Smart meters essential to the energy transition
As part of the 2050 energy strategy approved by the public in 2017, smart meters are essential to the energy transition.Â
The aim of the 2050 energy strategy is to reduce energy consumption, improve energy efficiency and promote renewable energies. However, electricity grids were not designed to handle decentralized photovoltaic production. So, to limit the need for network reinforcement and manage energy flows, it's vital that the grid becomes intelligent. Smart meters play an important role: they facilitate power grid management by offering greater flexibility. What's more, they enable customers to better understand their electricity consumption and make energy savings.
According to the Electricity Supply Ordinance (OApEl), as a distribution network operator, we must replace 80% of conventional electricity meters with remotely-read smart meters by the end of 2027.
Replacement provided by SEIC
Our teams will contact you before any work is carried out to plan the replacement of your conventional electricity meter. So you don't have to worry about the costs or paperwork involved.
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us!
Customer benefits
- From the customer portal, you can view your consumption and photovoltaic output by the quarter-hour. Identifying energy-guzzling appliances and behaviors can help you make concrete savings.
Log in to your customer account Your meter is read remotely. No need for a technician to come to your home or to send us the meter readings.
Your bill will no longerinclude instalments (based on estimates), but will be based solely on your actual consumption. So you only pay for what you actually use..
Health and privacy
Smart meters use low-frequency technology that emits very few waves. There is therefore no health risk.
Your data is processed anonymously and securely, in compliance with current legal requirements. In addition, it is hosted on servers located in Switzerland. Only SEIC is able to identify you, and only for billing purposes.
Benefits for distribution operators
This technology will give us a more detailed view of how the network works, enabling us to improve its flexibility and manage supply more easily.
In fact, the distribution network must be able to meet the growing demand for electricity generated by electric mobility and heat pump heating, for example, and integrate decentralized photovoltaic and wind power generation.
By making the network bidirectional and much more communicative, and by integrating producers and consumers, electricity consumption and production are continuously balanced, thus avoiding unnecessary and costly network reinforcements.
Find out more
Publication by suisse énergie: Smart electricity meters at a glance
Swiss Confederation - SFOE: Smart grids and smart metering
International smart grids: International Energy Agency - Smart grids
The electrification of society: Association of Swiss Electricity Companies (AES) Climate: electricity, the key to decarbonization