dena Smart Meter Study

"Implementation of Smart Meters in Germany: Analysis of Rollout Scenarios and their Regulatory Implications"

In summer 2013, the Federal Ministry of Economics (BMWi) and consultants Ernst & Young commissioned by BMWi published an analysis of a Germany-wide rollout of intelligent metering systems. The Cost/Benefit Analysis (CBA) concludes that a nationwide rollout of intelligent metering systems in Germany by 2020 in accordance with the rollout scenario recommended by the EU does not make macroeconomic sense. As an alternative, the Ernst & Young consultants recommended the Rollout Plus scenario, which only requires mandatory installation of intelligent metering systems for certain groups.

Given this background, dena joined forces with eleven German electricity distribution grid operators or their affiliated metering station companies to analyse the parameters influencing efficient and operative structuring of the rollout of intelligent meters and intelligent metering systems. Two scenarios were considered: firstly, the extrapolation of the current legal framework and secondly, an analysis based on the Rollout Plus scenario recommended by Ernst & Young.

The study was broken down into three appraisals. The cost appraisal investigates the investment required for a successful introduction of smart meters along the entire value-added chain for various grid operator types. The grid appraisal evaluates the benefits of smart meters inasmuch as they render further grid expansion and conversion unnecessary, and the regulatory appraisal analyses the organisation of the regulatory framework.

The detailed analyses and recommendations are available in the summary of the study entitled “Implementation of Smart Meters in Germany: Analysis of Rollout Scenarios and their Regulatory Implications”.
dena initiated and headed the study with the assistance of the following project partners: AllgäuNetz GmbH & Co. KG, Die Netzwerkpartner n. e. V., DREWAG NETZ GmbH, E.DIS AG, EWE NETZ GmbH, Mitteldeutsche Netzgesellschaft Strom mbH, münsterNETZ GmbH, Netze BW GmbH, RWE Metering GmbH, Stromnetz Berlin GmbH and Thüga Aktiengesellschaft.

The following research partners were involved: Deloitte & Touche GmbH under the direction of Ludwig Einhellig, TU Dortmund / ef.Ruhr under the direction of Prof. Dr.-Ing. Christian Rehtanz, Jacobs University Bremen under the direction of Prof. Dr. Gert Brunekreeft.