Are smart meters really that smart: consumption is up to three times higher

Modern energy meters – also known as smart meters – measure your energy consumption and forward it to your grid operator. But what if these automatically forwarded meter readings are incorrect and are up to three times as high?

In this article you can read the difference between digital meters and smart meters, whether smart meters are really that smart and what to do if you discover striking deviations in your meter readings.

Digital meters and smart meters

The big difference between a digital meter and a smart meter is that with a smart meter, your meter readings are automatically forwarded to your grid operator. Every month your energy supplier makes an overview of your consumption and associated costs – completely free of charge. A digital meter cannot do this. It is then necessary to pass on your meter reading to the network operator.

You have the option to decline a smart meter. After all, you are not obliged to have this smart meter in your home, unless you are connected to a heat network. On the other hand, you cannot refuse a digital meter.

Smart meters smart?

In the past year, Netbeheer Nederland had quality measurements carried out by the Kiwa inspection body. This quality measurement showed that no fewer than 30,000 of the 1.3 million smart meters needed to be replaced.

The smart meters that were due for replacement turned out to indicate more use than was actually used. The cause seems to be due to the use of dimmers, for example. Meters therefore estimate consumption incorrectly.

With so-called peak flows – these are sudden increases in power consumption – meters would indicate two to three times as much consumption than is actually used. Outside the peak flows, the percentage is 30 percent more.

Be alert for deviating meter readings

Following the findings of Netbeheer Nederland, consumers are urged to be alert themselves in the event of deviating meter readings. It is possible that a deviation arises due to a new device that you have purchased.

Do you have different meter readings? Then we advise you to contact your supplier as soon as possible. Together we can look at the cause of these deviations in your meter readings.