All about smart meters
Most households used to have an analogue meter, where the meter readings had to be passed on to the energy company. Nowadays most grid operators are switching to a smart meter. All Dutch households are offered one by the energy supplier or grid operator. It is then no longer necessary to pass on the meter readings. They are passed on automatically. So a meter reader no longer comes by to take the readings either.
How the smart meter works
A smart meter connects via the mobile phone network. So a SIM card is placed in the smart meter. You do not have to pay anything extra for that. You do not need an internet connection or a mobile phone. The smart meter works fully independently. The data connection between the grid operator's server and your smart meter is established in that way. You can also find a plug connection on the smart meter. With it you can, for example, connect an energy usage manager.
The most important connection is the one between the gas meter and the smart meter. The gas meter is an analogue meter. For the smart meter to read the gas consumption, you do need a modern gas meter. That is why most grid operators ask for permission not only to come and install a smart meter, but also to replace the old gas meter.
Why choose a smart meter?
The smart meter has various advantages. The smart meter does not help you save. So it is not the case that your energy consumption suddenly goes down once you connect a smart meter. And the energy supplier does not check whether your energy consumption suddenly rises quickly either. You have to keep an eye on this yourself. That is why you can connect an energy usage manager if you wish, in order to save energy.
Thanks to the smart meter, it has however become a lot easier for the grid operator to trace faults in a region. The smart meter then breaks the connection. This makes faults easier to trace. It is then no longer necessary, for example, to dig up the neighbours' gardens. A smart meter is also better for safety, because tapping electricity illegally becomes a lot more difficult.
Because all data is sent digitally, nobody needs to come by any more to take the meter readings. As a result, grid operators can save quite a lot in costs. This ultimately benefits the energy price.
Smart meter costs
Grid operators and the government have agreed on the roll-out of the smart meter since 2015. Every household in the Netherlands gets one. That is why you pay no costs when you have a smart meter installed. As a result, you also pay no extra costs on the meter rental. You do not pay for the smart meter's electricity consumption either. That is for the account of the grid operator, because the meter's electricity consumption is placed ‘before the meter’.
However, if you refuse the smart meter and later want to have it installed after all, you have to pay a fee for this. The same applies if you do not want to wait and therefore want a smart meter installed earlier with priority. You then pay 72,60 euros. If you need a smart meter because you are having solar panels installed, you do not have to pay these costs.
Installing a smart meter: how does it work?
When you are due for a smart meter, you will be notified of this by your grid operator. It will then announce that it wants to replace the current meter with a smart meter. You will then be notified about this. This works in the following steps.
First, four weeks before the smart meter is installed, you receive an announcement letter from the grid operator. Until the end of 2020, the grid operators are busy providing smart meters. Everyone's turn will come automatically.
After that you receive a letter about the date and time at which the grid operator will come to install the smart meter. This is announced two weeks in advance. You can choose a different time if the appointment is not convenient. You will find more information about this in the letter.
Next, the contractor comes by to replace the meter. It takes about an hour until the smart meter has been installed. Sometimes the pipes also need to be replaced, but you will be notified of this in advance. While the smart meter is being installed, gas and electricity have to be temporarily disconnected.
Privacy and the smart meter
A frequently heard reason for stopping the arrival of the smart meter is the problem with privacy. There has been a lot of discussion about this for years. If the meter can be read remotely, the data goes ‘outside’. A solution has been devised for this: encrypting the connection. Radboud University, among others, has carried out extensive research into this. The smart meter is hard to hack and therefore well secured.
Privacy of the energy usage manager
You can also connect an energy usage manager to the smart meter. An independent service provider (called an ODA) can then read your smart meter. That way you can view your consumption via the website or app.
There are rules attached to this, though. A service provider may only read the data if you as a consumer give permission for it. The ODA must tell the grid operator that it has been given permission to read meter readings. The grid operators check whether the identity is correct, so that nobody else can pretend to be the neighbour. If you use an energy usage manager, it is therefore wise to find out in advance how this service provider deals with privacy.
Smart meter not mandatory
Most people who receive an invitation to have a smart meter installed will immediately have many questions about it. Having a smart meter installed is therefore not mandatory. Still, it is sensible to have it done. The Consumentenbond, among others, has drawn up requirements that a good smart meter must meet. All smart meters in the Netherlands meet these. The data connection is accordingly well secured. Because having the smart meter installed is free if you are invited to do so, we recommend having the smart meter installed. But you may also refuse the smart meter.
If you want to refuse a smart meter, you have to let the grid operator know. There are no further costs attached to this. If your old meter no longer meets requirements, you get a smart meter that cannot be read remotely. You then have to pass on the meter readings yourself. But if you later want the smart meter after all, you have to pay a fee for it.
Stopping remote reading
Do you feel uneasy about the energy supplier and grid operator being able to read the smart meter remotely? Then you can have the automatic reading stopped. You can then choose the ‘administratively off’ option. You will then have to pass on the meter readings yourself and will not receive an overview from your energy supplier either. You can connect an energy usage manager yourself if you wish, but if you have objections to the privacy of a smart meter, this choice is not the obvious one.
If you change your mind, you can always switch remote reading back on later. You do not pay a fee for that.
Passing on meter readings yourself
You can always keep an eye on the meter readings yourself. You can easily see the meter readings on the display of the smart meter. With a button you can distinguish between the day and night rate yourself. Are you going to change energy supplier? Then always take a photo of the display. That way you can prove that your energy consumption was not higher than your new energy company has calculated.
Smart meter reliability
Consumers are also often worried about the reliability of a smart meter. Your energy consumption generally does not go up because of it. If you do see an unexpected increase, this can have a number of causes. Think, for example, of the fact that your energy supplier sends you an overview of your energy consumption every month. This may turn out higher, but this is only temporary. The difference is corrected in the annual bill.
Some old homes still had a rotating disc meter. These start to turn more slowly. As a result, you have actually been paying too little all that time. You do not have to pay this back, but your consumption may be higher as a result.
In general, smart meters are completely reliable. But it turns out that under extreme conditions the electricity meter readings can be too high. There are no known cases in which this actually occurred. It is always smart to keep track of your meter readings yourself. If you see deviations, you can ask your energy supplier for help if necessary. If there is no explanation, you can have the grid operator carry out a specialised test measurement. If the meter is in order, you pay 100 euros in measurement costs. If the fault turns out to be with the meter, you of course pay nothing.
Dual rate
Finally, the dual rate. A contract with a dual rate on a smart meter is only possible if your meter has two registers. The smart meter has this option. Energy suppliers are not obliged to cooperate with single and dual rates. A new meter counts as a change, just like a new contract. There are already energy suppliers that offer only a single rate for the sake of clarity.
In any case, a dual rate is not always more advantageous. Only if you use 30 to 50 per cent more electricity after 23:00 or at the weekend does this option become more attractive. Accepting a smart meter in principle has nothing to do with the dual rate.
It is the case, however, that this is going to change due to developments on the electricity grid itself. Old meters registered the dual rate by means of an audio-frequency signal. This is an outdated technique. That is why this signal is being switched off. Normal meters (non-smart meters) can then no longer distinguish between off-peak hours and peak hours. If you still want a dual rate, you therefore need a smart meter. If you do not want it to be read remotely, you can have this switched off. You then have a non-smart digital meter.
Smart meter and health
Some consumers are concerned about the health effects of the smart meter. After all, the smart meter sends data via the GPRS network. As a result, consumers are worried about the effects of electromagnetic radiation. Exposure to it is a lot lower than if you were using a modern mobile phone. So you do not need to be afraid of health effects.
The radiation from the smart meter is mainly comparable to holding a mobile phone at a distance of a few metres. But that phone must then always be switched on, no calls must be made with it and you send at most a few text messages per month. That also means the connection is not always there.
Only when there is communication with the grid operator, and a few times a day when the smart meter lets the network know that it is still working, is there briefly a connection. So this is not always the case. You often have your mobile phone in your hand much more often than the smart meter, so there is little chance of negative health effects from a smart meter.
If you use an energy usage manager with the smart thermostat, there is some exposure to electromagnetic fields. But this too is negligible and comparable to holding a tablet, for example. An energy usage manager is 10 to 100 times below the international limits. So you really do not need to worry about your health.
Smart meter facts and myths
There has been a lot of fuss about the arrival of the smart meter for years. This is partly due to the large number of myths that have been spread about the smart meter. That is why we have checked a few of these claims.
The smart meter saves energy
The smart meter does indeed help with saving energy, but that does not happen by itself. The smart meter itself will not bring about any energy saving. But because the user has much more insight into their energy consumption, they will pay more attention to it. As a result, a change in behaviour is possible and it is therefore also possible to save more energy.
So this means that the arrival of the smart meter does not automatically mean that energy consumption goes down as well. It is, however, possible to make use of an energy usage manager, for example. This service gives tips about consumption.
The smart meter helps trace faults
If there is a power failure, it can indeed be traced even before the first customer has called the helpdesk. That is because smart meters enable grid operators to see when the smart meter stops working. Thanks to this insight, it is no longer necessary to dig up entire gardens. The fault is often not in the garden, but on the public pavement.
The smart meters are equipped with sensors that report when something is not right. To measure is to know. That is why it is no longer necessary to report faults. This way faults can be resolved sooner.
The smart meter is easy to hack
Anything connected to the internet can be hacked. So the smart meter too. But the chance of it happening is small. It is a myth that the smart meter is easy to hack. All smart meters in the Netherlands meet strict requirements in the field of privacy and (digital) security. It is quite difficult to put hacking into practice.
This is because the smart meters have a unique key. Without this unique key it is not possible to hack any further. That way the energy supply in our country is always safe.
The smart meter leads to a higher final bill
The smart meter does not in itself lead to a higher final bill. The fact that the final bill sometimes turns out higher is because the old meter did not send enough meter readings. As a result, it seems as though the problem lies with the smart meter, but actually the old meter was the problem. With mechanical meters, meter readings were often estimated.
A smart meter can measure a lot more accurately, which makes the chance of errors smaller. A difference in consumption can then arise. So it is not strange that consumers often think the smart meter is to blame.
The smart meter shows my activities
With the smart meter it is possible to see that electricity is being used, but not what for. This means that the energy company or grid operator cannot see what the electricity is being used for. So it is not possible to find out when someone is vacuuming. For that the grid operator would have to know which appliances are included in a household. That is obviously not the case. Moreover, the smart meter is not vulnerable to break-ins. The smart meter has a high level of digital security, partly thanks to the unique key that every meter has.
Pros and cons of a smart meter
If you are considering getting a smart meter, you can weigh up the pros and cons against each other. The smart meter gives you better insight into your energy consumption. There are more advantages in favour of bringing a smart meter into your home.
Installation of the smart meter is completely free. That is why many households choose to have the meter installed. But there are also a number of disadvantages that you can weigh up when deciding whether you want to have the meter installed.
Advantages of the smart meter
With the smart meter, it is no longer necessary to take the meter readings yourself. The meter readings are kept by the smart meter itself. The smart meter contains an encrypted SIM card that periodically passes on the meter readings to the grid operator. It is not possible to eavesdrop on the traffic, so it is certain that privacy remains guaranteed. Furthermore, it is no longer necessary to stay at home for the meter reading.
Normally the consumption is estimated and then a definitive settlement follows on the basis of the final bill. This usually comes at the end of the year. As a result, it is possible that you have paid too much or too little with the advance payment amount. This amount is then settled in the final bill. If you have not passed on any meter readings, there is moreover a good chance that the consumption is estimated, causing you to pay too much. With a smart meter that is a thing of the past, because the meter readings are always passed on to the grid operator. Estimating is therefore no longer necessary.
Finally, you always have insight into your energy consumption. Every two months it is possible to view your energy consumption. Because it is possible to keep an eye on energy consumption, quite a lot can be saved on energy costs. Some smart meters offer a link to the energy usage manager, so that you can get even more tips on how to save energy and which appliances use the most energy.
Disadvantages of the smart meter
First of all, the smart meter is not as smart as its name suggests. In principle it is a normal digital energy meter with a SIM card that keeps track of how much electricity and gas you use. The meter readings are automatically sent to the energy supplier via the internet connection. However, you cannot monitor your electricity consumption via an app. That is only possible if you also use a smart thermostat or energy app. You can, however, read the meter readings digitally via the meter's display.
So the data about your consumption is automatically sent to the energy companies. Energy consumption is mapped in real time (so at every moment). That is always a privacy risk. This way energy suppliers know how much energy they need to buy in. That offers an advantage in costs, but it remains to be seen whether this privacy risk is also passed on in the form of a cost reduction for the customer.
A smart meter offers no direct saving. It is a measuring instrument that gives you insight into your electricity consumption. The saving itself is something you have to do yourself. For example, by adjusting your lifestyle or having your home insulated. Another good option is lowering the temperature of the heating.
Frequently asked questions about the smart meter
What is a smart meter?
A smart meter is a gas and electricity meter with a digital display. It measures electricity consumption every quarter of an hour and gas consumption once an hour. This information is then automatically sent on to the grid operator. So you no longer have to take meter readings yourself and nobody comes by any more to take the meter readings. As a result, you have a better picture of your energy consumption and you may moreover benefit from a more accurate bill.
How does such a smart meter work?
The smart meter records gas and electricity consumption and sends this on to the grid operator. For this it uses a mobile phone network (CDMA or GPRS). So you do not need an internet connection, nor a telephone connection. The smart meter actually has a built-in ‘phone’ to send the data. The radiation generated is very limited and is harmless. Furthermore, the smart meter has a P1 port to which an energy usage manager can be connected. The smart meter also has a P2 port for connecting the gas meter. So the gas meter itself is not smart, but it is the smart meter that makes it smart. Because a smart meter collects personal data, this data collection is based on personal consent. It is therefore also possible to switch off the smart meter administratively. The grid operator can then no longer read the meter readings and you have to pass them on manually. Even when the smart meter has been switched off administratively, you can still use the P1 port for your own energy usage manager. Finally, the smart meter also has its own display on which the meter readings can be read. The exact operation differs per measuring device. More information about this can be found in the manual.
Do I have to have a smart meter in my home?
Every household in the Netherlands will eventually switch to a smart meter. Having a smart meter installed is free, but not mandatory. So you may also refuse the meter. If you would rather not have a smart meter that automatically passes on the meter readings, you can have remote reading switched off.
Do I already have a smart meter?
If you live in a newly built home from after 2012 or if your old meter has been replaced, there is a good chance that you already have a smart meter. These have been installed since 2012. Everyone in the Netherlands must have such a smart meter by the end of 2020. Not sure? Then it is best to get in touch with your grid operator.
What is the difference with a digital meter?
A smart meter and a digital meter are both digital. But a smart meter gives insight into consumption and sends it automatically to the grid operator. A digital meter does not do that. A digital meter has no memory and is not connected to the gas meter either.
How do I stop the automatic sending of meter readings?
Do you consider the automatic sending of meter readings a security risk? Then you can have the grid operator switch this off. The meter readings are then no longer passed on automatically. As a result, the customer has to pass on the meter readings to the grid operator themselves again. The grid operator does continue to read the meter to check whether the software is still up to date and whether there are faults in the area.
How often are the meter readings passed on?
Do you consider the automatic sending of meter readings a security risk? Then you can have the grid operator switch this off. The meter readings are then no longer passed on automatically. As a result, the customer has to pass on the meter readings to the grid operator themselves again. The grid operator does continue to read the meter to check whether the software is still up to date and whether there are faults in the area.
Is a smart meter mandatory?
In the Netherlands it is not mandatory to have a smart meter in your home. So you may refuse it. You do that with the contractor offering the meter. It is also possible to opt for a smart meter and switch off the automatic passing on of meter readings. Do you refuse the smart meter, but change your mind later? Then costs may be charged.
Smart meter mandatory? All Dutch households are switching to a smart meter. How does this device work and what do you need to take into account? Read it here.