Čačak, Niš and Kraljevo will be the first to have smart meters. Electricity consumption in 205,000 households will be monitored daily, and electricity distribution units will be able to reduce losses in the network.
The director of the Business System of “Elektrodistribucija Srbije”, Sasa Stefanovic, stated that with the new meters, errors will be reduced to a minimum, as well as that they will be able to act preventively and prevent unauthorized consumption. In addition, it will perform remote consumption management and, if necessary, turn off metering points.
Stefanović points out that with the new project, all consumers will have simultaneous, timely, fast and efficient reading of electricity, as well as that complete data will automatically arrive in the software for data processing and invoicing.
“Mistakes will be reduced to a minimum or, we hope, there will be none. Everything that a person could make a mistake when reading or entering data – those mistakes and complaints will be eliminated. We will have a better and faster issued invoice,” says Stefanović.
He states that, in addition, consumers will have an insight into their consumption – they will be able to know the quality of the delivered electricity and they will be able to influence their consumption by knowing how much they are consuming at some point.
He pointed out that we are at the beginning of that process, and that at this moment, only a loan agreement has been signed for software and other necessary devices.
“Preconditions have been created for the preparation of technical documentation and for announcing public procurement, primarily for the selection of consultants, and then for the selection of equipment suppliers,” Stefanović stated.
He emphasized that this process, in accordance with the procedures, will take place in the next six to nine months.
“We hope that we will have a commercial contract around this time next year and that we will start installing meters,” he added.
What a smart meter looks like
When asked what happened to the three-phase meters that were installed in previous years and whether they are changing, Stefanović answered that every year “Elektrodistribucija Srbije” invests close to five million euros, and even more, in the purchase of new electronic meters.
“It is a process, we have an obligation as a distribution system operator to replace old, worn-out meters and to install new meters so that we have accurate measurements with consumers at all times. Every year, in accordance with our available budget, we procure new meters and install them,” says Stefanović.
Explaining what a smart meter looks like, Stefanović states that a meter that enables remote communication looks very similar to the existing meter, and depending on the manufacturer, there may be small differences.
“We are already installing these meters online in one part. What we want to do now is to upgrade that meter with modern software and hardware that will be able to automatically collect data and process it,” says Stefanović.
“Generally, wherever there are possibilities, we will use existing distribution cabinets, and where those possibilities do not exist, because we have different types of connections, especially in rural areas, we will have to reconstruct the metering connection cabinet and create preconditions for modern meters,” he added.
Prevention of unauthorized consumption of electricity
Our loss of electricity in the low-voltage network in 2019 is 11 percent, in Europe four. In money, that is a loss of 200 million euros in our country.
Stefanović explains that the loss of electricity is a consequence of the flow of electricity through the conductors, and in addition to technical losses, we also have commercial losses, with which, as he says, we have perhaps the most problems.
“The new modern system will enable us to have remote monitoring of all measuring points. In addition to being able to monitor all energy quantities – voltage, current and power, we will be able to download and receive information from the metering point about trying to physically access the metering point, opening the meter cover, installing magnets and similar devices that may interfere with proper electrical registration,” says Stefanović.
He emphasizes that at all metering points that they will replace, they will be able to act preventively and prevent unauthorized consumption of electricity.
Remote shutdown
When asked whether someone can turn off the electricity remotely through these meters, if he exceeds the approved power or does not pay the bills, Stefanović said that he will be able to, and that this is another great advantage of this system.
“It will be possible to control the meter remotely, we will be able to access and read all energy quantities, we will be able to have information about the attempt to physically access the metering point and to manage consumption and, if necessary, turn off the metering point,” he added.
Speaking about whether the citizens will continue to receive the same bills, Stefanović states that the issuance of bills is within the competence of “EPS Snabdevanje”.
“Our obligation is to receive all data from the metering point and to deliver that correct and controlled data to the supplier. In the next period, I think that the same type of account will continue to be kept, and the position on that will be made by the authorities,” concludes Stefanović, RTS reports.
