Elektrodistribucija Srbije has reached a significant milestone by installing 521,000 smart meters for both industrial and residential use in just eight months, announced Biljana Komnenić, the acting director of Elektrodistribucija Srbije. Speaking at the CIRED Serbia Council, Komnenić highlighted that the initial installations targeted areas with the highest electricity usage, including indirect, direct, and semi-indirect measurement points. In particular, old meters in Novi Sad and Belgrade were replaced with smart meters.
“This project, costing 110 million euros, was funded by EU grants. We are advancing with the project with additional financing: a 40 million euro loan from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) for installing 200,000 meters, and an 80 million euro loan from the European Investment Bank (EIB) for another 400,000 smart meters,” said Komnenić.
By the end of the planned phases, supported by EU, EBRD, and EIB funds, approximately 30% of smart meters are expected to be operational in Serbia. These smart meters will provide citizens with enhanced visibility into their energy consumption, aiding in energy savings. Elektrodistribucija Srbije aims to achieve 80% coverage by the end of the decade.
In addition to modernization efforts, Elektrodistribucija Srbije is focusing on network maintenance to ensure reliable electricity supply, even in extreme conditions. Komnenić detailed that 50 million euros have been invested over the past two years in reconstructing the low-voltage network, particularly in snow-prone areas like Kraljevo, Kragujevac, and Niš. This work included replacing 34,000 wooden poles with concrete ones, reconstructing 2,500 kilometers of overhead lines, and upgrading several substations. Winter preparations also involve pruning vegetation along transmission routes.
Regarding new user connections, Komnenić noted that connections for legal facilities are processed through the CEOP system, with only 50 cases pending. “We formed a sector for work control and expect faster connections moving forward. In the past eight months, we connected about 60,000 users,” she added. Although 30,000 requests for illegal facility connections were received from municipalities, only 6,000 paid for the connections, and 5,000 were connected.
CIRED Serbia is also hosting its 14th Consultation on electricity distribution networks at Kopaonik from September 16 to 20. This event, organized by the CIRED Serbia National Committee, will feature over 700 participants, including many from Elektrodistribucija Srbije, presenting 82 accepted papers. Key topics will include digitization, smart grids, and the integration of renewable energy sources (RES) into the distribution network. Regional distribution network operators have identified challenges such as the lack of skilled personnel and necessary investments as major issues.
