Smart Metering Is Gaining Traction in France
Smart meters haven't taken off in France yet, while electricity distributors wait for European standards. A consortium of distributors decided to take the lead with open-interface meters that will let them expand capabilities later.
November 13, 2008
As much as we read about the deployment of millions of smart meters in Europe, France is conspicuously absent from those reports. The advantage that has led to deployments in other countries -- having one or two utility companies serving the country -- doesn't seem to have applied to Electricite de France, even though the government has a stake in the company.
Most French electricity distributors have been waiting for EdF subsidiary Electricité Réseau Distribution France (ERDF) to set standards for smart meters, according to smart meter vendor Echelon. The integrator ATOS has committed to supply smart meters in 2012 to fulfill ERDF's requirements.
Some distributors got tired of waiting. Last week, a consortium of electricity distributors announced that it has chosen smart metering components to deploy in up to 90,000 homes. The consortium, GAELD, settled on Echelon’s Networked Energy Services System and a meter data management system from Alter Way.
The Echelon open interface and web services-based network operating system allow integration of third-party add-ons that can expand and enhance the functionality of the meters.
"We believe that [NES] will allow us to extend our system based on future needs and offerings we might want to provide to our customers at a later date, such as prepayment, remote reading of both gas and water meters, and in-home services," said Michel Fruchart, managing director for GAELD.
One of the utilities in the consortium is allowing homeowners to sell back solar power. Régie d'électricité de Loos serves a city of about 20,000 people in northwestern France, better known for its healthcare industry than for its than its sunshine. The smart meters will measure the amount of electricity produced separately from the energy consumed. Without smart meters, the details of production versus consumption are lost in net metering. Echelon tells us this will be the first instance of their meter to be used in an alternative energy application in France.
- # -
CORRECTED: The name of Electricite Reseau Distribution France (ERDF) was stated incorrectly.