Smart meter obligation from 2025: Costs, opportunities and challenges for households!

From January 1, 2025, a new law comes into force that regulates the installation of smart meters in German households. According to a report by Merkur have all private households to order a smart meter. For consumers with an annual electricity consumption between 6,000 and 100,000 kilowatt hours, there is an obligation to install such a device. The operators of photovoltaic systems with an installed output between 7 and 100 kilowatts are also obliged to install.

The law stipulates that at least 20% of the households affected must be equipped with a smart meter by the end of 2025. This quota is expected to increase to 50% by the end of 2028 and at least 95% by 2030. The aim of the law on restarting the digitization of the energy transition is to accelerate the introduction of digital electricity meters in Germany. By 2032, smart meters are to be used across the board in households and companies.

technical details and user friendliness

Smart meters are described as intelligent measuring systems that track electricity consumption over a certain period of time. They consist of a digital electricity meter and a data interface, the smart meter gateway. Like solar experts , enable smart meters to access dynamic electricity prices that are based on supply and demand. This technology offers consumers the option of controlling their electricity consumption more efficiently and potentially realizing cost savings.

When introducing the smart meters, there are also challenges to consider. The installation costs, which were originally estimated at 30 euros, could increase to up to 100 euros. This increase in costs has led to criticism from the Federal Consumer Center (VZBW), which indicates the financial burdens for consumers. In addition, it should be borne in mind that dynamic tariffs supported by smart meters can bring costs with high electricity production from renewable energies as well as possible price increases.

Overall, the mass installation of smart meters is viewed as a significant step towards more efficient energy use in Germany, but consumers are asked to find out comprehensive information about the advantages and disadvantages of this technology.