smart meter is installed and sealed.
- Operation and data transmission are checked.
- The index at the time of the change is recorded for accurate billing.
Where SUN WATT (bransam.ro) comes in
Our company, ANRE-certified for execution and design, does not replace the operator’s meter; instead, it handles everything relating to the customer’s electrical installation up to the delimitation point: the bransament (electrical connection), the firida de bransament (connection cabinet), the electrical riser, the distribution board and the earthing electrode. In practice, we prepare the installation so that the operator’s meter can be installed correctly and safely.
If you are making a new bransament (electrical connection), you first need the grid connection to the electricity network and the technical connection approval (ATR), on the basis of which the operator establishes the technical solution and subsequently installs the meter. For a standard single-phase electrical connection or three-phase connection, we handle the design, the documentation and the execution of the work on your side of the installation.
The bidirectional meter for prosumers (photovoltaic systems)
If you install photovoltaic panels and want to become a prosumer, you need a special type of smart meter: the bidirectional meter. It measures separately:
- the energy you consume from the grid;
- the energy you feed in (inject) back into the grid, when the panels’ output exceeds the home’s consumption.
The difference between these values forms the basis for quantitative offsetting with the supplier. This meter, too, is installed by the distribution operator, not by a private company.
To reach the point of having the bidirectional meter installed, you go through a few stages: you submit the connection request, you obtain the ATR (Technical Connection Approval), and the operator installs the bidirectional meter (smart meter) and updates the dossier. SUN WATT, an ANRE-certified company, draws up the documentation and carries out the grid connection on the installation and utilisation side. For details about the process and a personalised quote, see the dedicated page on connecting photovoltaic prosumers.
A smart meter for a new connection or a power upgrade
When you request a new bransament (electrical connection), the operator installs a smart meter directly wherever the programme has been rolled out. The same happens with a power upgrade (spor de putere) or when switching from single-phase to three-phase, situations in which, depending on the technical solution, the operator may replace the meter.
Our role is to prepare the electrical installation correctly, so that everything on your side is compliant by the time the meter is installed by Retele Electrice Romania S.A.
Conclusion
The smart electricity meter is the future of energy metering: billing based on actual consumption, no manual readings and full visibility over your usage. Installation falls exclusively to the distribution operator, free of charge under the national programme, and for photovoltaic prosumers the bidirectional meter is mandatory.
If you need a new bransament (electrical connection), a grid connection or to have your installation prepared for the smart meter to be fitted, the SUN WATT (bransam.ro) team, ANRE-certified, can help you with the design, the documentation and the execution. You can contact us on 0733 097 440 or via the contact page for an assessment.