The National Authority for Energy Regulation (ANRE) proposes the installation of smart meters for 30% of the electricity consumers by 2020, following that by 2026, all the users to benefit from intelligent metering, according to a draft order.

“The national implementation plan of the SMI (smart metering installation – e.n.) takes place in two phases as follows: Phase I of the national plan for implementing the SMI that covers the period 2017 – 2020; the second Phase of the national plan for implementing the SMI that covers the period 2021 – 2026”, says the project.

Also, by 2020, smart meteres will be installed for at least 30% of all consumers in each concession area for electricity distribution services.

“For the development of implementation plans of stage II of the national plan for SMI implementing, the OD’s (distribution operators – e.n.) design the pace of implementation, so that, at the end of the final year of implementation, the proportion of consumers integrated into the SMI to be 100% out of all the consumers”, say the initiators of the enactment.

ANRE recognizes the investment cost within the tariffs for the electricity distribution service, with the condition that certain provisions are met.

The distributors are obliged to inform consumers about the benefits of smart metering systems, as well as about the plan and timetable for their implementation.

According to the note of the project, the consulting firm AT Kerney conducted a feasibility study for this project, which indicated “a value of the net income positively updated, leading to the conclusion that the implementation of smart metering in the electricity sector has the potential to be a profitable investment due to the benefits from reducing network losses and by reducing the operating costs in certain circumstances and considerations”.