FAQ

Should the consumer so wish, the smart meter can provide extremely detailed consumption data via smart home applications. With the consumer's agreement, suppliers can offer new services based on the smart metering system, particularly in the field of controlling energy demand, such as access to data via smartphone applications, or the option to activate or deactivate household appliances remotely in order to allow customers to better control their consumption needs. In all cases, the customer retains control over their domestic appliances.

The consumption index can be read off the meter in the same way as with conventional meters. In addition, in the future, consumers will be able to connect a remote display or smart home system in order to consult their metering data in real time.

The network operator can read energy consumption and supply quality indicators remotely. It can also perform software updates and remotely control the two relays built into the electricity meter. Only devices connected to the built-in relays can be controlled remotely (e.g. electric hot water tank).

Data is transferred between the smart meter and the central system via the existing electrical network by means of Power Line Communication, also known as Power Line Carrier (PLC). In certain rural areas with low population density, it is sometimes technically necessary and economically more advantageous to use meters communicating via GPRS, which is a standard for mobile telephony derived from GSM.

Please note, the electricity meters act as a secure communication gateway with the gas meter, but they can also communicate, where necessary, with water and heat meters via a wired or radio link.

The connection as well as the power of the connection will remain unchanged. Protective devices and other installations placed downstream of the meter will not be changed either.

With the introduction of the smart meter, the consumer receives more detailed information on their consumption habits, enabling them to save energy by changing their behaviour.

Smart meters make it possible to read energy consumption remotely, meaning that staff do not have to disturb customers in order to read their meter on site.

Thanks to smart meters, electricity and natural gas providers will be able to offer customers increased flexibility for innovative pricing and invoicing based on supply and demand in energy markets. Suppliers will thus be able to offer new tariffs that better correspond to consumption habits and issue an invoice at any time of the year based on actual consumption instead of estimates.

A smart meter makes it possible to read energy consumption remotely, i.e. without having to travel to the consumer’s premises. The provision of near real-time information to the consumer will enable them to monitor and control their consumption and energy costs.

Smart meters are part of the reform of the energy markets aimed at encouraging active consumer participation. The smart meter is the first step towards the implementation of a smart electricity distribution network that uses computer technology to optimise decentralised production, distribution and consumption, especially with regard to electromobility, as well as to better coordinate supply and demand between electricity producers and consumers.

The deployment of smart meters is among the measures planned by the Luxembourg Government to enact the European energy directive into national law.

Smart meters use state-of-the-art technology in order to measure the energy (electricity, natural gas, urban heat) or water consumption of each dwelling at regular intervals. The meter records the values and transmits this data via the existing electricity network to a central system, which collects the data from the meters for the whole country and transmits it to the network operator.

The central data collection and management system is managed and operated by the Luxmetering economic interest group, which was created in 2012 by the country's seven electricity and gas network operators: Creos Luxembourg, City of Ettelbruck, City of Diekirch, Electris, City of Dudelange, Sudstroum and Sudgaz.

It should be noted that the network operator builds and operates the electricity or natural gas networks, and that the supplier buys and resells energy and associated services.

The obligated parties have a certain degree of freedom in their choice of energy efficiency measures. In order to guide their services, they can achieve energy savings either through standardised measures or specific measures. The standardised measures set out different example cases and set flat-rate energy saving values for the following families of measures:

•  Thermal envelope of buildings (walls, windows, roofs, slabs)
• Heat production
• Mechanical ventilation
• Household appliances
• Office equipment
• Lighting
• Transversal industrial techniques (motors, pumps, ventilation, compressed air, boilers, refrigeration)
• Management energy
• Transport (replacement of cars).

Energy efficiency measures not included in the catalogue of measures are to be considered as specific measures, which cannot be accounted for by the obligated parties in case of certain calculation principles and if no standardised measures are applicable.