35m smart meters in homes by 2021
Smart meters being rolled out across France will end meter readings and let consumers know their consumption
A SMART meter that automatically measures a household’s electricity use will be rolled out across France from today, in a project that will cost national grid company ERDF €5bn.
Between next year and 2021, 35million Linky smart meters will be installed with the new technology expected to simplify billing and create 10,000 jobs.
ERDF head Philippe Monloubou insists the cost of the meters will not be passed on to customers. He said: “The client will pay nothing – the savings [the technology makes] will mostly compensate for the investment.”
Savings will come from a reduction in billing fraud and more efficient management of the network, such as processing contract changes, for instance when a customer moves house, without having to rely on paperwork.
The meters use digital wireless technology to process monthly readings, which are sent direct to ERDF, which then bills the customer.
Customers can check their electricity usage online, but the information is given in kilowatt-hours and not in euros and they will not be able to control household equipment as on other ‘smart’ technology.
ERDF said its 30million customers would be the key beneficiaries of the meters. Billing will be more accurate because it will be based on actual consumption and not inspections every six months by meter readers – also meaning an end to invasion of consumer privacy.
However the smart meters could raise other privacy concerns, as they will give ERDF access to a large amount of consumer data.
The technology has been on trial in Indre-et-Loire and Lyon with 300,000 customers testing it between 2009 and 2011.
To find out when a Linky will be installed in your area, check the map at erdf.fr/linky-bientot-chez-vous
