CAPTION: The German government wants to drive greater use of energy from
wind and sun with digital electricity meters and more flexible tariffs.
(picture alliance / Rupert Oberhäuser)
The German government wants to drive greater use of energy from wind and sun with digital electricity meters and more flexible tariffs. A corresponding legislative bill with a roadmap and new specifications for the devices and their use was approved by the German cabinet in Berlin. Now the ball is in the German parliament's court.
What smart meters are
Smart meters are digital, networked measuring devices for heat or electricity that automatically transmit consumption to providers. This data can also be viewed constantly by consumers, for example, on a smartphone app. Smart meters are intended to create transparency in energy consumption and thus facilitate energy savings and ensure greater energy efficiency.
Dynamic electricity tariffs
By 2030, at least 80 percent of gross electricity consumption in Germany is to be met by renewable energies. But the output of wind turbines and solar plants fluctuates with the weather. For this reason, the market is to better reflect the current electricity supply in the future. From 2025, all electricity suppliers will have to offer dynamic tariffs in which the price of electricity rises or falls depending on supply. Currently, only large suppliers in Germany have to do this. In this way, consumers will be able to use more electricity in the future when it is cheaper - and thus help stabilize the supply at the same time.
What consumers should gain
Even those who control their household appliances in the traditional way at the push of a button can benefit from a smart electricity meter because it makes the price transparent at any time of day, explains Thomas Koller of the German Association for Electrical, Electronic & Information Technologies (VDE). Washing clothes, vacuuming or rinsing would be cheaper when the wind is blowing and the sun is shining with a dynamic electricity tariff.
Consumers who can control their household appliances via an app could, for example, specify that their e-car only charges automatically or their dishwasher only starts when the electricity price falls below a certain threshold.
Notice: No person, organization and/or company shall disseminate or broadcast the above article on Xinhua Silk Road website without prior permission by Xinhua Silk Road.
A single purchase
